How many times have you heard, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”?  Now….how often do you actually eat breakfast? Yeah, me too. It’s just a lot to expect a person to get up and do everything they have to do to get ready for the day, AND make something worth eating. But I have found that if I have something ready to grab and go in the fridge, that I can quickly load with fun and yummy toppings, I not only will eat breakfast but I will actually look forward to it. These Overnight Oats fit the bill. They are jam packed with healthy ingredients like oats and chia seeds that energize me throughout my busy day, with a flavor that has taken a delightful detour through the tropics.

Coconut Milk Overnight Oats

I’ve tried various overnight oats recipes over the years, but found them a little bland and boring. Using coconut milk as the dairy base was a game changer! It transforms the oats and chia into a lush, pudding like consistency. Let’s face it, oats are a blank canvas and they need to be infused with flavor to prevent them from tasting like cardboard, and coconut milk does the trick!

Then I let the mixture sit for a few minutes, and stir again. Otherwise all the chia seeds sink to the bottom, but if you wait a few minutes they start to thicken and when you stir them again they will more evenly disperse. The chia seeds are what help overnight oats set, so you want to make sure they are well mixed.

Now they just need to be covered and put in the refrigerator overnight. And then the fun can begin!

Overnight Oats Toppings!

Coconut chips, bananas, and chopped dates are my favorite toppings for these. The chips add crunch, the bananas continue the tropical island party, and the dates are fun and chewy.  Overnight Oats are perfect for any nuts or fruits you want to add, but this combo is hard to beat. I’ve seen some recipes that add the toppings the night before, but I prefer to have fruit that’s freshly cut for the best flavor, color, and texture. I like to really lean in to my toppings and add a generous amount to each serving. Go big or go home, right?

Add a layer of dates on top of the bananas:

Finally I add a generous pinch of coconut chips:

Enjoy your Overnight Oats right away, while the bananas are still in pristine form. Try these and let me know what you think, I want to hear if these cured your breakfast blues too. Leave a comment here or tag us @funkyasiankitchen!

For some more quick and healthy breakfast ideas, check out our Green Smoothie and Halo Halo!

Overnight Oats

• Author: Funky Asian Kitchen
• Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus chilling time)
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: serves 6
• Category: breakfast
• Cuisine: Pan-Asian

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Ingredients

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For the oats:

• 1 can (13.5 ounces) coconut milk or coconut cream
• 14 ounces water 
• 2 Tablespoons maple syrup or to taste
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup rolled oats (not instant)
• ½ cup chia seeds

For the topping:

• 3 bananas
• 12 dates
• 1 cup crunchy coconut chips, nuts, or anything crunchy

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Instructions

1. Combine the coconut milk, water, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt in a container.
2. Stir with a fork.
3. While stirring, add the chia seeds and the oats.
4. Let the mixture sit for a couple minutes and stir again.
5. Pour the mixture into 6 containers (the containers should only be filled half way since you will need space for the toppings).
6. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
7. Pit the dates and chop them into small pieces.
8. Peel and chop the bananas.
9. Top with the dates, bananas, and coconut chips.
10. Serve your Overnight Oats immediately.

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Notes

*I like to put the overnight oats into plastic lidded containers and store them in the fridge. Top them with fruit only when ready to eat to keep the banana from turning brown.

Keywords: breakfast, chia, oats, overnight oats, gluten free, fruit, bananas, make ahead, snacks

Why are stir-fries one of the most popular Asian dishes made at home? Because they are versatile, economical, and fast. No matter what you have (or don’t have) in the fridge, a stir-fry can generally be had. So today, we’re going to introduce one that is less familiar. Chanpuru hails from Okinawa, and like many stir fries, it’s made with commonly found veggies, a small amount of protein, and some seasoning. Intriguingly, Chanpuru highlights the contact Okinawa has made with foreigners who’ve influenced the cuisine. A mashup of Japanese, Chinese, American, and Southeast Asian cuisine, Chanpuru often features bitter melon (called Goya in Okinawa) and luncheon meat or Spam. Yes that Spam, the canned pork product that enjoys an enormous popularity throughout much of Asia: a holdover from the war and the rations eaten by American soldiers. If you look at where there have been American bases or heavy US military presence, you will see Spam featured on the menu in fascinating ways.

