Steel-cut oatmeal with apple and cinnamon

A Modern breakfast dish built on whole ingredients.

Servings: 4
Active time: 15 min
Total time: 40 min

Organic sourcing

Apples are on the Dirty Dozen list due to pesticide residue, so it's beneficial to buy them organic. Walnuts are worth considering organic for freshness and quality.

Ingredients

• 1 cup steel-cut oats
• 4 cups water
• 2 apples, peeled, cored and diced
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds (optional)

Method

1. Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan.
2. Add the steel-cut oats and salt to the boiling water, stirring well.
3. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the oats are tender, about 25 to 30 minutes.
4. In the final 5 minutes of cooking, stir in the apples, cinnamon, and maple syrup.
5. Remove from heat and let it sit for a few minutes to thicken.
6. Serve the oatmeal warm, topped with chopped walnuts and chia seeds, if using.

Notes

• Granny Smith apples add tartness, but any apple variety works.
• For creaminess, stir in a splash of almond milk before serving.
• The oats can be made ahead and reheated with a bit of water.

Source

Paraphrased from the culinary canon by Organic.is editors, 2026. Classic Modern recipe. If you'd like a specific source for further reading, ask Tinni (bottom-right) for a book recommendation.