This quick and easy Coconut Milk Oatmeal with Chia Seeds recipe is naturally gluten, dairy and sugar free - perfect for anyone following the candida diet or simply looking for a healthy, warming breakfast without added sugars.
This recipe incorporates healthy fats from the coconut milk, chia seeds and almonds to provide you with long-lasting energy, and a full-feeling without spiking your blood sugar.
Need a make-ahead breakfast? This Dairy-Free Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats recipe is the perfect choice. Or, if you're feeling a little extra, why not try this sugar free Chocolate Baked Oats recipe - it's just like eating dessert for breakfast!
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💕 Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Chia and Coconut Milk Oatmeal was a breakfast staple when I was following the candida diet, so I'm sure you will love it too as it is…
Creamy
Warming
Comforting
Indulgent
and Flavoursome
As with all oatmeal, the fun is always in the toppings. What this oatmeal lacks in sweetness we make up with in texture.
A generous dollop of almond or hazelnut butter is an absolute must and can make or break the recipe. Other topping ideas from the candida diet approved foods list include crushed nuts (be it raw or roasted), coconut flakes and low-sugar berries.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tracy Says:
"Delicious non sweet breakfast. Plenty of protein for energy."
📋 Ingredients
- Organic Oats - Oats are rich in soluble fibre (namely beta-glucan) which supports digestion, helps regulate blood sugar levels, and promotes a healthy gut microbiome. Opt for organic for fewer pesticide residues.
- Creamed Coconut OR Coconut Milk - The key to the oatmeal's luxuriously creamy texture without needing any dairy. I love to use creamed coconut in this recipe, but you could also substitute for 200ml (a little over ⅔ cups) of canned coconut milk - don't forget to reduce the amount of water accordingly.
- Chia Seeds - Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, and plant-based protein, chia seeds will also add bulk and volume increasing satiety without adding carbohydrates.
- Ground Sweet Cinnamon - Also known as Ceylon cinnamon, ground sweet cinnamon provides a naturally sweet flavour without the sugar and is thought to balance blood sugar and reduce inflammation.
- Water - Why not keep it simple? You can also substitute like-for-like with a plant milk of your choice if you wish.
- Almond Butter - Ensure that it is made 100% from almonds, or you can even make your own homemade almond butter!
- Chopped Whole Almonds - Optional topping for added texture and crunch.
🥣 How to Make Coconut Milk Oatmeal
It's as simple as combining all of the ingredients in your saucepan and stirring until the flavours have all melded together and the oats have cooked through.
1. Firstly, add the oats, creamed coconut, chia seeds, cinnamon, and water to a saucepan and heat on high while stirring continuously for a minute or two until the porridge starts to blip and thicken.
2. Next, lower the heat to a simmer. Continue to cook the oatmeal for a further five minutes, stirring occasionally. The creamed coconut should have dissolved, and the porridge will be smooth and thick. Serve hot with your favourite toppings.
Hint: I pre-slice my creamed coconut block and store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Not only does it last ages stored this way, but it is such a quick, easy and efficient way to add smaller portions of coconut milk to any meal. You can read more about this hack in my post How To Save Money on Coconut Milk.
🥡 Storage
Store any leftover oatmeal in an airtight glass container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat with a splash of plant milk or water to loosen it back up.
This recipe is also freezer-friendly - simply make a larger batch that you can portion into individual servings and freeze for up to one month.
✨ Top Tips
- To avoid any lumps of creamed coconut, chop it into small pieces before adding to the pan so that it melts more quickly.
- There's no need to worry too much about precise measurements here - if the oatmeal is too thick, simply add more water. If it's too watery, allow it to cook off a little while longer, or melt in some more creamed coconut.
- Use a rubber spatula to rescue every drop of oatmeal from the saucepan and to make clean-up a lot easier!
💫 Substitutions
- I love to use creamed coconut in this recipe, but you could also substitute for 200ml of coconut milk and reduce the water slightly.
