Chocolate Halva Oatmeal

If you like a decadent yet simple breakfast bowl, give this one a try.

Rich, creamy, chocolate oats with the unique flavor of tahini . . . . Sometimes you just need to switch things up a bit. Keep your palate on its toes.

I prefer to drizzle the tahini on top as I go (rather than mixing it in) so that I get a fuller contrast; the tahini really stands out that way.

This is one of my few go-to ways of flavoring our oatmeal on a regular basis (another is this one). If you're keen to add fruit, by all means, you're the boss. If you want to stick with the Middle Eastern feel, try pomegranate!

• 1 cup oats*

• 1 cup water* for soaking

*See instructions for overnight step.

• 1 cup soy milk for cooking (or other plant milk, or water)

• ½ tsp. salt

• 1 T. cocoa powder (preferably a mix of Dutch processed and Black Onyx)

• 1 T. maple syrup

• 2 T. of flax meal and/or chia seeds

• Tahini, to serve

Ingredients

Serves 2

Instructions

1. The night before, mix together the oats and 1 cup water to soak. Cover and let sit on the counter overnight. (Use a glass, ceramic, or stoneware bowl for this; avoid plastic.) *Bonus: If you have sourdough or yogurt, you can stir in a tsp. of starter at this point.

2. In the morning, to a small pot add 1 cup plant milk (or water), the bowl of soaked oats (don't drain), and salt. Heat up to a boil, then reduce to simmer. Total cook time should be about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally to avoid scorching. Adjust cook time to your preferred thickness.

3. Once cooked, turn off the heat; add cocoa powder, maple syrup, and seeds. Stir.

4. Serve into warmed bowls and top with tahini.

Last updated: December 19, 2024

Chocolate Halva Oatmeal

"Jessica," you may be wondering, "how did you get it to be so dark?"

That, my friend, is the delightful secret of Black Onyx cocoa powder. Here I used half Dutch processed (the reddish brown) and half Black Onyx (I think you can tell which that is). The bag I purchased on Amazon is certified Fair Trade, a member of 1% for the Planet, and certified plastic neutral.

Black Onyx is the sort used in Oreos. Rich, dark . . . reminiscent, even. All the goodness, none of the scary.

Pair with a good book. Reading with breakfast is a delightful way to start the day.