fbpx

Tag: no cook

Lemon Chicken Salad

Lemon Chicken Salad

Let’s all take a moment to appreciate the humble unsung hero, the rotisserie chicken. Dress her up or dress her down, she’s always recipe ready! Like a lot of people, I can’t resist grabbing one of Costco’s famous chickens whenever I’m there, and I’ve developed read more

Cucumber Tomato Salad

Cucumber Tomato Salad

It feels like it’s almost too hot to eat these days, let alone cook. That’s where this Cucumber Tomato Salad comes in. Summer produce at its peak doesn’t need much in the way of embellishment, but a quick dressing with some umami rich favorites keeps read more

Overnight Oats

Overnight Oats

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.

ingredients oats

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!

measuring cup overnight oats

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.

portioned oats

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?

chopping bananas

Add a layer of dates on top of the bananas:

Finally I add a generous pinch of coconut chips:

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!

recipe card oats

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

 

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
recipe card oats

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

Ingredients

Scale

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

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.

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