10 minute chia seed jam (raspberry, strawberry, blueberry or…)

10 minute chia seed jam (raspberry, strawberry, blueberry or…)

I made this last weekend for a new gluten-free stollen recipe I was working on and wow its delicious.  So was the Stollen just posted on blog now.  The jam recipe comes from www.gimmesomeoven.com and it’s a good one.  I swapped out the syrup for lower sugar sweetening options.

2 cups fresh or frozen fruit (see suggestions below)
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 tablespoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice
Extra sweetness (only if needed): a few drops of pure stevia glycosides or some monk fruit extract, honey or erythritol (from www.pureandnatural.ie or www.iherb.com).

  1. Heat fruit in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is heated through and begins to break down and bubble.  Use a spoon or potato masher to mash the fruit to your desired consistency.
  2. Stir in the chia seeds and lemon juice until combined.  Then taste, and stir in some of your chosen sweetener if needed.
  3. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.  (The jam will thicken considerably as it cools.)
  4. Give the jam one final good stir.  Then serve immediately, or transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Fruits that work well in chia jam:
Berries (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries), cherries, peaches, apricots, plums, pineapple, kiwi…basically any “juicy” fruits.  But bear in mind that very sweet fruits like pineapple and kiwi contain a lot of sugars so eating large amounts isn’t so great.

Optional add-ins:
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
lemon zest (to make your jam a little more tangy)
a pinch of spices (such as cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg, etc.)

Why this is better for you:
I’m almost embarassed to say this because it’s so obvious but most jams are loaded with sugar.  Sugar as an ingredient added to food lowers your immune system, raises inflammation and can massively contribute to obesity.  Standard jams are at least 45% added sugar while the “no added sugar” ones are sweetened with fruit juice concentrate.   Although less refined, these jams are still a massive sugar dump into your system, which raises inflammation, slows detoxification and has other unwanted effects.  Raw fruits (rich in vitamin C) are more nutritious than cooked but sometimes it’s just nice to have jam.  When wet chia seeds swell and emit a gel which is rocket fuel for friendly gut bacteria.  Friendly bugs are important for ALL areas of your health – mood, immunity, even blood pressure and mental clarity.  Enjoy…