- Don't have chia seeds? Try substituting with the same amount of ground flaxseed.
❓ FAQ
Yes, but it will no longer be dairy-free and vegan. You can use any milk of choice - almond, oat, or even dairy, but coconut gives it the creamiest result.
Not in the traditional sense. It's naturally warming and slightly sweet from the cinnamon and coconut. What this oatmeal lacks in sweetness we make up with in texture. You can add a little xylitol or stevia if you like more sweetness, however.
This recipe is best with rolled oats for a creamy, quick result. Steel-cut oats will require longer cooking and more water.
More Candida Diet Breakfast Recipes
📖 Recipe
Coconut Milk Oatmeal with Chia Seeds - Completely Sugar Free
Ingredients
- 70 g organic oats
- 5-10 g creamed coconut
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon ground sweet cinnamon
- 385 ml water
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
Instructions
- Add the oats, creamed coconut, chia seeds, cinnamon and water to a saucepan and place on a medium to high heat. Stir continuously.
- As soon as the porridge starts to come to a boil, turnthe heat down to low and cook for a further 5 minutes.
- Stir often to ensure that the bottom does not stick.
- The oatmeal is cooked once it reaches a desirable consistency. The longer you leave it, the thicker it will become.
- Serve the porridge hot with a generous tablespoon of almond butter. Finish with chopped almonds, a splash of plantmilk, or coconut flakes for added texture.
Notes
- This recipe makes a generous portion for one person. Alternatively, it can be shared between two alongside other breakfast fare, enjoyed cold, or reheated the next day.
- If you prefer a sweeter flavour, add a tablespoon of granulated xylitol while cooking to sweeten.
- I love to use creamed coconut in this recipe, but you could also substitute for 200ml (a little over ⅔ cups) of coconut milk and reduce the water accordingly.
Last step! If you make this recipe, will you do me a huge favour and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review letting me know what you thought? It really helps! Thanks for your support!!
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutritional info is approximate and for general guidance only. Unit conversions are automatically generated and may not be accurate.
Tracy Traubel says
Great non sweet breakfast. I added 1/3 cup frozen blueberries.
Carly says
Hi Tracy, thank you so much for the positive feedback and I am pleased you enjoyed this recipe!
Tracy says
Delicious non sweet breakfast. Plenty of protein for energy.
Kimmy says
We are eating with the Candida diet. Here is what I did the same and had to adjust. The recipe is made with millimeters. I would fix it to cups and tbl or tsp. I doubled the recipe I used 2 1/2 cups organic gluten free raw oats, 1 cup water and about 2 1/2 cups of oatmilk that is unsweetened. It’s a bit redundant I get it but I saw another recipe and thought I would try. 3/4 tsp of raw coconut butter. Got it at Sprouts. 2 tbl chia seeds. Nutmeg and cinnamon. I just eyed it rather than measure. No salt. Then when completed I did blueberries, whole almonds and unsweetened coconut milk. I did the generous topping of almond butter with no sugar or salt. The problem I found is the almond butter made it too thick. I would cut that back. This made enough for 3 to 4 people depending on how much you eat. I was asked to add a drizzle of organic honey next time. I personally don’t want it but it gives an option. I would make this again without a doubt! Hope this helps. It’s filling. The doctor told us to start the morning with a protein (like an egg) to begin digestion first. But this morning I was feeling a bit rebellious and it’s raining. We needed comfort food without messing up our, “changed way of eating”. We’ve lost tons of weight. Hope this blesses someone and thank you for leaving this recipe.
Carly says
Hi Kimmy! Thanks for the review and for leaving your suggestions for substitutions and I am glad you found a recipe that still provides you with some comfort. I also found this one very comforting when carbs had otherwise been eliminated from my diet! Wishing you all the best with the rest of your diet 💚
Carly says
This coconut and chia seed oatmeal was a breakfast (and snack!) staple when I was following the candida diet, especially with a generous helping of almond milk. 😊