Three Oat Beverages – Tres bebidas de avena

Go to printable recipes: Three Oat Beverages

Oat milk was invented in the 1990s in Sweden, and has become a top choice with beneficiaries amongst consumers with dietary restrictions – since it is non-dairy, plant-based, and in most cases, gluten-free – as well as environmentalists, for its lower environmental cost, and water requirements, compared to cow or almond milk.

In Mexico, oats have been used in morning smoothies (licuados) since a way more distant past, by the addition of a scoop of flakes directly in a blender, along with milk, nuts, fruit, and whatever other additions left to the cook’s mercy and imagination. Nowadays, licuados and also aguas frescas (refreshing beverages) may feature oats as their main flavour, and are a favourite both in many Mexican juice bars, and at home.

For these beverages, do not use instant oat packets, always use oat flakes, such as Quaker™ large oat flakes:

Printable recipes: Three Oat Beverages

When oats are chosen for aguas frescas, this tasty and refreshing beverage is also nutritious and vegan.

Oat Refreshing Beverage – Agua de Avena

Ingredients

1 cup oat flakes (not instant)
1 stick cinnamon OR 1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp sugar, or to taste
4 cups water

Place oats and cinnamon in a bowl, and add two cups of water:

Allow to soak for a couple of hours.

If using cinnamon stick, remove and discard. Transfer the rest to a blender jar, add two more cups of water, and sugar to taste. Blend for about one minute, until smooth:

Transfer to a pitcher and chill in the fridge until serving time. Stir before serving.

For the morning rush, an oat smoothie provides a quick and healthy breakfast.

Oat Smoothie – Licuado de Avena

Ingredients

¼ cup oat flakes (not instant)
½ tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp sugar, or to taste
2 cups cold milk

Place oats, cinnamon and sugar in a blender jar, then add milk:

Process until smooth and frothy:

Serve and drink immediately.

And finally, sometimes I cook oat flakes with cinnamon and water as directed in the package (photos below), and there are some leftover:

This bonus recipe will use up any breakfast leftovers, and will result in an extra rich smoothie for a mid-morning or afternoon refreshment.

Extra Creamy Oat Smoothie – Licuado de avena super cremoso

Ingredients

½ cup leftover cooked oats
2 tbsp honey, or to taste
1 ½ cups water
½ cup evaporated milk

Place all ingredients in the blender (photo below, left), and process until smooth (photo below, right):

Chill in the fridge until serving time.

In the photo at the top of this post, and below, from left: Oat refreshing beverage (agua de avena), oat smoothie (licuado de avena), and extra creamy oat smoothie (licuado de avena super cremoso):

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