Aloha Meatless Monday friends! Big thanks to my friend, Meg Bollenback, who is guest co hosting for me today with Tina Muir. Please check out her lovely recipe and show her some love. The linkup will work the same and Meg will be checking out your recipes today. How fun!
Hi everyone! I’m Meghan and I am so excited to say hi to you and guest post for Deborah today! I blog over at Meg Bollenback and have enjoyed participating in the Meatless Monday link-up for many months now. So many great recipes are posted each week, and I am really happy to share in the hosting duties today.
I thought I’d tell you a little about myself before I get into today’s recipe. I live in Alexandria, Virginia (not too far from Deborah!) and am an absolute food and cooking lover at heart. Always have been, always will be. I love so many things about food, particularly how it helps me show love to those I care about, how it reminds me of different travels I’ve been on, and because it calms me down. I feature recipes that range from meatless (I’m a huge veggie lover), to easy one-pan dinners, to Chinese and Taiwanese favorites that I’m learning thanks to my fiancé and his mom in my Wok This Way series. You can check out my recipe box on my Eats and Treats page. My goal is to show that cooking with whole foods and making dishes for yourself or family can be a simple and relatively quick task. Making a healthy meal or dish isn’t as hard as many people think!
Besides cooking, I really love learning about and supporting the local and sustainable food movements. About a month ago, I announced that I’m writing a storybook/cookbook about the local food and drink scene of western Loudoun
So, let’s get into today’s recipe! I have to thank my sister for turning me onto the idea of chia pudding; she’s recently adopted the habit making it for breakfast and has told me for a couple months now how easy and delicious it is. After making this one, I have to agree with her! I loved this recipe for three reasons:
- It only took a couple minutes to prep (though it did need to chill overnight, or for at least 5 hours).
- By prepping it in a jar, I was ready to take it with me in the car in the morning on my way out to do book interviews in Loudoun.
- It’s a cool breakfast! Literally – it’s chilled! This is super appealing to me right now because the east coast has become a thick, insurmountable brick wall of humidity. I often feel the need to stick my face in the fridge for a moment to wake up in the morning.
From a health perspective, I like eating chia seeds because they contain a great dose omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. This kept me full all morning after eating it, and I liked the pudding-like texture.
I also like that this recipe is easy to customize in terms of toppings. The flavor of this pudding is similar to angel food cake and that inspired me to use various berries and cherries that are plentiful in farmers markets right now. If you’re not a fan of berries or cherries, not to fret! At the bottom of this recipe, I list out some other topping ideas that I think would be delicious to try with this as the summer goes on and melons and other fruits start to come into season.
Vanilla-Almond Chia Pudding with Berries and Cherries
Makes 1 serving
Prep time: 5 minutes
Chill time: At least 5 hours or overnight
¾ cup of vanilla-flavored unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
2 to 3 tablespoons chia seeds (use more for a thicker pudding-like consistency, use less for a soupier consistency)
2 to 3 teaspoons agave syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
4 strawberries, sliced
¼ cup blueberries
5 or 6 frozen cherries
1 or 2 fresh mint leaves, optional
In a jar that has a lid or bowl, combine the almond milk, chia seeds, agave syrup, vanilla and almond extracts. Close the lid on the container and give it a good shake! If using a bowl, just stir to combine everything together and cover with plastic wrap.
Chill in the fridge overnight, or for at least five hours. This time allows the pudding to set. You can also prep your berries in a separate container and leave them to grab in the morning.
When you’re ready to eat or take with you in the morning on your way to work, school, wherever your daily adventure takes you, just add the berries and cherries on top of the pudding. Top with a mint leaf if you have it available – it complements the sweetness from the berries really well.
Additional topping ideas for summer:
– Fresh or frozen watermelon chunks with a spritz of fresh lime juice
– Cantaloupe and honeydew melon chunks with chopped pistachios
– Slices of peaches or plums (would be great to add blueberries to this, too!)
– Slices of banana, strawberry, coconut flakes and mini chocolate chips (why not?)
Thanks again Meg for hosting! Aloha everyone!
