If you’re a cooking lover, you can’t miss the chia seed trend. These tiny black and gray seeds from Mexico are considered a superfood due to their high omega-3 content, high fiber and protein content. But do you know how to cook them?
Cook the chia seeds
Small but mighty in benefits, chia seeds can be eaten raw or cooked into savory or sweet recipes. Chia seeds are best known for their hydrophilic properties. In fact, they can absorb up to 12 times their weight in water. Swollen with liquid in this way, chia seeds take on a particularly attractive gelatinous texture.
But the tiny seeds are also eaten completely “dry”, sprinkled on salads, muesli or granola for breakfast. They can enhance cookie dough or puff pastry for a savory or sweet pie. Doesn’t matter, as long as we draw all the benefits.
Chia seed pudding
This is the perfect recipe for a fiber-rich and nutritious breakfast. Chia seed pudding is reminiscent of a rice pudding in texture. However, it has the distinction of not requiring cooking. So this is a super-easy recipe that can be taken every day. For two, mix just 3 tablespoons of the seeds with 250ml of vegetable milk (coconut is best), add a pinch of sugar or agave syrup, then let it steep for a good hour or overnight if you prefer. in advance
Top your pudding with fresh fruit (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches…) and dried fruit (hazelnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds). That’s it, all you have to do is taste!
A chia seed drink
We don’t think much about it, but chia seeds are perfect for making original and healthy drinks. You can choose to add them to any fruit smoothie or detox juice to add a touch of originality. It’s up to you whether you prefer to blend them or add them at the end to benefit from their amazing texture. It is this last option that is favored Chia FrescoA very popular South American drink in Europe.
To make it, you need to mix 2 tablespoons of seeds in 350 ml of water. Add the juice of half a lemon and a pinch of honey if desired. Refrigerate the drink in a closed jar for fifteen minutes. And for a fruity version, discover its recipe Chia Fresco Raspberry is here
Chia Seed Crackers
What if chia seeds made their way into the aperitif? This recipe for chia seed crackers with a vegetable cream cheese spread shared on culinary blog Amanda et Basil is ambitious. A simple and gourmet recipe, perfect for sharing as a vegetarian aperitif. To make crackers you will need flour, oatmeal, all kinds of seeds (chia, squash, sunflower, etc.), olive oil and fruit kefir. To discover the recipe in full, it’s here.
Does this article interest you? Also discover 10 essential foods for a balanced plant-based diet