I got a lot of weird looks in the kitchen when making this. Why is your oatmeal green? Are you seriously putting zucchini in your oatmeal??

But I swear it’s a thing!

I swear I’m not the only one!

I’m being serious when I say it’s a thing: in fact, zucchini oats, or “zoats”, is all over Instagram, Tumblr and the Internet! There are a billion ways to make zucchini oatmeal, but I stuck with matcha powder and peppermint extract because it was a cool transition from the summer.

I included zucchini as one of the most helpful oatmeal thickeners in a previous post, but oddly enough I’ve never actually tried it. It would be weird if I recommended something I never used, right? That was exactly what I thought when I found a lonely zucchini in my fridge that didn’t have an owner (my mom, otherwise). I decided to be a malicious assassin and shred the squash and sizzle it up in a giant pot of minty oatmeal. Man, I’m cruel.

You can pulse the zucchini in a food processor to make the pieces much more finely ground, but I actually kind of like the extra chunkiness of the zucchini in the oats! I also layered the oats with Greek yogurt for extra protein!

RECIPE

• 1 cup grated zucchini, or 1 medium or large zucchini
• 1/2 cup gluten free rolled oats
• 1 tsp matcha powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 tsp vanilla bean powder
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 1 cup water or milk of choice (I like cashew or coconut milk)
• Sweetener to taste
• Opt: coconut, maple extract, etc.

PROCEDURE

1. Steam or microwave the zucchini until soft.
2. Set a pot on low-medium heat.
3. Place the oats and salt in the pot. Follow with the water or milk.
4. Stir consistently and add matcha powder, cinnamon, vanilla and peppermint.
5. Allow the oats to simmer on low for until most of the liquid is absorbed.
6. Add the zucchini and stir in with the oats.
7. When all liquid has evaporated, serve in a bowl or Mason jar and enjoy!

Have you ever tried zoats before? What is the most interesting thing you put in your oatmeal?