Saffron oatmeal with rose hips, goji berries, and reishi

Recipe: herbal oatmeal with rose hips, saffron, goji berries, and reishi

My partner always says that the way I make oatmeal is magical, so I thought I should share it! 

I really love this savory oatmeal that has just a bit of natural sweetness from the addition of medjool dates. The rose hips, saffron, goji berries, and reishi add amazing flavor and nutrients. (You can definitely mix and match these ingredients depending on what you have available.)

The optional additions give it a great texture — I personally love adding all of them. 

Please give it a try and let me know what you think!

Ingredients (for 1 serving, multiply as needed)

1 generous pinch of saffron threads

1/2 cup oatmeal

1 cup water

2 tablespoons dried goji berries

1 teaspoon rose hips (dried and de-seeded)

1 tablespoon reishi tincture or 1 teaspoon reishi extracted powder

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1/2 tablespoon butter (leave this out for a vegan version!)

2 dates, finely chopped

1/4 teaspoon of ceylon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon of cardamom

pinch of salt to taste

Optional additions

1 tablespoon pepitas

1 tablespoon sunflower seeds

1 teaspoon hemp hearts

1 teaspoon chia seeds

Optional toppings (choose your favorites!)

banana, blueberries, or any other fruit (pomegranate and passionfruit are my favorites to add when available!)

nut butter

nuts (I love hazel and walnuts on this)

unsweetened coconut flakes

yogurt

cream or plant-based milk

honey or maple syrup to taste (I don’t use any!)

Instructions

Prepare saffron water (optional): In a small bowl, combine your generous pinch of saffron threads with a tablespoon or two of hot (almost boiling) water. Let it steep for at least 5 minutes to release its flavor and color. (This is an optional step, you can add the saffron threads directly to the pot when short on time, but taking this extra step will make the most of this precious herb.)

Combine ingredients: In a small pot, add the oatmeal, water, rose hips, goji berries, dates, coconut oil, butter, any optional additions, spices, and a pinch of salt. Pour in the saffron-infused water, including the threads. Add reishi tincture or extracted powder.

Cook the oatmeal: Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Once it starts to simmer, reduce the heat to low. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until the oatmeal reaches your desired consistency. (Please check your oatmeal’s package in case it has different instructions depending on the variety of oatmeal.)

Toppings: Spoon the oatmeal into a bowl. Add your favorite toppings, such as fresh fruit, nut butter, yogurt, or a splash of cream or plant-based milk, for added richness. If you’d like it a bit more sweet, add a dash of honey or maple syrup. Sprinkle some more spices on top to taste.

Enjoy Warm!