Chia Seeds and Cooking: Pudding that Packs Some Power!
It occurs to us that there is more interest in Chia Seeds than we could have anticipated until we discovered the amount of traffic that seeks out information about these marvelous little wonders! So in the interest of all things Chia, we want to explain how you can make a power-packed pudding from the amazing seed and some healthy ingredients which will make you feel full and satisfied for hours.
Once you try out this recipe or any variations in your own kitchen, you’ll become a true fan of the favored tiny seeds. You can add your own flavoring to enhance the original basic recipe. The main thing to remember is to experiment and find the taste that makes you drool for more.
We prefer to place our chia seeds in a spice grinder and we feel that the seed meal is better able to absorb the liquid ingredients and that gives us a smoother consistency for the pudding.
3 cups of soymilk or almond milk
1 cup of chia seeds
3 Tablespoons of honey or blue agave syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
3 TSP chocolate or raw cacao powder
1 tsp orange or almond extract
Blend on medium high for one minute or until the chocolate is thoroughly mixed into the liquid and chia seed meal. Allow a little time for the pudding to set and keep any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days.
If you prefer to add the chia seed meal to kudzu root pudding instead of a soy or nut milk base; then substitute 4 cups of kudzu pudding. The kudzu pudding is already thickened, so you can serve this pudding either hot or after it is cooled for one hour in the frig. We often use banana or blueberries to garnish our kudzu pudding, but you can use any type of berry or even adorn the topping by using chopped nuts like almond or cashews or walnuts. Pine nuts or pinole can be gently toasted or used raw and sprinkled on top of the pudding. You can sprinkle shredded coconut as a topping, too. Use your imagination and enjoy this pudding with unlimited variations.
I want to thank several visitors who suggested that we find more ways to use chia seeds. This easy recipe will be quick and simple to experiment with for most people who cook in their kitchens or just are willing to throw a few ingredients together for a sweet and succulent pudding. This is a recipe that young children can do themselves.
One last suggestion is to play around with different milk bases. Soymilk and ricemilk are readily available in most health food stores. Almond milk and other nut milks are more difficult to find, but are commercially available. It is always best to make your own, if you have the time and decent equipment in your kitchen. Just be sure to use fresh organic nuts, since they tend to go rancid very easily. If you find that there is too much texture or grit for you to enjoy, then strain the milk through a cheesecloth before adding the chia seed meal.
If you want to get really fancy, you can slice fresh bananas and layer the pudding between layers of bananas in a parfait glass. You can dress up this dessert with a pizzelle or pack the pudding into a cone and then garnish with coconut, chocolate chips, or nuts for greater flair!
Visit our affiliate business partner Frontier who carries the Simply Organic brand for fresh organic extracts and other ingredients which will enhance your chia seed pudding and kudzu pudding. You can trust the quality of the flavorings from Frontier!
