Thursday, May 6, 2010

Ch-ch-ch-chia!

Not the grass covered pottery, but the super healthy seed, chia! I found some in the bulk bin at my grocery store and decided to try it. I had only saw it online in passing regarding raw desserts, but didn't think anything of it. Then, lo and behold, there it is, sitting in the bulk bin, so I decided to buy a bit to see what I could make out of it.

A little background on the chia seed, these little guys are a powerhouse of healthiness. They are the richest plant source of omega-3s. They contain more calcium than milk, more fiber than bran flakes, more antioxidants than blueberries, and are a decent source of protein. They can also help with weight loss if you're into that sort of thing. Many people mix them with foods, which adds more heft to the meal, without adding calories. I've seen recipes to mix it with fruit jam to make more "jam" without adding additional calories.

Another cool property of chia seeds is that they can absorb 9-10 times their weight in water, similar to flax seeds. They can be used in place of flax seeds in baking. They can also be used to create a chia gel in about 10 minutes. It's about a 6:1 ratio between the liquid and the chia seeds, however you may need to play with it depending on how thick you like and what else you want to add to the gel.

The first thing I tried making was chia pudding. Basically I took a cup of almond milk, tsp of cinnamon, a 1/4 tsp of nutmeg, a handful of raisins and 3 tablespoons of chia seeds and put them in a jar (an old mayo jar). I shook it up and put it in the fridge to sit for an hour or so, shaking again half way through. I dumped it into a bowl and dug in. It was a creamy, delicious dish without having to spend a bunch of time making rice. It's raw as well, which is a bonus. Super easy and super tasty.



I also made an extremely yummy Mexican salad last night that I proceeded to inhale. I may even go back to the grocery to buy more ingredients to make it again. It was the Raw Corn and Black Bean Salad with Avocado from Fat Free Vegan. I added some fresh cilantro to the salad which really went well. It didn't make that much, so I'll have to make it again soon.



For breakfast this morning I had a blended grain porridge with millet, almond milk, blackberries, and cardamom (that Katie and her blended grains are brilliant!). I then took my stick blender and whipped it into submission, which turned it to a fun purple color. I topped it with some left over parfait topping (dates, walnuts, coconut) and some maple syrup. Mmm!



So the question is, what will you be making from chia?

2 comments:

  1. Awww you're such a sweetheart!
    LOL I spilled a whole thing of chia seeds in my suitcase last year... my shirts started sprouting :-/

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  2. Yikes! Gives a whole new meaning to eco-friendly clothes. :)

    ReplyDelete