Almond Ginger Chia Pudding

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! Whenever I prepare food or smoothies with these tiny seeds, I can’t help but remember all those commercials for Chia Pets. And -let’s not forget – the famous Chia Head (scary and ridiculous)! I, myself, succumbed to the lure of the miraculous Chia Pet when I received one of the kits for my birthday. That was a long time ago. As I recall it was a hedgehog that actually looked pretty damn cute when it began to sprout green chia quills! But, never, at that time, did I ever anticipate a day that I would actually be eating those little seeds. And – even more miraculous – that I would like them so much!

A Super-food with A Past

Chia has come a long way. Almost overnight it joined the illustrious league of super-foods and left it’s somewhat embarrassing – yet strangely lucrative- beginnings in the modern world behind for good. Because we can’t forget that once upon a time this was a dietary staple for the Mayans and Aztecs, who would never have thought to be wasting the stuff on miniature topiary! So it’s certainly suffered it’s own humiliations. Not to mention that it’s kind of embarrassing for us too. I mean, how many hundreds of years did it take us to figure out that this was Big Nutrition in a Small Package? Even though all the clues were right there in front of us! Guess we were too busy hypothesizing about the Mayan calendar and the ‘End of Times’ to consider what chia was all about.

We’ve even thought of growing some ourselves but honestly, I don’t think I have enough acreage to make it worthwhile! Because you’d really have to grow a lot of chia: have you ever seen those tiny little seeds? You’ve gotta’ wonder how many plants it takes to ‘grow’ a hedgehog let alone fill up one of those 6 oz. bags they sell in the grocery store!

A Little Goes A Long Way

Luckily there’s someone out there growing it for us, because chia really is like a little magician. Puddings and preserves in mere minutes can be solely attributed to its sponge-like superpowers! As a whole grain food that’s largely fiber, the high soluble fiber content means that the seeds can absorb up to 12 times their weight in water. Add liquid and they literally get all pumped up! Mr. Olympia himself, couldn’t dream to achieve these kind of results. This allows a little to go a long way in terms of filling you up as well as just filling up your bowl. And that fantastic feat is nothing compared to all it reaps in health benefits!

Chia is a fantastic protein source for anyone who is on a diet low or absent in animal products. By weight, it contains 14% protein which is significant for a plant product! And they shine in the antioxidant department too.

At first I must admit that I had a fair degree of trepidation about the gelatinous quality of chia. Kids’ll be the first to compare it to ‘boogers’. It didn’t seem ‘quite right’. But once you figure it all out, a whole world of deliciousness becomes available and easy. Honestly, it’s more like tapioca than anything else. Mixing chia with a nut milk somehow tempers the gummy nature of the seeds. Chia puddings are the best: they make a wonderful breakfast and are great as snacks and desserts as well. And you can get very creative with them too. Mixed with nut milks they are a creamy and comforting concoction. Or combine them with fruit juices – or even green juices -for a completely different taste sensation.

Think Acai Bowls and run with that thought.

And, in the meantime, we’ll throw you some thoughts of our own… Melissa whipped this up a few days ago and I’ve been eating it ever since!

RAW VEGAN RECIPE: Almond Ginger Chia Pudding

1/3 cup chia seeds

1 3/4 cups water

1 teaspoon almond extract*

3/4 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (or alternately 2-3 tablespoons minced candied ginger)

Chopped or sliced mango, nectarine or peach for garnishing and mixing

Mix all ingredients except fruit together, making sure to gently break up any clumps of chia. Set in fridge for 30 minutes or overnight. (Overnight is great because you can literally wake up to a ready and yummy breakfast!)

Cover with fruit and enjoy!

*Note: Almond extract is not technically raw but it adds such flavor to the dish, it’s hard to leave it out. Still, the choice is up to you as to whether you consider it a worthwhile ‘cheat’. We certainly do! And, face it, if that’s the extent of our cheating, we’re certainly not doing too badly!