Recipe: Berry Chia Jam
Berry chia jam is a high-fiber, antioxidant-rich addition to yogurt, oatmeal, pancakes, or however you most enjoy the brightness of berries. Unlike store-bought jam, this variation is lower in sugar and packed with real fruit instead of sugar and pectin. Using chia seeds as a thickener enhances the nutrition profile and simplifies the process.
Making your own jam also means you get to select the fruit of your choosing. For this recipe, we used a frozen berry blend. It would also work great with single frozen berries, like strawberries or raspberries. Using thawed frozen berries releases their natural juices, which is important for the chia seeds to be able to gel the mixture together. If you have access to ripe, fresh seasonal fruits, they may be juicy enough to work just fine for chia jam.
Berry Chia Jam
Yield: About 1 cup of jam
Ingredients
- 2 C frozen mixed berries (blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries)
- 1 1/2 Tbsp chia seeds
- 1 Tbsp freshly-squeeze lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp honey or maple syrup (if desired, for sweetness)
Directions
- Add frozen fruit to a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave for 2 minutes on high power, stir, then return to the microwave for 1-2 minutes more, or until the mixture is softened and the berries can be easily mashed with a fork.
- Gently mash some (or all) of the berries, depending on whether you like fruit pieces in your jam.
- Next, stir in chia seeds and lemon juice until combined. Taste and add a sweetener of choice, if desired.
- Let the jam mixture cool to thicken, about 5 minutes. If preparing in advance, store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Swaps:
- For the berries: frozen strawberries, peaches, pineapple
