Chia seeds are impressive little guys. They are packed with antioxidants, fiber, protein and omega-3’s along with many micronutrients. They may be small, but they truly are mighty.
Chia pudding is one of the best ways to enjoy all of the fiber, protein, antioxidants and micronutrients that they are packed with. It comes together in just a few minutes, has a wonderful texture and can be flavored in a variety of different ways.
Let’s get started…
Chia seeds last much longer than other seeds, but they can expire. In addition to checking the “use by” date on the packaging, you can also taste a few of them. They should have a mild nutty flavor with a crunchy texture, so if they taste bitter or feel gummy, they should be tossed.
The good news is that it only takes about 15 minutes for fresh chia seeds to start plumping up, so it is quite easy to determine whether your seeds are good to go.
Begin by whisking 1/3 cup of chia seeds into 1 1/2 cups of almond milk. This is the basic recipe and from here, you can decide how you want to flavor your pudding…
-
-
- Sweeteners: To sweeten chia pudding, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of honey, maple syrup or agave or a 1/2 teaspoon of stevia or your favorite sweetener
- Extracts: I usually add a little vanilla extract to everything, so this would be a great place to start, but you could play with other extracts you love to create different flavors
- Fresh Fruit: Diced, mashed or pureed fruit is also a wonderful add in to chia pudding
- Coconut: Some of the almond milk in this recipe could be replaced by coconut milk, shredded coconut can be whisked in before chilling or coconut cream can be added before serving
- Chocolate: My personal favorite version of chia pudding is this chocolate chia pudding and it is just as easy to make as the classic version
-
Something to keep in mind is that everything you add to your chia pudding will alter the color of the end result. If the black and white aesthetic is important to you, then stick with plain almond milk (the vanilla version, although delicious, will result in a creamy colored pudding) and clear extracts or sweeteners.
Once everything is combined, let it sit for about 15 minutes and then give it a good whisk to break up any clumps of chia seeds. Cover the bowl and chill for several hours.
This chia pudding is thick, creamy and delicious and if you didn’t add much into the initial mixture, I suggest adding a little dollop of vanilla Greek yogurt or whipped cream and some fresh berries.
With wonderful textures, great flavor and so many health benefits, this chia pudding is such a fabulous option for everything from breakfast to dessert or a midnight snack.
Classic Chia Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups of almond milk
- 1/3 cup of chia seeds
- vanilla extract (optional)
- honey, maple syrup or agave (optional)
Instructions
- Combine 1 1/2 cups of almond milk with 1/3 cup of chia seeds in a small bowl
- Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes and then whisk to break up any clumps of chia seeds
- Cover the bowl and chill for several hours before serving
- Garnish with Greek yogurt, whipped cream or fresh fruit
