That’s 2 recipes for you: one is a delish pudding; the other a tasty smoothie – yes, it’s delicious, too, but I was trying to avoid repeating myself.
Since I started making smoothies – late to the party as always, lol! – I’ve used chia seeds loads of times. I’ve also made chia pudding a few times. Chia is the common name for Salvia hispanica and Salvia columbariae; the former the more common and the latter producing golden seeds.
It’s a flowering plant of the mint family and the seeds are high in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, minerals and fiber. They bulk up very well; I’ve heard they take on 10-12 times their weight in liquid, so a great addition to any smoothie recipe, especially when you want to lose weight, as this makes them very filling, so you will eat less.
Some interesting facts:
1. Chia seeds are a good source of B Vitamins and also a rich source of the dietary minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc.
2. The gel from ground seeds may be used to replace as much as 25% of the egg content and oil in cakes while providing other nutrients. (Wikipedia)
The chia puddings I made had mixed reactions in my family: I love the texture but others do not. So you’ll see I’ve put a TIP in the directions of the pudding recipe to help you out if this is also the case in your family.
The recipe comes from Jessica at DessertsWithBenefits. Jessica says of her pudding …
… it’s sweet and peachy with strong notes of warmth and spice from the ginger! Definitely unique, surprisingly addictive, absolutely delicious.
Recipe: Peach and Ginger Chia Pudding
Serves 3
Ingredients:
1 cup Vanilla Almond Milk, unsweetened
8oz Peach Slices, natural, thawed completely if frozen
½ tbs Ginger, ground (you can try freshly grated ginger if you have it!)
½ tsp Vanilla Extract
60g (5 tbs) Chia Seeds
Optional:
You can blend in 2-4 Dates for sweetness, or 4 packets Natural Sweetener (stevia, Truvia, etc.) or Maple Syrup to taste.
Directions:
Blend all the ingredients except the chia seeds, then add them afterwards and stir well. Leave for a few minutes then stir well again to avoid clumping of the seeds.
Tip:
Some folks like the texture of the chia seeds, however, it’s a bit like tapioca pudding in the minds of some. So if you do NOT like this texture then blend all the ingredients together, including the chia seeds. (Or mill the seeds in a coffee grinder before using them.)
Once blended, pour into a container or individual glasses or ramekins. Cover and place in the refrigerator overnight, or for at least 3 hours.
Recipe: Peach and Ginger Chia Smoothie
This is based on the Peach and Ginger Chia Pudding recipe on the previous page.
Serves 2-4
Ingredients:
1 cup Vanilla Almond Milk, unsweetened
1 cup Greek Yogurt
8oz Peach Slices, natural, fresh or frozen
½ tbs Ginger, ground (you can try freshly grated ginger if you have it!)
½ tsp Vanilla Extract
2 tbs Chia Seeds
Ice cubes
Optional:
You can blend in 2-4 Dates for sweetness, or 4 packets Natural Sweetener (stevia, Truvia, etc.) or Maple Syrup to taste.
Directions:
Blend until smooth. Allow to sit for a few minutes if you like a thicker smoothie.
Adjust the liquid if you prefer a thinner smoothie.
Enjoy. Enjoy. (That’s one for each recipe, lol!)
Source: DessertsWithBenefits
Photo: DrinkMeHealthy
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