Chocolate chia pudding

By now, most people have probably heard of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica). A while ago, there was a real boom on food blogs featuring recipes with chia. It’s hardly surprising – they were quickly labelled a “superfood”, with their nutritional benefits widely praised: rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, antioxidants… and the list goes on. Chia seeds are incredibly easy to use. There’s no need to cook them (so they retain their nutrients) or grind them – simply add them to muesli, yoghurt, salads and more. They behave similarly to linseeds, meaning they quickly absorb liquid and form a gel-like texture. On their own, chia seeds have very little flavour, taking on the taste of whatever they’re added to. See how easily you can turn them into a delicious chocolate pudding :).

Serves 2.

Ingredients  for chocolate chia pudding:

• 1 cup milk (dairy, almond, hazelnut, rice, coconut – or coconut mixed half-and-half with water or regular milk)
• 3 tablespoons chia seeds
• 2 – 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, to taste
• 2 – 4 tablespoons maple syrup, agave syrup, golden syrup or honey
• to serve: e.g. cherries in syrup

Add the chia seeds and cocoa powder to the milk and stir well. Leave to stand for 15–20 minutes. You’ll notice the mixture beginning to thicken as the seeds absorb the liquid. Stir again, sweeten to taste, then cover and refrigerate for 5 – 6 hours or overnight.

In the morning, serve and enjoy – for example with cherries in syrup.

Enjoy!