Oat Fries

A creative take from the usual mozzarella fries, fish fries, chicken fries and polenta fries!

Heart healthy oats is more versatile than served in a bowl every morning.

Oats is simply cooked with some stock, cooled in a pan, cut into sticks, breaded and fried. Great even in kids lunch box served with marinara sauce. Simply place leftover cooled fries in a zipper-lock bag and freeze. Reheat just as you would frozen chicken nuggets or fish sticks.

Ingredients:

4 cups chicken stock

3 cups old fashion oats

3 large eggs

3 cups panko bread crumbs

2 cups vegetable or corn oil

homemade or store bought marinara sauce for serving

Preparation:

Grease an 8 x 8 inch square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Bring chicken stock to a boil in a medium saucepan, stir in oats, cover, reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes , until cooked and no liquid is remaining. Transfer cooked oats into the prepared baking dish , spread evenly, smooth top and set aside to cool completely. Cover pan with foil, place in refrigerator for at least 4 hours or over night.

Whisk eggs and 2 tablespoons water in a small wide dish .

Place bread crumbs in another dish.

Remove oat cake from refrigerator, turn pan upside down and tap gently onto a cutting board until cake falls out. Cut oats cake into 3 inch x 3/4 inch sticks, dip in beaten eggs and roll in bread crumbs.

Heat oil in a 9-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat to moderately hot (350-360 degrees).  Deep fry oat sticks few at a time, until golden brown on all sides ( about 5 minutes). Drain on paper towels.

Serve hot with marinara sauce.

Makes about 25-30 sticks