savory oatmeal bowl with chile cream cheese

Breakfast

Savory Oatmeal Bowl with Chile Cream Cheese

If you've never tried savory oatmeal, then start here. Chicken broth, fried egg and sesame work together so nicely, you may permanently expel cinnamon and raisins from your morning bowl. The cream cheese mixed with chile paste (such as Korean gochujang) is the best part of this protein-packed meal.

Ingredients

1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
1 ounce low-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1 tablespoon chile paste, such as gochujang (korean red chile paste)
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
kosher salt, optional
nonstick cooking spray
1 large egg
1 scallion, sliced
1 sheet nori, cut into thin ribbons with kitchen shears

Directions

Swirl the sesame seeds in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat until they begin to brown and toast, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl; set aside.
Stir together the cream cheese, chile paste and 1 tablespoon water with a rubber spatula in another small bowl until combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Bring the chicken broth, oats, 1 cup water and a pinch of salt, if using, to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the oats soften and breakdown and the mixture is the consistency of a loose porridge, 15 to 20 minutes. Pour into a cereal bowl, cover and keep warm.
Generously spray the skillet with cooking spray, and set over medium-high heat. Crack the egg into a mug or small bowl, and carefully slide it into the hot skillet. Cook until the white is set and brown and crispy on the bottom and edges and the yolk is still runny, 2 to 3 minutes.
Use a spatula to help slide the egg on top of the oatmeal. Then arrange neat piles of the chile cream cheese, scallions and nori on top of the oatmeal. Sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds. Then take a photo!