Spanish style oatmeal.

[Packratona!]

Ok I have fallen in love with the way my Nica friend makes oatmeal. It is more like a drink. She just boils oatmeal in a LOT of water, with a small amount of sugar and cinnamon. It is like a thick drink. SOOOO good! And cheap. She does the same thing with cornmeal. Yum! SO comforting to the belly in the morning or even in the evening before going to bed! You could do this in a crockpot I suppose. She brings it to gatherings and everyone slurps it up and begs for more.

[razz]

Can you give us some idea of amounts?
This sounds very different and it might be a great change from my usual oatmeal breakfast with yogurt and fruit.

[Tiam]

The cornmeal one sounds like atole

http://www.whats4eats.com/beverages/atole-recipe

[Packratona!]

Yes Tiam it is atole. Razz just quadruple the amount of water you would use normally when cooking oatmeal, and cook on low for a while, then see how it comes out. Add a little sweetener and cinnamon to taste. Another thing you could do is grind up the oatmeal in a blender or spice grinder so it is finer before cooking. I usually refer to the oatmeal one as atole too but probably not exactly accurate.

[Tiam]

Yes Tiam it is atole. Razz just quadruple the amount of water you would use normally when cooking oatmeal, and cook on low for a while, then see how it comes out. Add a little sweetener and cinnamon to taste. Another thing you could do is grind up the oatmeal in a blender or spice grinder so it is finer before cooking. I usually refer to the oatmeal one as atole too but probably not exactly accurate.

I think it's called atole de avena. I think the word atole may refer to a hot creamy spiced drink.

I found a recipe. It's made with milk, but it work fine with water or another substitute if you like.


Atole de avena

Ingredients:

2 cups water
1 Mexican cinnamon stick, whole (no substitute)
1½ cups quick oats
3 cups whole milk*
sugar to taste

* 2% or skim milk may be substituted; however, keep in mind that this will affect the flavor and overall texture of the finished product.

Directions:

Combine water and cinnamon stick in a medium-sized saucepan and bring to a gentle boil. Allow to simmer for about 3 minutes. Lower heat to medium and add in oats, stirring frequently so that they don’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Once oats are softened and have absorbed most of the water, add in the milk and stir to combine well. Allow atole to return to a boil and then lower the heat once again so that it can begin to thicken. Once at the desired thickness add sugar to taste. As a guide, the atole should be thinner than oatmeal and you should be able to pour it into mugs without trouble. Remove cinnamon sticks. Serve immediately with the Mexican bread or pastry of your choice.http://www.examiner.com/article/fall-recipes-atole-de-avena-mexican-hot-oatmeal-drink

With corn:

For 4 servings

5 cups water

½ cup corn flour (or rice flour, or oatmeal)

Unrefined sugar, such as brown, palm, or mape syrup, to taste

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground cardamom

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a saucepan, whisk together all ingredients. *If you are using oatmeal, do this in a blender, and blend until the oatmeal is dissolved.

Heat the mixture over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. You will see that the drink will thicken, and you will be very excited! Remove from heat, and ladle into mugs to serve.

[razz]

Have to try this for a change. Thanks for the info, recipes and background as well.

[Stella]

I'll have to try this. I've had atole with cornmeal and I love that. I've never tried the oatmeal one. I bet the kids would like it.

[Packratona!]

Thanks Tiam, will try the one made of cornmeal. Have a bag of masa should be ok made with that? I bought it from a street vendor in Taxco a few years back and I like it. That and the one made with oatmeal feels so good on the belly, and much nicer than just the thicker regular oatmeal in my opinion. And very frugal!