I’ve never been a huge chia fan, but I think pudding is a perfect way to try it again. Thanks for sharing!
I wasn’t a huge fan of chia for a while, too, but I really like it in the pudding – it makes it feel more like a meal rather than just a seed. Thanks for the comment, and I hope you give it a shot, Debbie!
Chia pudding has been on my list to make for a while. This looks delicious and I love the addition of cherries! Will pin and try this! Thanks so much for hosting 🙂
Thanks, Natalie! I can’t wait to check out your recipe this week…frittatas are one of my most favorite things to make in the world.
Hi Meg! 🙂 Love the combo of vanilla and almonds- this looks delicious!!!
Thank you, Annmarie! I hope you give it a shot!
Yummy! What a great idea, I need to make chia pudding more often, and I did get more ordered which should arrive today, perfect timing! Yay Meg! Glad you are hosting with me today! Wooohooo! Deb…if you are reading this….which you shouldn’t be…..GO HAVE FUN! :p
Thanks, Tina! Yes – perfect timing if they’re just getting to you now. And I completely agree — Deborah, if you’re reading this, please go play in the sand and water instead. 🙂
I love a good chia pudding. Thanks for the recipe Meg!
Thanks, Megan! Loved your recipe posts today, too! Thanks for always linking-up. 🙂
Glad you like it! I’m excited to try it with different toppings soon.
Hi Meg! I’ve been wanting to make Chia pudding lately…thanks for sharing this recipe to get me going!
Thanks, Michelle! I had wanted to try it for awhile too and am really glad I did. Super easy and delicious. Have a great day!
Great recipe Meg! Love the chia seeds and berries combination.
Thanks, Julie!
I love chia pudding and there are so many flavor options.
Yes, I definitely love it for that reason! Makes it difficult to be bored with it. 🙂
I love that we both have chia pudding recipes today!! Thank you so much for hosting the link-up… I’m off to check out some of the other goodies!!
Haha, I pretty much wrote the same thing on your blog just a moment ago! Yes, I love that great minds thought alike today. 🙂 Thanks so much for joining, and have a great day!
This looks delicious! I love chia pudding for breakfast or even a snack/dessert! My oldest fell in love with chia pudding as well earlier this year so I got really excited! She actually fell in love with chia seeds in general but my youngest didn’t fall in her foot steps, YET. I can’t tell you how many nights I debate on making it and decide not to because I think I should switch things up and wish I would have in the morning.
Kids (and really all humans) are so funny with their different tastes! Hopefully your youngest will come around. Also – one thing I noticed is that you can make these puddings and leave them in the fridge for more than just overnight. So, say you make a couple on Sunday, you can eat them whenever you feel like it throughout the week rather than the next morning. That may help you out on days when you’re craving one, but still give you the flexibility to make something else if you want it.
Hi Meg!!! This recipe looks great. I love chia pudding and usually add Greek yogurt to the mix. Cantaloupe and pistachios sounds like a great idea. Deborah, hope you’re having a good time!
Thanks, Jess! Greek yogurt sounds like a great addition, too…would be nice for extra protein, too. Hope you had a great weekend!
I have to admit, as a whole food and veggie fiend the one thing I haven’t tried yet is chia pudding! I think it’s because I am SO addicted to oatmeal with cinnamon, stevia, and vegan protein powder topped with berries that I have a hard time thinking about how I will fit it in to my day. Time to try something new!!! This looks so good, I will give it a shot!
I hope you do, Jill! I am a huge oatmeal fan, too, but this is a nice breakfast for summertime when it’s too hot out (at least in my opinion) for hot cereal.
YUM. And, love the tip of keeping it in a jar, so it’s just a matter of grab’n’go when it’s done. SMART. Hopefully, I can win the kids over with chia. I LOVE it myself. And, thanks for adding mint leaves. I have some in my garden I’ve been neglecting! #fitfamlove
I feel like kids would like this as they can pick their favorite fruits on top? I’m only a mom to a fur baby right now, so don’t know for certain, but Sarah (w/ the strawberry and watermelon salad today) posted a little above you and said that one out of her two kids love chia! So, maybe just give it a shot? 🙂
Yes, I love chia puddings too. Nice to do them in the fridge overnight to have something cold for brekkie on hot mornings!
