Cheesy, Savory Oatmeal with Kimchi

My first taste of oatmeal came from a Quaker instant oat packet. It had an unpleasant, mushy texture with a rather sweet-yet-bland taste that immediately turned me off.

Growing up in Korea, I was used to breakfasts that featured freshly made rice, warm soup, and at least four different types of banchan. As a child, I rarely had an appetite early in the morning, but once I had a whiff of grilled mackerel and bubbling kimchi jjigae coming from the kitchen, my stomach woke up.

I didn’t know there were specific American breakfast foods like waffles and oatmeal until I came to the U.S. At least pancakes come drenched in maple syrup, but bland oats? No, thanks! So, I avoided oatmeal at all costs for a long time until I came across savory oats in my adulthood.

When I first tried savory oats, I realized the problem wasn’t the oats; the problem was me! This time around, I made them so much better. I seasoned the oats with soy sauce instead of sugar,  used chicken broth or miso broth to cook oats, and topped it with spicy, crunchy kimchi. 

Oatmeal is a lot like congee (also known as jook), a blank canvas where you can add whatever flavors your heart desires. And, out of the many variations I’ve made, I always go for this cheesy, savory oatmeal with kimchi because no matter how empty my fridge is, I always have these pantry ingredients on hand to whip up this dish.

First, I sauté sliced onion, kimchi, and garlic in scallion-infused oil to concentrate their flavors. Then, the oats enter the flavor party in the pot and get seasoned with umami-rich soy sauce and nutty, toasted sesame oil. When I want to be extra, I top the oatmeal with a soft-boiled egg, but most mornings, I crack an egg directly into the oatmeal and mix it in, which makes the oatmeal delightfully fluffy. 

As far as finishing touches go, the wonderfully salty combination of Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese takes this savory oatmeal to the next level. It’s hearty, spicy, cheesy, and so delicious — even my Korean parents, who have never tried oats, loved it! And let’s be honest, that’s the ultimate seal of approval.