Vibrant Beet, Pear & Fig Slow Cooker Oatmeal

Vibrant Beet, Pear & Fig Slow Cooker Oatmeal

I’ve been on quite the beets kick with my cooking lately.  They really are quite versatile–you can roast them, put them in soup, make a bright smoothie with them, and even put them in oatmeal!  It may sound a little odd, but the natural sweetness actually pairs well with the traditional warm spices like cinnamon and ginger for a hearty bowl of steel cut oats.  I also used pears in my oats along with dried figs to round out the naturally sweet flavor I was going for in my breakfast. 😉

As we get ready to end off 2017, I am still doing my best to fly the plant-based flag and try to show everyone how wonderful a diet based on whole foods can be!  Even if you do not totally omit all animal products in your daily meal plan, adding more vibrant plant foods can make a huge difference in your health and wellness.  Plants give life in so many ways, so I hope I can at least inspire you to try a few new ways to incorporate them into your own wellness routine.

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The color was so bright, it was hard to photograph!

Beet & Pear Slow Cooker Oats

Makes 8 Servings

  • 2 cups steel cut oats
  • 1-2 cups shredded raw beets, about 1-2 medium (I used 2, but if you may want to start with 1 cup if you don’t love beets)
  • 1 pear, cored & shredded
  • 5-6 dried mission figs, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 7 cups water
  • nuts, for serving

Use a food processor or hand shred your beets and pear.  Place all of the ingredients in a 5-6 quart slow cooker and mix together. Cook on low for 4 hours, then stir and check to see if your oats are cooked through. If needed continue to cook on low, checking every 20-30 minutes to make sure not to overcook. It is alright to have a little extra liquid left as it will help keep leftovers moist.

Sprinkle with some nuts if you like–pistachios were excellent!  Keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

 

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