Description
Homemade chia seed jam showcases simple, fresh ingredients blended into a delightful spread. Seasonal berries combine with natural sweeteners for a quick, nutritious topping perfect for breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (720 ml) fresh berries of choice
- 2–3 tbsps (30–45 ml) chia seeds
- ¼ cup (60 ml) filtered water
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) maple syrup (adjust for sweetness)
- Juice of ½ lemon (22.5 ml)
Instructions
- Prep Berries: Wash and select ripe, vibrant berries, ensuring peak flavor and optimal texture for the jam.
- Combine Ingredients: In a nonstick saucepan, merge berries, filtered water, and maple syrup, creating a luscious fruity foundation.
- Cooking Process: Ignite medium heat, bringing the mixture to a gentle boil while intermittently stirring to prevent scorching, then reduce to medium-low, allowing berries to simmer and naturally disintegrate.
- Texture Development: Tenderly deconstruct softening berries using a wooden spoon or potato masher, extracting maximum liquid and generating a velvety consistency.
- Chia Integration: Remove from heat and swiftly fold in chia seeds, ensuring uniform distribution throughout the mixture, then permit the jam to rest and transform into a gel-like state.
- Flavor Enhancement: Introduce fresh lemon juice, providing a zesty counterpoint that elevates the jam’s overall taste profile and balances inherent sweetness.
- Preservation: Meticulously transfer the jam into a pristine glass container, then allow complete cooling at ambient temperature before sealing and refrigerating.
- Consumption Guidelines: Enjoy the homemade chia seed jam within one to two weeks, preserving its vibrant flavor and nutritional integrity.
Notes
- Boost Berry Freshness: Choose peak-ripeness berries with vibrant colors for maximum natural sweetness and intense flavor profile.
- Control Texture Perfectly: Gently crush berries while simmering to create a smoother, more consistent jam consistency without over-mashing.
- Optimize Chia Seed Absorption: Stir seeds thoroughly and let mixture rest to ensure even gel formation and proper thickening.
- Preserve Jam Safely: Use clean glass jars and refrigerate immediately, consuming within two weeks to maintain optimal taste and food safety.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Breakfast, Desserts
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 50
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg