Bruleed Irish Oatmeal

sugarpea's Note:

This is a great dish to serve overnight guests during the holidays. You just have to remember to dry the brown sugar the night before. Even those who swear they don't like oatmeal will probably like this. I'm one of those myself. Don't try to substitute for the steel-cut oats in this recipe, and the dried fruit chips add a lot to the finished dish. The original recipe is attributed to Katy Sparks of Quilty's restaurant, New York.

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 2

• 2 -3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 1 ¾ cups water
• ¾ cup any steel cut oats (Irish or Scottish)
• 1⁄8; teaspoon salt
• dried apple
• dried pear half , chips
• maple syrup

Directions:

1. Spread brown sugar out on a baking sheet and set aside overnight; force through a sieve or grind in spice grinder; set aside.
2. Bring milk and water to a boil; stir in oatmeal and salt; cook over medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring often; continue to stir occasionally, reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes or until oats are desired firmness and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
3. Spoon oatmeal into serving bowls; sprinkle with dried brown sugar and using a mini torch, melt the sugar until it forms a golden crust.
4. Alternatively, pour the oatmeal into a casserole dish and use the broiler to melt the sugar, about 2 minutes.
5. Garnish with apple and pear chips and maple syrup.

Reviews

[gailanng]

Comfort food. Taste so good that you cry. Made for Best of 2012 tag event.

[Cookgirl]

McCann's Irish steel cut oats took center stage for our St. Pat's breakfast yesterday. Of course, I forgot to prep the brown sugar. Here's what was done early yesterday morning: I placed brown sugar in an oven proof dish, set the oven to 170º then immediately turned off the oven and leaving the oven light on. Next, placed the brown sugar in the oven and let it dry out for about 1 1/2 hours. Used a spice grinder. Worked perfectly! For the second part of Step #2, the oatmeal started to boil over and the heat was reduced to medium-low. Granny Smith apples replaced both the dried apples and dried pears. I don't own a blow torch and used the alternate method. Served with cream, maple syrup, little bit of Irish butter. ~Tasty Dish~ liked hers with cinnamon, raisins, milk and a small pat of Irish butter. YUM!