Whether with water or milk based and topped with nuts and fruits, oatmeal is a classic breakfast meal to serve hot or cold to enjoy all year long. When tired of using cow milk for your oatmeal, you may wonder if you can make oatmeal with soy milk to make it less sweet and lower in calories.
Can you use soy milk in oatmeal? Yes, you can use soy milk in oatmeal. In fact, oats can be made with water, dairy milk, or vegan milk alternatives.
Soy milk is a nondairy option for your oatmeal. Compared to cow milk, soy milk is a low-cholesterol and high-protein addition that will make richer-tasting oatmeal than preparing with water alone.
Oatmeal with soy milk is a nutrient-rich meal that will keep you feeling satiated for hours, limiting the likelihood of overeating later in the day, which may have added benefits for weight loss.
Soy milk has a mild flavor with less sweetness than milk, therefore it blends into foods very easily. It enhance the nutrient density of the meal, making it an ideal wholesome breakfast.
This article reviews ways to use soy milk in oatmeal. Answered below are frequently asked questions about how to prepare oats with soy milk including tips and benefits for eating oatmeal with soy milk.
Can oats be eaten with soy milk?
Yes, you can eat oats with soy milk. Oats and soy milk are both nutritious plant-based foods that can be combined for a sustainable, healthy breakfast that keeps you full for hours.
Oats are high in fiber, and soy milk is high in protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. Together, they can be a great start to your day offering numerous health benefits.
This breakfast bowl combination can help improve blood cholesterol levels and help you maintain a healthy weight.
Oats are not a low-carbohydrate food, so certain diets like keto do not allow them. Most heart-healthy and low calorie diets do allow for oatmeal.
If you follow a low-carbohydrate diet, try replacing oats with chia seeds. Chia pudding needs to sit for a few hours before it can be consumed, so preparing it the night before is typically best.
Is soy milk good with oatmeal?
Yes, soy milk is good with oatmeal. The combination is lower in fat with higher protein count than regular milk.
Furthermore, you can add in different toppings such as fruits and nuts, or spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to enhance the flavor.
Does soy milk taste good in oatmeal?
Yes, soy milk tastes good in oatmeal. It has a mild and slightly sweet flavor with a subtle hint of cereal that mixes well with various toppings.
In addition, toss in other ingredients like nuts, berries, fruit, and your favorite spices to enhance the flavor of your oatmeal.
Not only do they taste good, but also add substantial amount of nutritional value that makes a healthy breakfast with low fat and high protein.
Can you heat soy milk?
Yes, you can heat soy milk, and it makes an excellent addition to coffee, hot chocolate, and warm oatmeal bowl.
But it is important to follow guideline to prevent soy milk from curdling when exposed to high heat temperatures.
Here are two ways to heat soy milk properly:
- Pan: Heat soy milk inside a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring regularly to prevent scorching. If you heat soy milk on the heat for too long, it can develop a skin, which you can easily be removed.
- Microwave: Warm soy milk in the microwave on medium heat so as to avoid developing a skin. The amount of time will depend on the microwave wattage and the amount of soy milk you are heating.
Although soybeans are a versatile food, soy milk does not hold up well to heat, unless it has been stabilized with soy lecithin and calcium lactate. If it hasn’t been stabilized using these key ingredients, soy milk curdles when it gets too hot.
If your soy milk does not list soy lecithin and calcium lactate under the ingredients, you can add them to stabilize the plant milk. This will enable you to heat it without causing it to curdle and separate.
Follow the steps below to add lecithin or calcium lactate to soy milk:
- For every 1 cup of soy milk, add half a teaspoon of calcium lactate or soy lecithin.
- In a mixing bowl, pour the soy milk and add calcium lactate or soy lecithin.
- Whisk the soy milk for a few minutes until the powder is absorbed. You could also use an immersion blender to puree the soy milk until it foams.
- Fill a heavy-bottomed saucepan halfway with soy milk and place it on the burner over low heat.
- Heat the soy milk to the desired temperature.
Tips to prevent soy milk from curdling
- Soy lecithin and calcium lactate are widely available in health food stores and supermarkets.
- Even if you add something to stabilize it, don’t try to heat soy milk too quickly as it won’t heat uniformly and will still curdle.
Oatmeal with soy milk benefits
Soy milk benefits include high protein, healthy fats, and lower calories, which is why it is commonly used to replace dairy milk. It also contains beneficial minerals including magnesium, iron, and potassium.
Oatmeal benefits include being a fulfilling source of fiber. These two ingredients can be combined to make a healthy, filling breakfast suitable for almost everyone.
Typically, whole grain oats are beneficial to our bodies due to their high fiber content and low amount of processing they go through. Oats are a gluten-free grain, so consumers that experience gluten-intolerant can also enjoy them without worry.
Oats contain:
- Soluble fiber can aid in the reduction of bad cholesterol
- Fiber boosts gut-friendly bacteria
- High protein content
- Minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins
Oatmeal with Soy Milk Recipe
A simple recipe to make oatmeal with steel cut oats and soy milk:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of water
- 1 cup of steel-cut oats
- 2 cups of soy milk
- 1 cup of fresh berries
- 1 cup of greek yogurt plain and fat-free variety
- ½ cup of raw almonds sliced
Directions:
- Bring the water and soy milk to a boil in a medium saucepan. Put the steel cut oats, cover, then cook for 30 minutes on low heat or just until the oats are soft.
- Uncover, stirring constantly for 3 minutes, or until the oatmeal is thick.
- Serve oats in a bowl and top with berries, yogurt, and nuts.
Make-Ahead: Oatmeal could be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days. Reheat oatmeal on low heat in a saucepan on the stove, oven or in the microwave.
Oatmeal with soy milk calories
One serving of oatmeal with soy milk has 285 calories, less than two grams of saturated and polyunsaturated fat, and zero cholesterol.
Furthermore, 45g of carbs, 6g of fat, and 13.5g of protein. These nutritional fact may vary when adding spices, fruits, nuts, and any other toppings to your oatmeal.
Soy Milk Oatmeal: Conclusion
Oatmeal with soy milk makes an ideal breakfast containing a number of health benefits. This combination can be served on its own, or garnished with spices, seeds, nuts, diced fruit, or berries on top.
Using soy milk instead of dairy cow milk offers low cholesterol with high protein. Furthermore, it gives a richer flavor compared to dairy or water based oatmeal.
The taste of soy milk and oatmeal has a mild, sweet, and very gentle flavor that allows the addition of various sweet and savory toppings.
The soy milk can be heated up to serve with hot oatmeal, it doesn’t have to be cold. Ensure to use proper heating method either on a stove or microwave to prevent the soy milk from curdling.
Sometimes, soy milk tends to not cooperate as it heats. Adding lecithin or calcium lactate will help it to heat up smoothly without breaking or separating.
Consider replacing cow milk with soy milk in your oatmeal to increase health benefits with added minerals, healthy fats and extra protein to your diet. Use the above tips and make oatmeal with soy milk to better enjoy your breakfast options.