I hope you like jammin’
This very simple to prepare fruit spread uses the gel forces of chia seed to thicken and bind it together adding all the extra nutrition chia has to offer. Packed with fiber, omega’s, plant protein and micro-nutrients, chia are little seeds with a big impact. Rhubarb is also high in fiber, Vitamin K and disease fighting anti-oxidants, while strawberries pull their weight with Vitamin C and an equally impressive nutrient profile. This is a jam worth spreading! I have chosen to use ground chia in this recipe to help create a more jam texture and you can feel free to adjust the sugar measure for more or less sweetness. You can also experiment with different fruits and berries such as blueberry or raspberry jam instead. My general rule is for every cup of fruit add 1-1/2 tbsp of ground chia seed to thicken. I enjoyed the versions I made so much that I had to buy a expensive loaf of fresh bakery sour dough bread just so I had a vehicle for this spread to go on! Yum!
- Gluten free
- Dairy free
- Refined sugar free (optional)
- Nut free
- Vegan/vegetarian
- Cleanse program optional (omit sugar)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup fresh rhubarb, finely sliced
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar or sugar of choice such as honey, maple syrup or cane sugar (omit for sugar free)
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 3 tbsp ground chia seeds (see note for DYI)
- 1/4 cup water or more if needed
Directions:
- Place chopped strawberries and rhubarb in a small sauce pan and add 1/4 cup water along with sweetener of choice.
- Heat slowly until fruit begins to simmer, turn down heat and let fruit soften while mashing it occasionally to break it up. Add more water if sticking, a little at a time. Keep heat just high enough to cook the fruit, allowing it to naturally thicken. You may want to cover the saucepan for the first half of cooking to keep heat in the pot, then lift lid for reducing.
- When both the strawberries and rhubarb have completely softened and the fruit mix has begun to thicken a little, about 20-30 minutes, remove from heat and add lemon juice with a stir.
- Let cool a couple of minutes then add chia seeds and incorporate them evenly through the jam.
- Transfer to an air tight container or your fave jam jars and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour to set and cool.Enjoy on bread or toast, crackers and cream cheese, on top of oatmeal, in yogurt or how ever you like jammin’!
- Store in fridge.
*Note – For DYI ground chia, simply place whole chia seeds into a smaller blender, like a bullet, or a coffee grinder and pulse until powdery.