Harissa Spiced Moroccan Oatmeal Recipe

This Harissa Spiced Moroccan Oatmeal Recipe delivers bold, assertive North African and Mediterranean flavors. This easy to make brunch recipe is spicy, smoky and savory. And… oh, that perfect egg!

this RECIPE!

Having a delicious homemade brunch on Sunday morning is fun because it gets me warmed up in the kitchen without having to think too hard about food. It also fuels me for the day ahead.

And one of my favorite indulgent and healthy Sunday meals is this green harissa spiced Moroccan oatmeal recipe. It delivers on bold, assertive Mediterranean and North African flavors… and, oh, that egg!

Savory Over Sweet

Oatmeal can be a bit of a blank slate from a flavor perspective. While cooked oats tend to have a mildly nutty essence, there’s just not a whole lot going on when oatmeal is left on its own.

That may explain why it’s common to see oatmeal recipes that call for fruit, sugar, cinnamon, honey and nuts to give the healthy breakfast food a bit more of a presence. This hearty simple oatmeal recipe goes in the opposite direction, and achieves a savory and spicy flavor profile with a few simple ingredients.

The chopped tomato, grated garlic, olive oil and parsley combination I spoon on top isn’t quite a salsa – but looks and almost acts like one. It imparts a clean, fresh Mediterranean lilt to the blank flavor canvas that is oatmeal. But this hearty oatmeal recipe gets its mojo and swagger from harissa.

What Is Harissa?

Harissa is Tunisian in origin – but the smoky, spicy chili paste is ubiquitous throughout most North African cuisine. You’ll find it in use in many delicious Moroccan dishes. And when you head to the grocery store, many of the easier to find brands of jarred harissa also hail from Morocco.

Red or green chilis are ground into a paste with tomato paste, roasted red or green peppers, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil. The result of this delicious mix is equal parts spicy, smoky and bright.

While the spiciness is usually a bit out front, it’s not an overwhelming element. It’s reeled in by the citrus and savory elements. Harissa is normally used as a dip or a condiment. And a little goes a long way! If you are sensitive to spices, try a bit before adding too much to your own oatmeal.

Best Oatmeal For This Recipe

When searching for how to make oatmeal, it’s important to know that there are a few different types of oatmeal. And the preparation for each is slightly different. The different types of oatmeal that we find on the shelves of the supermarket, just have received different levels of processing.

For this recipe I recommend using steel cut oats. They look a bit like rice grains that have been cut into pieces. They consist of the entire oat groat, cut into small bits. These are the least processed oats in the oatmeal trinity.

But you can also use these two other types:

• Rolled oats are the whole oat groat, steamed and then flattened. These look like quintessential oatmeal grains you’d find in a granola bar. Sometimes called old-fashioned oats, these cook pretty quickly and retain their shape quite well.
• Instant oats are pre-cooked, dried then pressed. These will cook up with minimal liquid in a very short time – although they have the tendency to lose their shape and come out quite mushy.

Cooking Oatmeal

With quick steel cut oats I used 2 cups of water per 1 cup of oatmeal. I also toss a pinch of salt into boiling water and they’re ready in about 7 minutes.

Now, with normal steel cut oats (the non-quick-cooking-type) it’s common to use a bit more water (usually 3-4 cups of water to each cup of oats), and to cook a little longer on the stovetop (20-30 minutes)

Be sure to follow the instructions on the package when you whip up your oatmeal at home. The instructions for steel cut oats vary from brand to brand. Same goes for following the package instructions for rolled oats (or old-fashioned oats).

Making It Vegan

To make a completely plant based version of this oatmeal recipe, simply leave the egg out.

Feel like adding some iron rich veggies to the mix?

Get that knife out and make a chiffonade of raw spinach. It will wilt pretty much as soon as it hits the hot oatmeal – and it’s a great way to get some greens into your diet.

Want to add even more savory flavor to your hearty Sunday morning feast?

Roughly chopping a few olive-oil-cured black olives and sprinkling them on top makes such a delicious and easy addition.

Sunday Or Anyday Meal

In the past, the inspiration for most of my simple oatmeal recipe ideas hinged predominantly on immediate hunger and proximity to oatmeal. And while some of them turned out fairly well, this is the first oatmeal recipe (aside from cookies) that I’ve felt compelled to share with you, friends.

I hope that this harissa spiced Moroccan oatmeal recipe can become a part of your weekend ritual. What’s a taste that reminds you of free time and relaxation? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments!

Other simple, delicious breakfast / brunch recipes:

• Breakfast Asparagus, Radish and Ricotta Toast
• Spring Swiss Chard Pie With Gruyere
• Coconut French Toast With Smashed Raspberries
• Harissa Sweet Potato Hash
• Chinese Vegetable Omelette

Did you like this recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share? Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below!

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