Last Updated on 23rd April 2022 by
On days I’m tired of cooking the usual eggs, bread, or bacon and ham for breakfast, I find myself looking for healthy breakfast alternatives that are light, hearty, and healthy– just enough to fill me for breakfast while being loaded with nutrients. I also don’t have time to prepare and cook breakfast most of the time. I tend to look for breakfast alternatives that I can just grab and eat or even grab and go.
This is where chia pudding comes in. Chia pudding is one of my favorite to-go breakfast dishes, perfect for a busy body like me who’s always out in a rush on workdays but still wants that morning nutrition to seep into my body. Chia seeds are a favorite health food of mine that goes perfectly with everything, and chia pudding is one of my favorite ways to incorporate chia seeds into my diet.
In this article, I will share with you everything on how to make chia pudding, what it tastes like, how long chia pudding lasts, and many more, so strap up!
What are Chia Seeds?
Chia seeds are edible seeds from plants in the mint family. They are tiny, black and white seeds that are tasteless but pack a punch and are widely known for the nutrients it brings to the human body.
You often hear about chia seeds among people on a diet or those trying to lose weight, and why not? Chia seeds are excellent sources of fiber. When consumed, the soluble fiber in chia seeds expands in the stomach, making you feel full and consume less food.
In addition, chia seeds are excellent sources of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and are widely known to benefit heart health and bone health.
What is Chia Pudding?
Chia pudding is a thick, creamy mix of loads of chia seeds and milk in a bowl of a mason jar; usually, let sit for a few hours or, even better, overnight.
The chia pudding is a perfect breakfast meal or even a snack and can be used with various kinds of milk like almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk, depending on your preference.
I like my chia seeds topped with different fruits every day for a sweeter and healthier approach to chia pudding.
How to Make Chia Pudding
There are many ways to eat and prepare chia pudding as this dish or snack is very easy to prepare and doesn’t need any cooking or heat.
To make chia pudding, you only need chia seeds, milk of your choice, and any sweeter! Instead of sweeteners, you can substitute them with sweet fruit toppings.
The first step in making chia seeds is grabbing a mason jar or bowl, but I find using a mason jar more convenient as I can keep them in the fridge securely and conveniently even if I don’t finish the whole jar.
The ratio is essential in making chia pudding. Remember that chia seeds expand when submerged in liquid or wet, so the ratio is critical in ensuring that your chia pudding is just as creamy as you want it to be.
I usually mix 3-4 tablespoons of chia seeds with 1 cup of my favorite almond milk in a mason jar. My most favored ratio is one tablespoon per ¼ cup of milk. I usually find this mixture with the best chia pudding consistency for my taste.
I stir and combine this mixture thoroughly, let it sit for a few minutes, then give it another stir (or shake since I’m using a mason jar, I close the lid and shake the whole thing!) This makes sure that chia seeds don’t clump as they expand because of their gel-like, slime-y texture. After thoroughly mixing, I add my sweetener (in my case, I use honey) so that there are no clumps before I add other ingredients. I put it in the fridge for 2 hours afterward.
After letting it set in the fridge, your chia pudding should be nice, thick, and creamy. If the consistency is very liquidy, like your usual milk, you should add more chia seeds into the mixture, stir, and sit again. Once desired consistency is achieved, you can add fruit toppings like berries, strawberries, or bananas before consuming.
How to Make Overnight Chia Pudding
Personally, because I’m always in a hurry in the morning, it doesn’t make sense to prepare chia pudding in the morning too. Chia pudding is a dish you can make beforehand, and letting it sit overnight is probably the best time frame to let sit.
On how to make overnight chia pudding, I simply follow the procedure above but keep the chia mixture in the fridge overnight, so it’s ready to eat the morning after. Make sure your mason jar or whatever container you decide to use is covered so foreign organisms don’t get into your food.
What Does Chia Pudding Taste Like
So, what does chia pudding taste like?
Chia seeds themselves are tasteless, so the taste largely depends on the liquids and toppings you’ll be adding. For unsweetened chia pudding, it’ll taste earthy. For chia pudding with sweetened milk, almond milk, or coconut milk, it’ll follow the flavor of whatever milk you’ll be using.
You can also add fruits like blueberries and strawberries or make peanut butter and cocoa chia pudding to add some flavor to them.
How Long Does Chia Pudding Last
If stored in the right conditions, chia pudding is good to keep in the fridge for 3-5 days, although I wouldn’t recommend keeping it that long. You can always make one the night before or even two nights before and consume them within one to two days.
I'm Pauline, a mother of four grown children, my passion for cooking stemmed from the joy i get cooking for my family. I love to try new dishes, especially when dining out but creating and sharing my own recipes is my favourite thing to do!
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