dairy-free chia pudding
You are not going to believe it, but I have never made Chia seed pudding before, I really never tried it either. It just seemed like another fad along with it’s sister the Smoothie bowl! Ok, I was wrong, I love it and had to give it a try with my twist on it.
A few weeks ago, my family drove to NYC and had a mini food tour of the best gluten free food I had ever eaten. We ate at this southern Italian restaurant called Santina that served amazing rice dishes and garbanzo bean wraps with the most delicious fillings. The whole restaurant was gluten free and we were in Heaven. Another night we ate at this little pizza place called Dellarocco’s in Brooklyn. As I was eating the pizza, I started getting really nervous that they served me the wrong one! It tasted so much like the real thing, I almost cried.
There were many more places, because we could not stop eating. A French bistro for breakfast, GF bagels that were to die for and we couldn’t leave the city without a Shake Shack Burger in Washington Square Park.
Health Benefits of Goji Berries
Low in calories, fat-free, a good source of fiber and a high anti-oxidant food, goji berry benefits include the ability to help you fight disease, effectively manage your weight and experience better digestion. Usually eaten raw, dried, or in liquid or powder form, versatile goji berries contain a wide range of phytonutrients, vitamins and trace minerals, giving them the name “superfood berries” by many health experts.
It was an amazing adventure with family and food in the most exciting city in the world. So, back to the Chia seed pudding. In a rush on day 2 of the trip, I stopped for coffee at a small shop and my stomach was rumbling. The only gluten free food available was Dairy Free Chia Seed Pudding, and I grabbed it. I couldn’t have been more surprised! It was rich, creamy, and filling with a touch of sweetness and topped with a passion fruit pureé. It was satisfying and delightful, I had to come home and give it a try.
In my creation, I added coconut milk, almond milk and the littles touch of maple syrup. I topped it with a mango pureé that I simply whipped up with frozen mangos. For this I simmered until the mangos broke down, you can also mix them in a blender for a few seconds to eliminate chuncks. Store in a glass container and refrigerate until chilled. I then topped with goji berries for the finish. I have been eating this for Breakfast all week and couldn’t be happier.
Just in case you have been wondering about the benefits of Chia seeds, here are some of the facts.
11 Proven Health Benefits of Chia Seeds
Fiber: 11 grams.
Protein: 4 grams.
Fat: 9 grams (5 of which are omega-3s).
Calcium: 18% of the RDI.
Manganese: 30% of the RDI.
Magnesium: 30% of the RDI.
Phosphorus: 27% of the RDI.
They also contain a decent amount of zinc, vitamin B3 (niacin), potassium, vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin B2.
I think this might be a great reason to give Chia Seed Pudding a try.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup full fat coconut milk
1/2 cup almond milk
1/3 cup chia seeds
1 TBS. pure maple syrup
1 cup frozen mangoes
1/4 cup goji berries
DIRECTIONS
Pour ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Let settle for 2-3 minutes then mix again very well until you see no clumping.
You can leave everything in the bowl to chill or pour into individual cups. This recipe will make 3 full servings, 4 if you are not a big breakfast eater.
Let set for 24 hours and add Mango pureé or any fruit and sprinkle with Goji berries
Enjoy