This easy chia jam is my favorite. No special equipment, no canning jars, and none of those grotesquely large quantities of processed sugars or gelatin. It’s incredibly tasty, healthy and makes our breakfasts so much more beautiful!
I call this, my 4…3…2…1…1/2 recipe. Check out the ingredients list to see why! It’s made with only 5 plant-based ingredients, cooks in under 10 minutes, and tastes so much better than anything that comes in a jar or tin.
Real ingredients, fresh superfoods, transformed into a indulgent spreadable jam in only 10 minutes! Here’s how!
Chia seeds are an amazing superfood. They’re loaded with with omega-3s, contain plenty of fiber and are rich in protein. They also make THE perfect ingredient for jams. Why? Because when they absorb all the liquid around them, they turn the liquid into a thick gel, which in turn makes for a perfect jam!
So instead of reducing the fruits with tons of sugar for hours and hours to get that jelly like consistency, chia seeds do all the work for us.
This recipe is also incredibly customizable. Use any berries, or fruits you have available. You can use fresh or frozen fruits. Also, the ratio of fruit to chia seeds depends on the consistency you prefer.
I’ve used 3 cups of fresh fruits and 4 tbsp chia seeds, which makes this a chia heavy jam, that has a thicker consistency. You can use as little as 2 tbsp of chia seeds, which makes your jam more fruit forward, and bit more looser in texture.
Also remember, when the Chia Jam cools to room temperature, it will thicken considerably. It’ll thicken even more overnight in the fridge, so keep this in mind when adding your Chia Seeds. It may look a little runny at first, but they thicken over time.
I use agave syrup as a sweetener. You could substitute with maple syrup, or even make a syrup out of coconut sugar or brown sugar. Remember, the sweetener has to be in liquid form.
Also important, is lemon juice as weird as it may sound in sweets. But they are help add a little acidity which really helps to bring out the flavor of the berries and complete the flavor profile of the Jam.
Taste your berry first to see how sweet or tart it is. If it’s tart, skip the lemon juice and add an extra tablespoon of agave.
I finish off with a little vanilla flavoring, because I love that dessert-like feeling the vanilla flavor gives the jam, but this is completely optional.
Let’s get cooking!
Ingredients:
4 tbsp chia seeds
3 cups fresh berries, roughly chopped
2 tbsp agave syrup
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Method:
To a saucepan, add the berries, agave syrup, lemon juice and vanilla. Bring to boil, over medium-high heat. Use a spatula to mix and break up the fresh fruits, as they cook, to release more water.
Once the fruits have broken down and become somewhat syrup-y (this takes about 5 minutes) you can continue mashing to make it as smooth as you’d like. I personally like to leave a few bits of fruit as small chunks in there for texture.
Now add the chia seeds and mix well. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, and remove from heat.
Let is cool down, and they’re ready to devour!
Store leftovers in a an airtight glass container in the fridge up to a week!
Remember it thickens more and more over time. So when re using, just use a few tablespoons of hot water and loosen it up just before eating.
This jam is perfect slathered on toast, or topped with your oatmeal and granola!
