Easy Strawberry Chia Jam – Simple Green Smoothies

I first began making my very own chia jam once I began making my strawberry vegan muffins. It labored nicely as a filling and I felt good about feeding it to my youngsters. After we moved to Florida and realized the enjoyable and deliciousness of choosing our personal strawberries, I began making giant batches of strawberry chia jam to have available.

It’s straightforward to make, retailer and have available for every little thing from vegan waffles to sandwiches with homemade nut butter.

Recipe Substances

With six easy-to-find substances, you may create a beautiful unfold that can be utilized the identical approach common jam is used.

• Strawberries: Since strawberries are on the EWG’s dirty dozen record yearly, I attempt to purchase or decide natural. Plus, the flavour is sweeter within the smaller, natural berries in my view so I have a tendency to make use of much less maple syrup than my recipe requires primarily based on the sweetness of the berries.
• Water: That is used to make the compote, no have to get fancy with it!
• Maple syrup: I really like utilizing natural sweeteners at any time when I can. Maple syrup supplies a beautiful taste with out overly sweetening this recipe.
• Recent lemon juice: The acidity in lemon reacts with the berries to assist the jam set. You don’t actually style it within the last product but it’s essential!
• Chia seeds: The mighty little superfood ingredient that’s chia seeds contains protein, fiber, healthy fat and an entire host of unimaginable vitamins. It turns right into a jell when blended with liquid and is used to set this recipe.
• Vanilla extract: I like the flavour of a little bit little bit of actual vanilla in my jam. If this isn’t for you then you may simply omit it.

You should use contemporary or frozen strawberries, but please please make this jam seasonally if utilizing contemporary. In Florida, we’ve got two strawberry seasons so I are likely to make a batch that may final a minimum of six months.

Your berries could have a lot extra taste when picked in season. It’s simply not price it to make this throughout the winter months.

Berry Alternate options

You’ll be able to truly use this similar recipe with different berries as nicely. If blueberry, raspberry or blackberry is used extra in your own home than strawberries then use these fruits as an alternative! I’ve additionally completed some blended berry jams with pleasant outcomes.

Keep in mind that completely different berries maintain completely different quantities of liquid. While you add the chia seeds and let it set, you could discover some variations are nonetheless a bit runny. No worries! Merely add in some extra chia seeds, stir and let set once more. You’ll work out the best ratios for various fruits very quickly.

Making Jam with Chia Seeds

This recipe is surprisingly straightforward to make. In the event you determine to make a big batch, get the youngsters concerned! I exploit some kid-friendly knives when involving my youngsters in slicing up fruit (and quite a lot of endurance!) and assist them learn to lower up fruit.

And I all the time measure additional strawberries to make up for those that find yourself in mouths as an alternative of the saucepan. Right here’s how I make it.

1. Wash, dry and halve the strawberries. They don’t should be finely chopped. Mix the strawberries, water, maple syrup and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Convey to a simmer and cook dinner for 15-20 minutes, or till the fruit softens and releases its pure juices. Take away from warmth and mash the combination nicely.
2. Stir within the chia seeds. Begin with 2 tablespoons, particularly if the strawberry combination is fairly thick. Let the jam cool fully on the counter. Stir once more and add extra chia seeds if the consistency is simply too runny or skinny. You need it to be fairly thick and set, similar to common jam. Stir within the vanilla. Switch to small jars with tight-fitting lids.

That’s it! With a little bit range time and cooling time, you might be prepared to make use of this unfold on every little thing.

Storage Choices

I wish to retailer this recipe in small jelly jars with tight-fitting lids. It’s going to final within the fridge for 7-10 days.

If you wish to make a big batch at a time then you may nonetheless use these jars and freeze them for future use. Be sure that to depart a minimum of 1/2-inch of house within the high of every jar to permit for growth when freezing and permit jam to chill fully earlier than storing within the freezer.

If I do know I’m going to freeze some, I’ll place the completed containers within the fridge in a single day then transfer them to the freezer simply to make sure the contents are fully cooled. Nobody wants exploding glass!

When to Use

In the event you put common jam on or in it, you may swap it with my recipe! It’s a terrific filling inside my breakfast bars, blended in with steel-cut oats, or layered between gluten-free crepes.

Costume up a vegan charcuterie board with this jam, combine it into overnight oats or use it as a vegan ice cream topping. It’s a kitchen staple in so some ways! Subsequent time you attempt vegan yogurt with healthy granola, swap the contemporary fruit for a scoop of this jam and revel in!

Now let’s make it! Don’t neglect to price + overview this recipe when you’ve tried it. I really like getting your suggestions. If yours doesn’t prove completely then let me know. I’m right here to assist!