A totally new way to have breakfast for dinner.
A hot and hearty steaming bowl of oatmeal that’s loaded with…………… onions and garlic? WHAAAT? Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! These Savory Oats with Bacon, Eggs, and Roasted Tomatoes are THAT good.
Mr. EN and I often eat eggs for dinner. They’re quick, easy, and super nutritious. There are just so many ways you can prepare them! Frittatas, omelets, egg sandwiches, egg burritos, egg salad… you name it; if it’s an egg dish, we’ve eaten it for dinner. But I’m not here to talk about the eggs. I’m pretty sure you’ve got the “eggs for dinner” routine down already. What I AM here to talk about is how to turn oatmeal, a safe and dare I say sometimes a bit boring, breakfast mainstay into something uniquely-savory and satisfying weeknight meal.
These Savory Oats with Bacon, Eggs and Roasted Tomatoes are…
- So yummy. The sautéed garlic and onions coupled with the intensely jammy-sweet roasted tomatoes pack a flavor punch that’s pretty darn amazing. Top that off with bacon (Hello breakfast!) and you’re in flavor heaven. (At least Mr. EN thought he was.)
- Healthy, for lots of reasons: high in fiber due to the whole grain oats, an excellent source of Vitamin C and lycopene, two antioxidants that play a role in eliminating free radicals that may lead to cancer because of the tomatoes, and high in lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids found in eggs that help maintain the integrity and function of the macula of our eyes.
- This not a wimpy, “I’m for sure gonna be hungry in an hour,” breakfast-for-dinner meal like a bowl of cereal or a slice of peanut butter toast. It’s filling and will keep you satisfied for several hours. I promise.
Are you ready to step out of your ordinary breakfast-for-dinner routine? Perhaps instead, you’re ready to mix up your morning oats and try something savory instead? Either way, I hope you give these Savory Oats with Bacon, Eggs, and Roasted Tomatoes a try. I really think you’ll love them.
Peace, love and good eats, from our empty nest to yours.
Trending in the EN Kitchen: Fresh avocados purchased at our local Aldi Store – for 39 cents each. Score!
Mr. EN’s Take on This Recipe: “If you’re used to eating oatmeal that is sweet, just pretend it’s quinoa or brown rice and I guarantee you’ll love it.”
Savory Oats with Bacon, Eggs, and Roasted Tomatoes
Yield 2 servings
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, cooked crisp
- 1 ½ cups cherry or grape tomatoes, washed and dried
- 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced and divided in two
- salt and pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 cup quick oats (gluten-free if preferred)
- 1 cup low-salt chicken broth (regular or gluten free)
- ¾ cup water
- 1 tablespoon apple cider or white vinegar
- ½ diced avocado
- Garnishes: fresh parsley, chopped green onion, salt, and pepper
Instructions
- Cook four slices of bacon and set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the whole grape or cherry tomatoes, 2 teaspoons olive oil, 2 cloves of minced garlic, salt and pepper. Remove the tomatoes from the bowl and place on a baking sheet. Roast at 400 degrees until tomatoes begin to caramelize and brown, and the skin puckers and bursts (about 10 minutes.)
- Gently crack two eggs into two small bowls (one egg per bowl) being careful not to break the yolks.
- Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a medium size pot. Add diced onions and the remaining 2 minced garlic cloves and cook over medium heat until lightly browned. Add the chicken broth and water to pot the and stir well.
- Bring the onion/broth mixture to a boil; then stir in quick oats. Turn the heat down and cook over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until oats are cooked and tender (2-5 minutes).
- While oats are cooking, poach two eggs: Fill a medium size non-stick pot with 3-4 inches of water. Add 1 tablespoon vinegar to the water. Test the temperature of the water; it should be around 190 degrees and tiny bubbles should be rising to the top, all over the pot. Gently slide the eggs, one at a time into the water. To do this, bring the bowls, one at a time, to the water’s edge, then carefully immerse the bowl into the water and tip it, so the egg slides out. It’s o.k. if some water gets in the bowl. Set a timer for 4 minutes. When the timer goes off, remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and place them on a clean cloth or paper towel. Note: If you like your eggs runny, cook them less – about 3 ½ minutes.
- Build your bowls: Divide the savory oats into two bowls. Top with bacon, roasted tomatoes, and avocado. Carefully place the poached egg on top and season with fresh parsley, chopped green onions, salt and pepper.
I’ve done this with grits instead of oatmeal many times, and thank you for the easy change to oatmeal. One note on the oatmeal ‘though; “quick oats” has about twice the glycemic index as “old fashioned” oats, which means they have twice the blood sugar reaction… not good. For an extra few minutes I only use the old fashioned oats.
Keep up the good work!