Strawberries are in season, so why not make something incredibly healthy and delicious with them? Something like chia seed pudding!
Chia seeds are incredibly versatile and nutritious. Their high omega-3 content helps reduce inflammation, enhance cognitive performance and reduce high cholesterol. Water-soluble fiber in chia seeds assists in removing toxins, regulating bowel function and blood sugar levels. On top of that, these super seeds are packed with antioxidants, calcium, magnesium and manganese.
These little black seeds absorb more than nine times their volume in water or any other liquid, forming a pudding-like consistency. You can make chia pudding in many flavors but this particular recipe tastes just like summer:
Ingredients:
- ½ cup chia seeds
- 2 cups unsweetened non-dairy milk (almond, hazelnut, coconut, hempseed, etc.)
- ¼ cup raisins
- 3 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
- 3 tablespoons of honey, coconut nectar, maple syrup or other sweetener of your choice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or ground vanilla
Serves 3-4
Directions:
Soak chia seeds and raisins in non-dairy milk for at least one hour. It can also be soaked in the fridge overnight. When seeds are ready, prepare the strawberry sauce. Blend strawberries, your preferred sweetener and vanilla extract together. Then mix it in with the soaked chia seeds. Sprinkle some nuts, seeds or raisins on top and serve. You're going to love it!
A few tips and notes:
It's best to use homemade almond or other nut milk. However, if you’re using a store-bought alternative, make sure it's unsweetened and preferably organic. If you’re using full fat coconut milk, dilute it with water (proportion 1:1) to minimize fat intake.
You might need to adjust the amount of sweetener depending on the sweetness of your strawberries. If you don’t want to use a refined sweetener, feel free to use fresh dates instead.
Enjoy this beautiful summery dessert!
Osha Key is a transformation coach based in Southeast Asia. Her work focuses on helping women revolutionize their lives by using unique tools to change their identity, tap into their limitless potential, and connect to their purpose in life. She received her bachelor's in economics from Kaunas University of Technology, and completed her advanced holistic nutritionist certification at the School of Natural Health Sciences.