Did you know you can have pudding for breakfast? But don’t worry this is a pudding that is actually really good for you. The secret ingredient, and what makes this treat healthy, is the itty-bitty little chia seeds.
Salvia Hispanica, or chia, is a flowering plant in the same family as mint, whose seeds are harvested for food. The seeds are considered a super-food due to it’s high nutritional values. Chia is believed to be a good source of omega-3, fibre, calcium, and rich in antioxidants. When mixed with a liquid they absorb as much as twenty-seven times their weight in water. The mixture creates a gel-like texture that is believed to help keep your body full for long periods of time. Because of this, and it’s high fibre content, many also believe that chia seeds aid in weight-loss. Additionally chia is believed to aid in blood sugar stability and in lowering cholesterol. Besides their abundance in health benefits, chia seeds are a great egg replacer and a natural energy boosting food. They are super easy to incorporate into your diet and since they have a very mildly nutty taste, they will not interfere with other flavours in whatever it is you incorporate them into.
I love chia seeds and often add them to my morning or afternoon smoothies. Occasionally when I want a special treat I turn them into a pudding. Simply mixing them with a (dairy or vegan) milk, letting them sit to absorb the liquid, results in a thick pudding like consistency. You’ll either love the taste and interesting texture, or you’ll hate it. I’m a fan. I love to experiment with adding other flavours that will enhance the health benefits of the pudding, like the Matcha green tea here. Fresh seasonal fruit is also a great addition to the pudding because of it’s vitamins and minerals, but also because it makes the treat look prettier.
You can enjoy the pudding for breakfast or as a dessert. I like to do both. Actually, I’ll prepare a batch and eat half for breakfast and the other for dessert later in the day. At first the serving size looks quite small but because it fills you up so quickly I find it hard to eat the whole pudding in one sitting. Okay, let me share with you how to prepare this pretty and energising treat.
- one cup of almond milk* (I used unflavoured milk and sugar-free)
- two tablespoons of organic chia seeds
- one teaspoon of Matcha green tea powder
- additional sweetener, if desired and to taste
- seasonal berries, for topping
- Place the chia seeds in a large container, add the Matcha, the sweetener, and give it a good stir. Slowly and mixing continuously, pour in the milk. Mix until all of the ingredients are well combine. Cover the container, place in the refrigerator and allow to sit at least a couple of hours, or preferably overnight.
- The next day**, or after a couple of hours, prepare the fruit you'll be adding to your pudding. You can layer the fruit with the pudding or simply add it all on top. Enjoy!
** After your pudding has sat and thickened, check to see if you're happy with the consistency. If not, either thicken up by adding a little bit more chia seeds or water down by mixing in more milk. Allow to sit.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU NOT SWALLOW THE CHIA SEEDS DRY, IT'S BEST TO MIX THEM WITH A LIQUID FIRST SO THAT THEY DON'T GET STUCK IN YOUR THROAT.
That’s it, super simple and well worth the wait!
Here are some more recipes using chia seeds and Matcha green tea:
• Mango Lassi with Chia Seeds: Celebrating Mango Season
• Pineapple and Chia Smoothie
• The Health Benefits of Matcha and Almond Milk Matcha Frappe Recipe
• Merunky Matcha Polvorones (or Shortbread Cookies)
• Cloudy Brain Matcha Latte, Sweetened with Dates
• Matcha Blueberry Corn Muffins
• Banana Pear Smoothie With a Twist (or Two)
• Strawberry Green Tea Smoothie
Healthy and delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa
Thank you Rosa!
This looks absolutely delicious Nancy and what a wonderful photo! Pinned and shared!
Thank you so much, Joanne!
Oh I definitely need to buy matcha.. This pudding looks amazing!
Matcha is a fantastic tea and ingredient to cook with, enjoy it Medeja!
Wow, matcha and chia sounds like such a delicious and healthy combo!! Will definitely be trying this 🙂
Thank you Mary, enjoy the pudding!
I gotta get on the matcha bandwagon! Love its color, and it’s such good stuff. Speaking of which, this recipe is certainly good stuff. Very nice — thanks.
You really need to John, I think you’d love it.:) Thank you!
Simply gorgeous!!! I’m sure it tastes as good as it looks!
Thank you, MJ!
Oh Nancy, what a beautiful way to serve chia…I love the matcha and all the fresh berries…
Hope you are having a great week 🙂
Thank you so much, Juliana! Hope you’re doing great! 🙂
The first time I tried chia seeds I didn’t like them at all. This looks so good I’m willing to give them another try!
I know many people don’t like their texture, maybe they’ll charm you this time. 😉 Thanks Sandra!
I love this! I’ve really been noticing the positive effects of matcha in the morning. I’ll have to try this recipe.
Thank you Nicole! Matcha is such an amazing thing. Enjoy the pudding. 🙂