Avena Caliente (Oats and Milk Hot Drink) was often served with breakfast when I was a kid. Practical, simple, quick to make, and inexpensive, this is one of our favorite recipes.
Why we ❤️ it
Whoever came up with the idea of Avena Caliente (oatmeal and milk hot drink) must have been a culinary genius.
Oatmeal dishes as a part of breakfast are pretty much universal at this point. Imagine oatmeal in a drink form. It's perfectly practical: a warm, thick drink, full of the flavors of our beloved spices. It warms the soul and satisfies the most voracious appetite.
Even those who dislike oatmeal porridge will give this oatmeal drink a second chance.
It is often found on our breakfast table and sometimes served with, or as dinner. Practical, simple, quick to make, and inexpensive, this is just perfect to send the kids off to school with a nutritionally solid meal in their stomachs.
And grownups will love it too. Pour into your favorite lidded mug and sip on your way to work if you are short on time.
About this recipe
There isn't many ways to make this drink differently, at least not the traditional version. Different homes may add or substitute spices, so if you have a favorite trick to make your avena, I'd love to hear in the comments.
And check these other Dominican hot drink recipes that you'll love too.
Salud!
Recipe
[Recipe + Video] Avena Caliente (Oatmeal and Milk Hot Drink)
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats, [58 gr]
- 4 cup water
- ¼ teaspoon salt, (optional)
- 4 cup milk (whole or skim), (see notes)
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 6 cloves
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (freshly-grated)
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar, (or more, to taste)
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Instructions
Mixing: Combine water, milk, salt, and oats and mix (in a blender) until the oatmeal is nearly dissolved.- Heating: In a 3 quart [3 lt] pot mix with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Reducing: Once it breaks the boil, lower heat and simmer until volume has reduced to ¾ of the original. Add sugar to taste
- Serving: Serve warm.
Tips and Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutritional information.
This was sooo delicious and turned out just like my abuela used to make! I left it the "rustic " way because that's how I used to drink it. I halved the ingredients because I was making it just for me. It's really not as forgotten as people think. I… Read more »
I recently found your blog and everything I have tried has been stellar. The avena caliente was delicious and reminded me of how my mom used to make it when I was a child. Thank you for sharing this great recipe with us. It's a hit in my household!
I l love avena con leche caliente.I don't think it is as forgotten as people think. I like the rustic recipe better (where you leave the oats whole), but I do like this one two; it just depends on what I want at the moment. Also to change it a… Read more »
My kids say it smells like Christmas!! I recently found out that the Germans make a similar drink with oatmeal but they mostly drink it cold. Its always fascinating when I find connections between our Dominican foods and foods from other countries!
This makes me remember my child hood! I'm loving your site, unfortunately I never picked up my families Dominican recipes so this site helps me try out all the foods I love myself! They will be so surprised when I start bringing in some Dominican dishes to get-together's 😉
Alternate way of cooking. Make oatmeal as you would for a bowl of oatmeal. I had it sitting on my stove when I found this recipe. I used 2 cups steel cut oats and 6 cups of water. Then I simply took 1/4 of the oatmeal (since her recipe calls… Read more »