Chia Pudding 2 Ways

November 22, 2016

How can something that is gluten free, dairy free, and grain free be so good?

Because it’s chia pudding and it’s my latest obsession.

What exactly is chia, you ask?

According to WebMD:

Chia is an edible seed that comes from the desert plant Salvia hispanica, grown in Mexico dating back to Mayan and Aztec cultures. “Chia” means strength, and folklore has it that these cultures used the tiny black and white seeds as an energy booster. That makes sense, as chia seeds are a concentrated food containing healthy omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, antioxidants,and calcium.   

Basically, chia is a superfood.  And superfoods are super good for us!  So why not incorporate them into our diets easily & deliciously!  

Chia pudding is made from a blend of chia seeds and some sort of liquid.  The chia seeds absorb the liquid over a period of time and the result is a creamy pudding.  It has a similar texture to tapioca pudding, with those tiny little balls floating around in it.  (Did that sound wrong?)

I’ve been experimenting this past week and have come up with 2 simple recipes for chia pudding – chocolate chia pudding and blueberry chia pudding, both with only 4 ingredients!

And like I mentioned above the pudding is gluten free, grain free, and dairy free!  The blueberry chia has a little added sugar (in the form of maple syrup), but the chocolate chia is free from any added sugars.

I have been enjoying this pudding after dinner as a sweet treat.  It is really satisfying and fun to eat!  My suggestion is to make it in the evening, put it in the fridge overnight, and enjoy it the next day for breakfast, a snack, or dessert. 

Feel free to have fun with toppings, too!  Some ideas are granola, chopped fruit, raisins, nuts or cacao nibs.  Both recipes make 2 servings.

Blueberry Chia Pudding

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1 cup frozen blueberries
  • 2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 4  tablespoons chia seeds

Directions:

  • Put almond milk, blueberries and syrup in a pot over medium heat.  Bring to a boil.  Boil for one minute.
  • Remove from heat and stir in the chia seeds.
  • Cover and put in refrigerator to thicken, at least 4 hours but preferably overnight.

 blueberry-chia-pudding

Chocolate Chia Pudding

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 5 dates (substitute with prunes if desired)
  • 1/4 cup cacao powder
  • 4 tablespoons chia seeds

Directions:

  • Put almond milk, dates,  and cacao powder in a blender and puree until smooth.   
  • Remove from the blender and stir in the chia seeds.
  • Cover and put in refrigerator to thicken, at least 4 hours but preferably overnight.

chocolate-chia-pudding

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