Golden Oats | Vegan Backpacking Food
The flavorful mix of sweet cinnamon, spicy ginger, and turmeric makes golden milk one of my favorite morning beverages. So why not try pouring it into oatmeal? I did just that and “Golden Oats” where born! It took some experimenting to come up with a good spice to oat ratio, but I finally made a good batch that’s totally backpacking friendly.
When I make this at home I typically use oat milk or almond milk, but on the trail I like to use powdered coconut milk. It packs in a lot more calories and it has that rich, creamy flavor that is sometimes lacking in your typical instant oatmeal.
At home I add agave or maple syrup to the oats, but it can be messy and heavy to carry a separate container for a liquid sweetener. In this recipe I use coconut sugar and it seems to be a good substitute. I use 2 tablespoons here but you can adjust this depending on your preference.
This is optional, but I added a handful of dehydrated apple slices to the mix. I found that they actually re-hydrate really well and they even absorb the flavor of the spice mix. So good! I also top the oats with crushed walnuts but you can use macadamia or pecan nuts too.
Typically I skip the flax meal and chia seeds at home, but they really (for lack of a better term) “beef up” this oatmeal. They absorb a lot of the excess moisture and they will keep you full and energized.
If you make this meal on the trail take a photo and let me know what you think! Tag your post with the hashtag #veganoutdoors or tag my instagram @veganoutdoors_
Golden Oats
Ingredients:
- 3/4 Cup Quick Steel Cut Oats
- 1 Tbsp Flaxseed Meal
- 2 Tbsp Coconut Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Coconut Powder
- 1 Tbsp Chia Seeds
- 1/2 Tsp each of Ginger, Turmeric, Cardamom
- 1 Tsp Cinnamon
- 1 Cup Dried Apple Slices
- 1 Tbsp Crushed Walnuts
At Home:
Combine all ingredients (except walnuts) into a baggie or container. Place walnuts into a separate container and reserve for topping.
On the Trail:
Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Remove walnut topping from oatmeal mixture. Pour oatmeal mix into water and stir. Cover and soak 3-5 mins. Top with crushed walnuts and enjoy!
Weight: 4.3oz
Calories: 850
Calories per oz: 197
If you make these Golden Oats take a photo and tag me on instagram @veganoutdoors_ or use the hashtag #veganoutdoors. Did you change the recipe at all? Tell everyone what you think in the comments below!