I like bitter melon fine, but it can be hard to find in Miami. And I love a good mystery meat or even challenge meat, but the weird spongy texture of spam and the absurd shelf life are not my thing. So today, I’m taking influence from the spirit of Chanpun, which is to make it with what you have readily on hand. I’m making my Chanpuru with chicken, tofu, and easily found veggies, but feel free to sub in your own favorite proteins. Cabbage, carrots, onion, and beansprouts are very common both in Okinawa and in America. Cheap, abundant, and filling… But by all means, if you can get your hands on some bitter melon or you love Spam, go for it!

Chanpuru Prep

There are a few stir-fry basics to keep in mind, and these make the difference between a perfect stir-fry or one with things over/undercooked:

• Prep all your ingredients and have them within reach.
• Preheat your pan first. (FOR SEVERAL MINUTES SO IT’S HOT)
• Then add the oil.
• Keep it moving! (In other words, emphasis on the STIR part of stir-fry)

So I begin making the Chanpuru by prepping the proteins and veggies, and making sure I have the sauce ingredients close at hand.

Now that the proteins are ready, I begin prepping the vegetables.

Stir Fry Time!

Now that everything is prepped and ready to go, it’s time to heat your pan. I used a large 12″ skillet and it was barely enough room. You can split the amount in half and make it in batches if your pan is smaller. The first step is to fry the tofu so it’s browned and crisp. I like the crunchy chewy texture that it gives to the Chanpun. If you’re short on time or don’t want to bother with this step, you can add the tofu in cold. In that case, I would add it towards the end, after most of the stir frying is done, to keep it from breaking apart.

It’s important to let the egg cook halfway before gently scrambling. If you scramble immediately, your eggs will breakdown into tiny bits that will disappear into the dish. 

Once you’ve mixed the beansprouts in, taste the dish before plating. Watery vegetables give off a lot of moisture, so it’s important to adjust seasonings before serving to avoid a bland dish. The last touch, which I think makes this dish special, is adding a hefty dose of katsuobushi flakes on top. Their smoky goodness really makes this simple stir-fry shine.

Love how quick and easy stir-fries come together? Then you’ll love my Chicken and Asparagus Stir Fry, Yakisoba, and this simple pork one!  I hope you give Chanpuru a try and let me know what you think. Comment here or tag us @funkyasiankitchen, we love hearing from you!

Chanpuru

• Author: Funky Asian Kitchen
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: serves 4-6 1x
• Category: Main
• Cuisine: Japanese

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Ingredients

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• 4 Tablespoons neutral oil
• ¼ head green cabbage (I used Taiwan cabbage which is more tender)
• 1 medium carrot
• ½ large onion
• 2 large eggs
• 2 boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 8 ounces)
• ½ block firm tofu (about 8 ounces)
• 1 large handful bean sprouts (about 6 ounces)
• 2 scallions
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 large pinches katsuo bushi 

Sauce:

• 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 Tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 Tablespoon mirin
• ½ teaspoon dashi powder
• 1 Tablespoon sesame oil

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Instructions

Prep the proteins:

1. Drain and cut the tofu into small ½ inch slices. Set aside on a couple pieces of paper towels to drain. 
2. Cut the chicken in half lengthwise and then into thin slices and set aside.

Prep the veggies:

1. Core the green cabbage and cut into 1 inch pieces. Set aside.
2. Peel and trim the carrot and then slice thin. Cut across the slices to create matchsticks. Set aside.
3. Trim the onion and then slice thin.
4. Trim the scallions and cut into 1 ½ inch pieces. Set aside.

For the Stir Fry:

1. Crack the eggs into a bowl and then whisk briefly.
2. Heat a large pan over medium high heat for a couple of minutes. Add 2 Tablespoons of oil and then the tofu.
3. Let the tofu crisp up untouched for a couple minutes and then flip the tofu over and continue to brown the tofu for a couple more minutes. Set aside.
4. Raise the heat to high and add the remaining 2 Tablespoons oil, chicken, and onions to the pan.
5. Stir fry for a couple minutes and then add the cabbage and carrots. Continue to stir fry for several minutes, moving the ingredients around constantly.
6. Add the sauce ingredients to the pan and stir.
7. Lower the heat to medium and move the ingredients to the edge of the pan. 
8. Add the egg to the middle of the pan and let it cook undisturbed for a couple minutes until half set and then gently stir, breaking up the egg. 
9. add the beansprouts, scallions, and tofu and stir fry for another minute. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
10. Transfer the stir fry to a plate and top with katsuo bushi. Serve immediately.

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Keywords: stir fry, okinawan food, japan, chicken, tofu, eggs, quick, dinner ideas