Butter-Toasted Steel-Cut Oats with Dried Apples
- Makes6 servings
- Cook Time35 minutes
- Active time plus cooling10 minutes active
Cooking steel-cut oats in a pressure cooker means the grains tenderize quickly, without any stirring and without any risk of boiling over, making this breakfast staple a breeze to prepare. To build rich flavor, we start by cooking a couple tablespoons of butter until fragrant and nutty, then toast the oats, along with a small measure of allspice, in the browned butter to bring out notes of butterscotch and caramel. Dried apples add tangy, fruity flavor; their texture softens as they cook with the oats.
Don’t use rolled oats, not even slower-cooking old-fashioned rolled oats, as they will turn mushy. Steel-cut oats are much sturdier and can stand up to pressure cooking. Also, keep a close eye on the butter as it cooks because goes quickly from brown and nutty to scorched.
Step 1
On a 6-quart Instant Pot, select More/High Sauté. Add the butter and cook, stirring, until it begins to smell nutty and the milk solids at the bottom begin to brown, about 3 minutes.
Stir in the oats and allspice, then cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and toasted, about 3 minutes. Add 5½ cups water, the apples and salt; stir to combine, then distribute in an even layer.
Step 2
Press Cancel, lock the lid in place and move the pressure valve to Sealing. Select Pressure Cook or Manual; make sure the pressure level is set to High.
Set the cooking time for 5 minutes. When pressure cooking is complete, quick-release the steam by moving the pressure valve to Venting.
Press Cancel, then carefully open the pot.
Step 3
Stir the mixture well, then re-cover without locking the lid in place. Let stand for 10 minutes. Stir vigorously until thick and creamy, about 30 seconds. Serve with maple syrup and milk.
