chia puddings

Springtime is rushing past & summer is right on our doorstep! So stock your fridge with wholesome, filling, delicious chia puddings. When you're too hot to even contemplate toast for breakfast or you get a craving for an afternoon or late night sweet treat, chia pudding has got your back.

The humble chia pudding is a good reminder that sometimes mixing 2 or 3 simple ingredients together produces something far grander than the sum of its parts.

The soluble fibre  in chia seeds makes it turn jelly-like when it's left to soak in liquid. Simply adding chia to milk and adding some flavourings produces the most delicious breakfast, dessert or snack with only a few minutes preparation.

I've provided a recipe for a basic chia pudding, plus 2 variations. Play around with different add-ins and toppings to come up with some more variations! Note that the recipe makes one single serve, so just double or quadruple the recipe if needed. I like to make 3 or 4 at a time so I have a few days worth of yummy breakfast or snack.

​Serves 1
Time: 10 mins plus overnight chilling time

Ingredients:
2 tbsp chia seeds
½ cup milk of choice 
2 tsp maple syrup or honey 
½ tsp vanilla extract
Plus:
Toppings like chopped fruit, nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, muesli or yogurt

Method:
Combine chia seeds, milk, maple syrup/honey, and vanilla in a bowl and stir together. Let it rest for about 10 mins, when the chia seeds start to become jelly-like, then stir again.

Transfer the mixture to a jar or glass. Cover and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.

To serve, top with whatever you fancy.

Variations

Banana & Walnut Chia Pudding 
Add half a mashed banana in with the base ingredients. Let it rest for about 10 mins, when the chia seeds start to become jelly-like, then stir again. Transfer to a jar or glass. Then cover and pop it in the fridge to set for at least 2 hours. 

To serve, top with yoghurt, sliced banana and crushed walnuts. Sliced strawberries go beautifully too.

Tiramisu Chia Pudding 
This one is truly delicious, and calls for making 3 separate layers of different flavoured chia pudding: coffee, chocolate and vanilla. 

Combine the base ingredients as per instructions above, then divide the mixture evenly into 3 bowls. Now add different flavourings to each of the 3 bowls:

Bowl 1 - Coffee. Add a tbsp of fresh espresso coffee ( OR ½ tsp instant coffee mixed into a paste with 1 tbsp hot water). Stir through the chia pudding mix to combine.

Bowl 2 - Chocolate. Combine 1 heaped tsp cocoa powder with 1 tbsp hot water. Stir to dissolve thoroughly. Now stir through the chia pudding mix to combine.

Bowl 3 - vanilla. Add ½ tsp vanilla to the chia pudding mix and stir to combine.

Assemble: in a glass or jar, spoon each mixture in to create pretty layers. Top with a little yoghurt and a swirl of maple syrup. Place in the fridge to set. Serve with a sprinkling of cacao nibs, chocolate drops or cacao and wattleseed buckinis. 

Pimp My Recipe 
Try these flavour combinations:

​Chocolate Peanut Butter - use the basic recipe but add 1 tbsp peanut butter & 1 tsp cocoa powder.

Mango Coconut - Make the basic recipe then add it to your glass or jar with alternate layers of finely diced Mango in between pudding layers. Top with more Mango plus some shredded coconut.

Almond & Cinnamon - Stir 1 tbsp almond butter into your basic mix. Serve with toasted slivered almonds and a sprinkle of cinnamon