Fresh & Fruity Chia Berry Jam: A Delicious simple Take on the Classic

This easy healthy chia berry jam made with chia seeds and sweetened with dates and flavoursed with lime zest will be your new favorite condiment staple! In this recipe, you can use up summer fruit lying around in the freezer and eat it just 20 minutes after preparation, without long hours of cooking and without a lot of sugar, using chia seeds as a healthy thickening agent.

Say goodbye to store-bought jams laden with preservatives and hello to a homemade jam bursting with natural goodness. This recipe is a blend of vibrant flavors: mixed berries paired with the zing of lime zest and the natural sweetness of dates. Chia seeds not only easily thicken the jam but also add a nutritional boost, making it a totally guilt-free indulgence!

While chia jam has been a popular trend for some time, I had to create my own version of it trying to keep the sugar low and letting the natural sweetness shine through using my favorite of all times dates! It’s easy, quick, and perfect for adding a burst of fruity goodness to your morning toast, yogurt, or even dessert toppers.

Why you will love this simple recipe:

I love making jam with chia seeds with antioxidant-rich berries as a healthy option for two reasons :

• most packaged jams, and are FULL of refined sugar, and even the “no added sugar” jams are quite often sweetened with concentrated apple or grape juice (typically around 60%!).
• It’s incredibly easy to make with just a handful of wholesome ingredients.
• The combination of sweet berries, tart lime, and rich dates creates beautifully balanced flavors.

This chia berry jam recipe is :

Simple

Easy

Zesty

Healthy

Rich in fibre

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids

Naturally sweetened

Sugar-free!

💡 Health benefits of chia seeds:

• Chia seeds are loaded with fiber. The soluble fiber makes the seeds absorbent and that helps to create a jam consistency when added to mashed berries. Because of this, it makes them filling and helpful with blood sugar regulation. In addition, the insoluble fiber helps with digestion.
• It’s a plant-based protein consisting of (about 23% protein).
• An excellent source of many essential minerals. They are high in manganese, phosphorus, copper, selenium, iron, magnesium, and calcium.
• Fantastic fatty acid! Our bodies require two essential fatty acids that we cannot produce: omega 3s and omega 6s. For us, is better we consume these fatty acids in a 1:1 ratio. Good news: Chia seeds are an excellent source of BOTH essential fatty acids. In addition, they have even more omega 3s than salmon when compared ounce for ounce! – isn’t that fantastic news?

One tablespoon delivers 4g fiber, 2g protein, and 150% daily value of omega-3s (alpha-linolenic acid), plus tons of vitamins and minerals for 60 calories.

Homemade chia berry jam – healthy, simple and delicious!

This recipe works because it brings together the natural sweetness of berries and dates while adding depth of flavor with lime zest. The chia seeds act as a natural thickener, giving the jam the perfect consistency without the need for added pectin or excessive sugar.

You can see this jam is packed to the brim with goodness and it couldn’t be easier to make! Give it a go!

Key Ingredients:

Chia – thanks to their natural gelling ability, chia seeds help to create the perfect consistency spread with none of the complicated directions involved in making traditional jams.

Berries – You can use fresh or frozen berries such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries. I use blueberries and strawberries.

Lime zest – I highly recommend adding this to the recipe. It adds an incredible zing and freshness to this chia berry jam.

Dates – Medjool dates work best for their soft texture and sweet flavor, but you can also use other varieties of dates. They have wonderful caramel flovor😊. if you don’t have them on hand, you can use 2 tablespoons maple syrup.

Instructions:

Step 1: In a medium saucepan, combine the mixed berries and chopped dates.

Step 2 Gently simmer the berries and dates with a few tablespoons of water until the fruit becomes soft and begins to break down.

Step 3: Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the lime zest and chia seeds, mixing thoroughly.

Ste 4; Transfer the jam to a glass jar and allow it to cool before storing it in the refrigerator.

Expert tips for perfect chia berry jam:

The ratio of chia seeds to fruit: A typical ratio is about 3-4 tablespoons of chia seeds per cup of fruit.
This ensures a good consistency.

Prep the fruit: Cook or puree the fruit to achieve a uniform consistency. Fresh or defrosted berries
work well.

You need to be patient! Leave the mixture to stand for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour after adding the
chia seeds so that the seeds swell and the jam thickens. While the jam is swelling, stir it occasionally to avoid lumps.

Texture: For a smoother jam, you can blend the mixture with an immersion blender before adding the chia seeds.

Variations of Flavors:

• Add a splash of vanilla extract or a pinch of cinnamon for an extra flavor boost.
• Experiment with different combinations of berries.
• For a tropical twist, try adding shredded coconut or diced pineapple to the jam mixture.

Frequently asked questions:

Which fruits and spices are suitable for chia jam?

While I think that berries are an ideal fruit for this chia berry jam because of their ability to break down easily when cooked ensuring a smooth and luscious texture, you can experiment with other fruits. However, you may need to adjust slightly based on the water content of the fruits you’re using:
Stone fruit: cherries, peaches, apricots, plums, etc.
More aN exotic fruit: pineapple, kiwi, mango

Can I freeze this jam?

Yes, you can freeze this jam in an airtight container for up to three months. Be sure to leave some room at the top of the container for expansion.

Can I store this jam at room temperature or does it need to be refrigerated?

It’s best to store the jam in the refrigerator to maintain its freshness.

What to serve with Chia Berry Jam

You can use the chia jam straight away after preparation. You can simply add this to oatmeal, breakfast millet, pancakes, waffles, buckwheat porridge, and more! It also tastes delicious on its own, so you can spoon it straight from the jar! You can also stir it into yogurt and eat it with muesli, granola, or fresh fruit for breakfast. And let me tell you this jam spread on the homemade delicious crusty bread? A match made in heaven!

If you try this recipe for a Chia Berry Jam feel free to leave me a comment and a star rating. And if you share a photo of your healthy and delicious soup on Instagram please tag me at @_pronounced_and use hashtag #pronounced as I LOVE seeing your remakes! HAPPY COOKING 🍽️!

Products used :

• http://www.thesourcebulkfoods.ie/shop/seeds/organic-chia-seeds/
• http://www.thesourcebulkfoods.ie/shop/superfoods/organic-acai-powder/
• https://www.nationalorganic.com/stockists

Resources:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/chia-seeds

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/chia-seeds/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5613902/

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