Bananas Foster Oatmeal with Walnuts and Peanut Butter

Ingredients

• 6 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups steel-cut oats
• Kosher salt
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 4 medium ripe bananas, peeled and sliced
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• Orange zest, for garnish
• Ground cinnamon and nutmeg, for garnish

Directions

1. Combine the water and oats in a medium saucepan, then set it over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring now and then and lowering or raising the heat as needed to keep that simmer going, until the oats are tender and the oatmeal has thickened, about 20 minutes. Add salt to taste.
2. While the oats cook, set a medium skillet over medium-high heat and melt the butter until it turns foamy. Add the brown sugar and stir until it dissolves, reducing the heat if the sugar starts to darken too quickly. Stir in the bananas and cook until they soften and pick up a little caramelization, about 4 minutes. Add the walnuts and cook, stirring, until they are coated in a glossy sugar glaze, about 1 minute. Season with salt.
3. Add the peanut butter and half of the banana-walnut mixture to the oatmeal, stirring with a wooden spoon and mashing the bananas into the oats as you go. Divide the oatmeal among bowls, then finish with the rest of the banana-walnut mixture, grated orange zest, and a light sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg. Serve immediately.