benefits of chia seeds | Chia Seed RecipesChia Seed Recipes

If you have not yet added chia seeds to your daily diet, then you are missing out on the many health benefits of chia seeds not just for your body but also for your mind. Chia seeds are tiny seeds with nutritional properties that match the ones obtained from flax seeds. In fact, these are a better alternative. They have all the vitamins, minerals, fiber, proteins, calcium, fatty acids and many other nutrients that are needed by the body. They also fight fat and are increasingly being used by millions all over the world to maintain their ideal weight. Chia seeds help maintain sugar levels and help in the smooth functioning of the heart as well as other important organs. Chia seeds are easily digestible and they get rid of numerous stomach ailments.

These tasteless and mildly flavored seeds can be added to any food. They can be soaked in water and the gel produced can be added to all kinds of smoothies, soups, shakes, and other drinks. They can be blended into or simply stirred into soups and many other meals you prepare.

Some chia recipes call for chia butter. Chia butter is prepared by blending until super smooth 2 tablespoons chia seeds, 1½ tablespoons Canola oil or any other oil like peanut or hazelnut oil, 1½ tablespoons honey and 2 cups of almonds.

Some chia recipes call for chia milk. You can make chia milk by blending in a food processor 2 tablespoons of chia seeds and 1 tablespoon of almonds with one cup of water, then add ½ tsp vanilla, 1 tablespoon sesame tahini, ½ tsp cinnamon, 1 tablespoon agave syrup and 1 more cup of water and blend until smooth and well mixed. This mixture should be refrigerated for a minimum of 4 hours before its first use. Store chia milk in the refrigerator.

To prepare Chia gel, soak a cup of chia seeds in six cups of water and allow it to sit for 10 – 15 minutes. You can use this gel along with the seeds for drinks or add it to any preparation. Any leftover gel can be refrigerated for up to two weeks.

The chia pancake is highly nutritious and easy to make. You need 1 cup whole meal flour, 1 cup whole meal spelt flour, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 2 cups chia milk, 2 tsp chia gel, and a pinch of salt. Mix all the dry ingredients and stir in the chia milk, chia gel and honey to form a smooth batter without any lumps.

Heat a pan, oil it lightly, pour 1/3 cup of the batter into the pan at a time and cook each side until light golden brown. You can serve these pancakes hot with chia butter and honey.

A cup of fresh fruit juice, pulp of a juiced fruit and 2 cups of chia gel blended together and refrigerated for an hour makes a very delicious, highly nutritious and delightful drink.

Yet another easy recipe is Chia Salad Dressing. Mix ½ cup chia gel, 1 teaspoon lime juice, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, ¼ cup olive oil, 1 chopped garlic clove, 1 teaspoon mustard, 1 teaspoon dried basil and 1 teaspoon dried tarragon. Toss this with salad right before serving to make an excellent dressing that is not only tasty but also highly nutritious. You can refrigerate the remaining dressing.

If you know about the benefits of chia seeds, then you must have begun to add them to the dishes you prepare. Their tasteless and almost flavorless nature makes them easy to blend with any preparation. You can add them to your breakfast for an energetic and healthy start to your day. This tiny seed, which is packed with a wide range of nutrients will give you the stamina to do your work efficiently during the day and enjoy relaxed undisturbed sleep at night. The seeds, apart from providing numerous health benefits, also help in weight loss.

Chia Breakfast Eggs is a highly nutritious breakfast that will give you the strength to face any tough and busy day. You need 1 teaspoon cooking oil or butter, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, a handful of baby spinach, 1 finely chopped onion and two teaspoons of milk. Whisk the egg and milk together and soak the chia seeds in this mixture for about 15 minutes. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the finely chopped onion for a minute or two, add the egg and chia seed mixture and stir until it is set and then quickly add the baby spinach leaves and stir until the leaves soften. Remove from heat and season with sufficient salt and ground black pepper and serve hot.

You can add these seeds to just about any kind of meal you prepare including salads, smoothies, fruit shakes and all kinds of cakes, cookies, brownies and rice preparations. They can be soaked in water, ground or roasted and added to any meal or the whole seeds can be eaten raw.

You can blend chia seeds with couscous to prepare a savory chia seed dish that will be perfect for lunch. You will need 2 cups of vegetable stock, a cup of vegetables like peas, corn and celery, 1 cup of couscous, 1 tablespoon of chia seeds and butter. Allow the vegetable stock to simmer gently until lightly cooked. Add couscous and chia seeds and stir. Let this mixture stand for about ten minutes after removing from heat. Fluff it with a dash of butter before serving hot.

Fruity Couscous is an easy dessert to make and your kids will love it.

You need: In a pot place 2 cups of orange or apple juice, 1 chopped apple, ½ cup of dried fruits like pears, dates and apricots and bring to a boil, then add one cup of couscous and 1 tablespoon of chia seeds and stir. Turn off the flame and allow this mixture to stand for 5 – 10 minutes until the juice is fully absorbed and your couscous delight is ready to be served.

Chia Seed Recipes

Tag Archives: benefits of chia seeds

Chia Pancakes

Chia Couscous