Chia seeds are quite tiny seeds but they are extremely nutritious. These black seeds are a complete protein with three times more iron than spinach, double the amount of potassium than bananas, and a great source of fiber to help aid digestion. Chia seeds are flavorless, making them easy to add to many different foods and recipes. Read the following post to know some of the best ways to eat chia seeds that you should try.
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Best Ways to Eat Chia Seeds
1. Chia seeds are used as toppings
The easiest and quickest way to eat chia seeds is by making them a topping on your foods like yogurt or oatmeal. In this way, you just have to sprinkle them over the dishes instead of cooking the seeds. You can also mix them well with the foods to make the dishes pulpy and gelatinous.
The amount of the seeds you should use in this chia seed recipe is 1-2 tablespoons. For instance, in the morning, use 1-2 tablespoons to sprinkle over your cereal, oatmeal, or yogurt. For lunch or dinner, also use the same amount to mix with sandwich ingredients or salad dishes. You can adjust the quantity as you wish.
2. Chia pudding
You can make chia pudding as you would chia water. For a thicker, pudding-like texture, add more seeds and let the mixture soak longer.
You can make this treat with juice or milk, including flavorings like vanilla and cocoa.
Chia pudding makes a delicious dish that can be eaten for breakfast or as a dessert. If you don’t like the seeds’ texture, try blending it to give it a smoother finish.
3. Chia water
One of the best ways to eat chia seeds is to add them to water. It is an easy way that everyone can do it.
To make chia water, soak 1/4 cup (40 grams) of chia seeds in 4 cups (1 liter) of water for 20–30 minutes.
To give your drink some flavor, you can add chopped fruit or squeeze in a lemon, lime, or orange.
4. Baked goods
If you’re not a fan of chia seeds’ gelatin-like texture, try adding them to baked goods. Chia gel helps keep baked goods moist and may be used in place of eggs or as a thickener. You may also top muffins or quick bread with chia seeds before baking. Substitute one whole egg in a recipe for 1 tablespoon of chia seeds mixed with 3 tablespoons of water.
Banana chia breakfast muffins are made with oat flour, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, bananas, and dates. Try them for a portable breakfast or after-school snack for your kids.
5. Jam
Chia seeds and jam may seem like an odd combination, but the seeds serve as a natural gel thickener. Chia seed jam is thinner than traditional jam, but easy to spread on toast and muffins or drizzle over yogurt, hot cereal, and ice cream.
To make a simple chia seed jam, add 2 tablespoons chia seeds to about 2 cups of mashed fresh fruit. Add sweetener like honey or agave as desired, and let the mixture sit for at least 10 minutes. As the mixture sits, it will take on a jam-like consistency.
For a thicker jam, cook the mashed fruit and sweetener over low to medium heat for about five minutes before adding the chia seeds. This strawberry chia jam recipe contains only strawberries, chia seeds, water, and natural sweetener.
6. Chia seeds soups
One of the prominent features of chia seeds is the excellent ability to absorb water to make a gel. Making use of this, you can use chia seeds to thicken your soups or other sauces.
Specifically, add 2-4 tablespoons of chia seeds into your sauce, soups, or stew. Heat them up and stir occasionally. After 10-20 minutes, you will get a gelatinous texture as the liquid gets thicker.
7. Chia Seeds Gel
If you do not want to mix it with the soups, there is another chia seeds recipe you should know to make use of the gel texture.
Soak 1-2 tablespoons of chia seeds in water (you can adjust the amount of water depending on how thin they get you to want). Then stir intermittently for 30 minutes. After you get a perfect chia seeds gel, put it into the fridge for later use. It can be kept for up to 2 weeks. You can add it to other foods or use it to replace eggs in baked goods.
