Strawberry Jam

Chia seeds are all the new rage in the health food world.  They are the cure for everything.  I try not to buy into health fads, but I am always open minded about adding new things into my diet if they have health benefits.  The chia seed has many health benefits, is loaded with omega 3 oils, help balance blood sugar (which is a definite bonus for me!), and adds a fun crunch to food.  My chia seeds haven't started cleaning my house for me, folding the laundry, or sorting my mail, but they have certainly been fun to experiment with. 

Raspberry Chai Kombucha

I was first introduced to them through my mother in law, who encouraged me to try her raspberry chia Kombucha.  If you have never had Kombucha, it is a very refreshing, delicious, loaded with health benefits drink that you can pick up at most health food stores.  Nate thinks it is one of the more disgusting things on the planet, and David won't go near it.  It does taste a little bit like vinegar...or a lot like vinegar...okay, it's an acquired taste, but I certainly enjoy it.  The funny thing about chia seeds, is that they soak up the moisture around them, and create a sort of jelly bubble around the seed, very similar to tapioca.  It's a brilliant texture, and I enjoy drinking my raspberry chia kombucha more for the texture than anything.  Nate thinks it's like drinking frog eggs, but I very much disagree. 

Strawberry Chia jam and butter on gluten free biscuits

I saw a recipe for jam, using chia seeds as the thickener rather than pectin or gelatin.  I was intrigued, so I gave it a shot.

Combine:
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup juice from whatever fruit or berries you are using (you could also use another type of juice, I supposed, if you wanted to experiment with combining flavors)
2 Tbsp chia seeds

Mash 1 cup of your choice of fruit or berries and add 1-2 Tbsp of agave necter (you could completely omit the agave nectar, depending on the sweetness of your fruit), and set aside.

I used strawberries for the base of my jam, because that's what I had in the freezer.  You can use any type of fruit or berry, I would imagine.

Stir the seeds and juice gently, and let it sit for about ten minutes, letting the seeds soak up the moisture of the lemon juice.  After 10 minutes, stir the seeds again, and let them sit for another 10 minutes.

At this point, the chia seeds should have turned the juice into a pretty thick mixture.  It should be pretty close to a jam texture. 

Add the mashed berries to the chia/juice mixture, and stir until it looks appropriately incorporated. It is now ready to eat. 

This recipe is David Approved!  He thought it was delicious, and the tartness from the lemon juice was a fantastic combination with the strawberries.  When Nate got home from work that day, he was very excited when I told him I made jam.  I gave him a spoonful, and he when he tasted it, he sank into his seat with a sigh of contentment and said "Oh my word.  That is amazing."  When I told him it was made with chia seeds, I thought he was going to throw his spoon at my face.  He didn't stay mad for long though, because now he has home made jam in the refrigerator. 

The jam can store for about a week in the fridge.  I can't guarantee what it will be like after 1 week, due to the fact that it does not have any preservatives in it. 


Want to know more about the chia seed?  Here is more information than you ever wanted to know:
http://www.living-foods.com/articles/chia.html
10 benefits of the chia seed: http://mychiaseeds.com/Articles/Top10ChiaBenefits.html

More info on Kombucha:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kombucha (sorry to refer to Wikipedia, but this article actually does have really good information)