Chia seeds are a wonderful food, and healthy Chia Pudding is a fabulous breakfast, as well as a great snack! Rich in fatty acids, chia seeds contain more omega-3’s than any other vegetarian source. They are also quite high in anti-oxidants, minerals and fiber. Further, I find that they are quite soothing for my digestive system (and I’m always looking for a boost in that realm).
I got the idea for this smooth and tasty recipe from yoga teacher extraordinaire and raw foodie, Jess Price. I give her full credit for turning me on to both chia seeds and chia pudding.
Chia Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashews, raw
- 3 cups water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch celtic sea salt
- ¼ cup chia seeds
Instructions
- Place the cashews and water in a vitamix and blend on high speed until smooth
- Blend in the honey, vanilla, and salt
- Place the chia seeds in a large mason jar (½ gallon size), pour the cashew mixture into the jar and shake well (very well!)
- Place in the refrigerator overnight
- Serve
Equipment
When I have extra time I soak my cashews for several hours (be sure to discard the soaking water) which makes for an even richer, creamier treat. You can also experiment by adding cinnamon, vanilla beans, and other tasty enhancements to this recipe (in your desired quantity).
Don’t let the fancy presentation above fool you. This delicious, nutritious pudding is ridiculously easy to prepare. Throw a bit of chia pudding into a smaller mason jar and it makes the perfect driving snack –ideal for slurpping up on road trips.
If you venture into the land of chia seeds and healthy Chia Pudding please let us know how you like ’em!
Update: Per questions below, I have made this with a mixture of cashew and coconut milk and it is delicious. I have also used chia seeds to make my morning protein shakes more rich, creamy and nutritious. This chia pudding keeps in the fridge for 2-3 days. Enjoy!
will says
i had just learned of the chia seed a few months ago and i soak my chia seeds in water and drink them just like that, but i have been thinking about doing something like this for the past couple days because i always really liked tapioca and rice pudding so i googled it and found this site. i cant wait to make some it sounds amazing!!
Faith says
Whole Foods brand of Coconut milk does contain BPA in the cans. The Native Forest Brand does not. I have emailed both companies. I just found this site which lists many different brands and whether or not they use BPA tainted cans.
Ricki says
I adore chia pudding. The version on my blog uses only soymilk, but I bet coconut milk would be divine! (Though soymilk allows for different flavors. . .strawberry chia pudding is an all-time favorite). Your photo is gorgeous! :)
~M says
Does anyone know whether brands are important for chia seeds? I see many brands on amazon, at different price points, so I’d like to know if there is a quality difference or something specific to look for?
Vanessa says
Oh wow. I’m living in a student dorm room for the summer for a language course with very limited access to the fresh healthy foods I’m accustomed to, and this recipe has saved my life! I shake up the seeds with almond milk and some honey, put it in my tiny refrigerator, and there’s breakfast. I can’t wait to get back home to my kitchen to make the classier version from your recipe. Thank you for all that you do, Elana. You’re helping so many people.
elana says
So glad to hear that everyone is enjoying this. It is one of my faves!
Marian says
We made this recipe last night and it’s all gone today…my family and friends loved it! I’ve never used chia seeds before so this was a new experience. Thanks for the adventure!!
Dana says
**Amazing!!!** This was my first recipe with chia seeds. Make a double recipe, this stuff will go fast!!!
Shannon says
Hi Elana! I’m relatively new to the gluten-free community and even more so to the baking/cooking one (lol), so you have no idea how much your website has helped me – so many great recipes! I love this one but wanted to try it with almond milk to make it a little less watery-tasting. I noticed you told another poster to omit the cashews… now this is a stupid question I’m sure, but how do you make it thicken if its just almond milk and chia seeds? Like I said, new to this… :-) Thanks, looking forward to hearing your answer so I can try it again!
elana says
Hi Shannon, chia seeds are naturally thick so it should thicken up nicely even sans cashews :-)
cate says
I just recently got into Chia Seeds- sooo healthy. A coule people mentioned in thier comments a Chia Nightcap-Do tell! Water and Chia seeds? How much?
Thanks,
Cate