Ep. 3.5: Oats & Dates
A friend reflects on his journey to Islam and his experiences of fasting and feasting.
Delicious Eats
The Perfect Bowl of Oats reprinted from the inspiring Dana Schulz at Minimalist Baker (a throwback to Schulz’ lovely cookbook that Chloe gave Christy for her birthday last year!)
1 cup steel cut oats
2 cups water (plus more as needed for cooking)
1 pinch sea salt
1 tbsp flaxseed meal (optional)
1 tbsp maple syrup or coconut sugar (or other sweetener of choice), plus more to taste
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, plus more to taste
For serving (optional): fruit compote, fresh fruit, dairy-free milk, nut butter, hemp seeds
Add 1 cup oats to a large saucepan and top with 2 cups water (or, if making more or less, just make sure there is double the water as there are oats). Cover and soak for 6 hours or overnight (see notes for shortcuts). This will improve digestibility and also slightly speed cooking time. It also yields fluffier, creamier oats!
The following day (or 6 hours later), add a pinch of salt and bring to bubbling boil over high heat. Once bubbling, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 12-15 minutes or until the water is mostly absorbed and the oats are tender. If the oats appear dry, add more water as needed. Then remove from heat.
Scrape any oats off the bottom that may have stuck to the pan. Add flaxseed meal (optional), sweetener of choice, and cinnamon. Stir once more to combine. For creamier oats, add a splash of dairy-free milk of choice at this time (optional).
To serve, divide between serving bowls and top with any additional garnishes. Our go-to is berry compote with chia seeds, banana, peanut butter, almond milk, and hemp seeds.
Best enjoyed fresh. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat on stovetop with water or dairy-free milk until hot.
Note from Dana: If you don't want to soak your oats, simply bring listed amount of water to a boil in a saucepan. Once boiling, add oats, stir, and reduce to a low simmer. Cover and cook until tender, 15-20 minutes.
Clickable Links
More about Sufism here
“There is a Hidden Sweetness” by Mevlana Rumi*
Fantastic Reads
Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others by Barbara Brown Taylor
*Content Note
Fully Yours has had conversations in the past about eating disorders (see Ep. 2.3), and we want to share some emotions we felt during this conversation. Fasting can be a holy and sacred practice, but we also recognize that it can be a complicated and nuanced topic. It is our hope that by working on an intersectional level, we may continue to raise awareness of the ways in which food and faith can be a healthy outlet for exploration and conversation.