NomEatNom - Orange Almond Overnight Oats Pudding

I had a tough time naming this one, NOMsters. There are just so many fantastically delicious things going on at once!

I have always been a sucker for vanilla and orange flavor combinations. I think it stems from my absolute love of Creamsicles as a child. (Any other kids of the 80s out there with me on that one??) Yet, I realized, much to my dismay, that I had never tried this awesome flavor combination in oatmeal.

That needed to change. Fast.

I also added almond butter on top…because, well, you know me and nut butters.

You may recall that I am also a huge fan of overnight oats. (Please see exhibits A, B, and C.) I love the cool creaminess — not to mention the make-ahead factor, which makes my hectic workday mornings all the better.

However, for me, they were never quite creamy enough. They just didn’t soften, expand, and absorb the way cooked oats do. That’s when it hit me: why not cook the oats first, and then leave them overnight to absorb extra liquid?

Brilliant.

Scrumptiously Brilliant.

Orange Almond Overnight Oats Pudding

By tonya@nomeatnom.com, January 17, 2015

Serves 1

Ingredients:

Oats (rolled) - 1/4 cup (22 g)
Water - 1 1/8 cup (250 g)
Psyllium husks - 1 T (optional)
Greek yogurt (plain) - 3-4 oz. (depending on your desired level of creaminess)
Vanilla extract (pure) - Splash
Oranges - 1, segmented as you would a grapefruit
Almond butter - 1 T

Instructions:

Combine the oats and water in a large microwave-safe bowl. (Note: You could easily double the oats and water if you'd like a larger serving — just be sure to use a very large bowl.)

Cook on high for 4 1/2 minutes. Be careful to keep an eye on your oats in order to avoid oatsplosion (we've all been there before). I usually have to start and stop the microwave in 15-20 second intervals at the end to avoid overflow.

Allow the oats to sit in the closed microwave for 5 minutes. Remove the oats from the microwave. At this point, they will still be quite watery. Don't worry. They will use all of that liquid to turn into soft, pillowy deliciousness.

Leave the oats uncovered, and place them in the refrigerator overnight (or for several hours).

When ready to eat, remove the bowl from the refrigerator. The oats will have absorbed all of the water and will be a pudding-like consistency.

Gently stir in the vanilla extract and Greek yogurt (make your own!) until well-blended. If desired, you can also stir in the psyllium husks at this time. They make the pudding even thicker and give the oats an extra fiber boost! Don't have any husks on hand? Don't worry; the oats are still incredibly delicious without them.

Stir in the orange segments.

Drizzle with almond butter.

Devour the creamy, dreamy goodness.