Oatmeal with mango and pecans

I’ve never been a breakfast person, but since everyone around me is, I cook breakfast. My kids ate either Cream of Wheat or homemade oatmeal when they were little, usually with apples, cinnamon, milk, and maple syrup.

They’re all grown up now, but I still make this for my boyfriend, when there’s no milk for cereal. Don’t balk at the salt — it really balances the sweetness of the oatmeal.

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Oatmeal with mango and pecans recipe

Prep Time 2 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 12 minutes

Author Rose Petralia

Ingredients

• 5 cups water
• 3 cups whole oats
• 2 TBSP brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt more to taste -- this is a crucial ingredient
• 1/4 tsp cardamom
• 1/2 cup chopped dried mango or any dried or fresh fruit
• 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, sunflower seeds, whatever
• maple syrup to drizzle the real stuff
• a sprinkle of cinnamon
• milk is optional

Instructions

• Add the water, oats, sugar, salt, and cardamom to a medium saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil.
• While the pan is coming to a boil, bring a cast-iron skillet to high heat. Toss in the nuts and stir around for half-a-minute to lightly toast. Immediately dump the nuts onto a cutting board, cool for a minute, and then chop.
• As soon as the oats are boiling, reduce heat to medium-low, add the fruit and half of the toasted nuts, and simmer uncovered for ten minutes, or until the oatmeal is thickened.
• Ladle the cooked oats into bowls and top with the rest of the toasted nuts, a drizzle of maple syrup, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and an optional glug of milk, if you happen to have it.