Kefir overnight oats is a delicious, filling and nutritious breakfast you can make up to several days ahead of time. Creamy, chilled oats are the perfect morning meal any time of the year, and can be topped with granola, fruits or other tasty ingredients.
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Have you jumped on the overnight oats trend yet? This is a great opportunity to check it out!
Overnight oats is essentially a cold version of oatmeal. The ingredients are combined in a container, which is stored in a refrigerator overnight or for up to several days. You eat the oats cold directly from the fridge, either plain or topped with goodies like granola, fresh fruit or berries, peanut butter or honey.
I love overnight oats as an alternative to oatmeal when it's hot outside, or for mornings when I don't have time to cook breakfast. In this recipe we pair the oats with kefir, which makes a really creamy and delicious porridge.
🥘 Ingredients
You only need two ingredients for this recipe: kefir and rolled oats.
You can find kefir in most major supermarkets, either in the dairy section or in the international or Eastern European sections if you have them.
Additionally, you could add a sweetener such as honey for a sweeter version of porridge. You might also want to serve the overnight oats with some toppings you like. See the serving suggestions below for some excellent topping ideas.
🔪 Instructions
Combine kefir, oats and optionally a sweetener like honey in a container. Cover it with a lid, and place it in a refrigerator for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
Stir through the kefir overnight oats before serving them cold. I like to top mine with some sliced fruit, nuts, granola or fresh berries. This gives the oats a more interesting texture and flavor, but is of course completely optional!
🥛 What is kefir?
Kefir is a fermented milk drink that originates from Eastern Europe and Russia. In Norwegian, we call it "sour milk", which is a very fair description of the flavor.
The consistency of the drink is like a thin yogurt, similar to yogurt drinks that you can get in any supermarkets.
As kefir is fermented, it contains a variety of probiotics, as well as many vitamins and minerals. It is a highly beneficial drink, and is a much more powerful probiotic than yogurt. It may help with various digestive problems, and improve your gut health overall.
Kefir is stored in a refrigerator, and you can drink it like any other drink. It can also be used similarly to yogurt or milk, like in this overnight oat recipe.
💭 Top tips
Here are my top tips to succeed with this recipe:
- Make sure to leave the oats in the fridge for the required amount of time. If you eat them too soon, they will still be edible, but not as creamy.
- Feel free to add any add-ins before storing the oats. Cinnamon, honey or strawberry basil sauce are all excellent options.
🥗 Serving suggestions
This dish is best served as breakfast, but can be enjoyed as a late night snack or lunch too. Serve it by itself, or with some delicious toppings.
I like to top my overnight oats with nuts, seeds, fresh fruits and berries, peanut butter, homemade granola, or blueberry chia jam.
📖 Variations
Plain oats with kefir are great, but you can also make several variations of the dish. Here are some of my favorites:
Mixed berries: Stir in some fresh or frozen berries before storing the oats in the fridge. This is an excellent fruity option, and the berries add some additional sweetness to the dish.
With flavored kefir: Although I love plain kefir, you can make this with any flavored kefir. Cherry or strawberry are my favorite flavors.
🍲 Leftovers
You can store leftover kefir overnight oats in airtight containers in a refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Make a big batch and keep it in the fridge for quick and easy breakfasts through the week! I like to make mine in mason jars or other portion sized containers. This makes this dish a great make ahead breakfast that you can even enjoy on the go.
I do not recommend freezing overnight oats, as they tend to become mushy or watery.
🍴 You might also like these recipes..
If you love oatmeal, you should try any of these recipes:
📋 Frequently asked questions
You can serve kefir for breakfast in overnight oats, with your granola or cereal, or as a drink.
Eventually, yes. Their longevity depends on which liquid you use.
Recipe
Kefir Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats (75 g)
- 1 cup kefir (236 ml)
Instructions
- Combine kefir, oats and optionally a sweetener like honey in a container. Cover it with a lid, and place it in a refrigerator for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
- Stir through the kefir overnight oats before serving them cold. I like to top mine with some sliced fruit, nuts, granola or fresh berries. This gives the oats a more interesting texture and flavor, but is of course completely optional!
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