Vegan | Gluten-Free

by Jenna Garcia

Today, I am excited to share one of my current favorite (and super easy) recipes: Raspberry Chia Jam. I enjoy a delicious fruit jam, especially spread on my morning toast. Unfortunately, most jams are chock-full of sugar and lack much nutritional value, if any at all.  A few weeks ago, I was thinking how fantastic it would be to create a jam that is healthy, delicious and fresh – one I could enjoy in the morning without feeling like I just got an injection of sugar.

Enter this chia jam.

This jam is simple to make and only has four ingredients: raspberries, lemon, chia seeds and maple syrup. How can you possibly go wrong? Raspberries are in season for most of the US right now, but frozen raspberries can be substituted if fresh ones aren’t available. The lemon zest and juice brings out a brightness of the raspberries, the maple syrup keeps it sweet (without making it overly sweet), and the chia seeds plump up to create gelatinous jammy texture. You would never guess it wasn’t the real thing.

This jam is faster to make than traditional jam and you have the benefit of getting a fruit serving for the day and the health benefits of chia. Chia seeds have become a very popular superfood in recent years and for good reason: these little seeds are full of fiber, omega acids and a host of other vitamins and minerals. They also have an almost-legendary ability to give liquidy foods a gelatinous consistency. If you haven’t messed around with chia seeds yet, you have got to give them a try. In addition to this jam, you can enjoy them in chia pudding – check out our video recipe here.

Bon appétit!

Raspberry Chia Jam

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh raspberries
• Zest and juice from 1 lemon
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 3 tablespoons chia seeds

Directions:

1. Combine raspberries, zest and lemon juice, and maple syrup in a small sauce pan.
2. Stirring often, bring to a boil then turn down and simmer over medium-low heat for about ten minutes. Use a potato masher or large spoon to mash the raspberries.
3. Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm temperature. Add chia seeds and stir until completely combined. Once cool, put in sealable container in the refrigerator.
4. Store in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before using. This will allow the jam to cool and the chia seeds to plump up, giving that jam-like texture. Enjoy on toast, crepes, vegan ice cream, or on its own!