Yes, I like the feeling of going to bed w/ breakfast already awaiting me in the fridge. 🙂
Sounds very yummy. I love Chia seeds.
I hope you give it a try, Lacey!
I love Chia Seeds! This looks delicious. Also couldn’t help noticing the use of Aloha 😉 I grew on the Big Island and moved to NC in 2007.
Ah I am in Maui right now just gorgeous as you know. I’m also looking forward to trying Meg’s recipe
I LOVE chia pudding! It’s so easy to throw together and it’s so versatile!
It is! ONe of the many things that I love about it now.
Hi Meg! This looks delicious! I’ve made chia pudding before, but never with all the yummy berries. I’ll have to make that happen 🙂
Hope you give it a try! And you can have fun with the toppings…I just had a chia pudding w/ pear on top today and it was delicious. Should’ve added cinnamon to it now that I think about it…oops. Next time!
Sounds delish! I’m curious, what makes the pudding “set”? Is it the agave syrup?
Great question, Wendy! No, it’s not the agave – that just helps sweeten the pudding a little. Chia seeds absorb liquid really easily, and when they do, they become gelatinous and soft. So, just combining the seeds with milk and letting it refrigerate is what makes the pudding set. I’m not sure if you’ve ever made a flax seed egg by mixing ground flax w/ water, but the process is essentially the same; these seeds just become gelatinous and help things stick together.
This combination of flavors sounds delicious. If only I hadn’t had an allergic reaction to chia. 🙁
Oh no! That is sad to hear. I haven’t tried this, but perhaps you could make a flax seed pudding? I just mentioned that both chia and flax seeds turn gelatinous when mixed with liquid. I’m curious to see if the same type of “pudding” would result if you subbed in flax. May be worth an experiment!
Looks delicious! I’ve yet to try a chia pudding. I’ve got 2 meatless Monday recipes planned, alas I failed to post today. Next week for sure!
Definitely – would be great to have you in the link-up, Marcia! Thanks for stopping by to check out the recipes.
This sounds tasty. I’ve used chia seeds in a pudding before (a recipe out of Matt Fitzgerald’s Racing Weight cookbook), it was pretty good. Thanks for sharing this spin on chia seeds!
That sounds interesting – would definitely like to see what he says about chia.
I really need to try chia pudding- looks yummy!
I hope you do! I think you’ll like them. 🙂
I haven’t had chia seeds, but this sounds good 🙂
You should definitely give them a shot! I add them into smoothies, too, as a topping, but think I like them in the pudding more.
yum! thanks for sharing megan!
You’re very welcome, Courtney! Thanks for stopping by.
This looks really good and refreshing I’ve never tried chia pudding will have to try it out!
I’ve actually never tried it either! Meg’s recipe looks really great though
That looks quick and easy. I have some chia seeds that I haven’t tried yet. Maybe I’ll try this one as a tester.
Let me know if you do!!
I’m not a huge fan of chia seed pudding because of the texture, but I recently heard about blended chia pudding, so I may give that a try with these toppings!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Great idea! I haven’t tried them yet so I am hoping to make Meg’a recipe roo
Aloha:) Hope your having a great time:)
Seriously, If I had the ingredients in my cupboard to make this right now, it would be exactly what is for lunch! For now it’s going to go on the shopping list for next time, I already know I would love this!
I am having a great time thanks! Meg’s recipe does look fabulous
I have never had chia before! Idk why but the consistency kinda scares me haha. Stupid I know (consistency of the chia pudding). I’ll have to try making some to try out!
Confession I never have either so looking forward to trying her recipe too
Fresh berries are so great with everything! Looks good!
It does! I can’t wait to try it myself
I love chia puddings! I’ve made one almost exactly the same, it is so delicious!!
I really need to try her recipe!
Yum! I love incorporating chia seeds!
I actually have never had them so I am looking forward to checking out Meg’s recipe too