Healthy, homemade blueberry chia seed jam is easy to make and requires only a few simple ingredients – fresh blueberries, chia seeds and honey. Why spend money on pricey packaged jams that are laden with refined sugars and other unhealthy sweeteners when you can make your own!
We love peanut butter and jam in this family. Between the four of us we consume an absurd amount of both of them. Having said that, I try to make the healthiest choices I can when it comes to purchasing these foods – by opting for all-natural, organic peanut butter and unsweetened jams. In my heart I know that homemade is best, but in my mind, I just don’t always have the time. This raw jam however, is stress-free because it takes only minutes to prepare.
The secret ingredient in this recipe are chia seeds. They are the ultimate superfood. These tiny seeds pack a powerful nutritional punch, with one ounce containing roughly 139 calories, four grams of protein, eleven grams of fiber, nine grams of fat, antioxidants and a healthy dose of calcium, manganese, and omega-3s. Unlike flax seeds, chia seeds are an unprocessed, whole-grain food that can be easily absorbed by the body. Their mild, nutty flavour makes them an ideal versatile ingredient to add to foods or beverages.
Chia seeds are usually reserved for smoothie recipes, or as a vegan substitute for eggs in baked goods. In fact, that’s when I discovered that they have a very similar consistency to dense store-bought jams. If you let chia seeds sit in liquid they will expand and transform into tapioca-like pearls, which gives the ideal consistency for homemade jam.
I served this homemade raw jam to the kids – and they were none the wiser! I’ll take this as a compliment since kids are usually the most brutally honest of food critics. Here are some interesting serving suggestions:
- Spread on toast or rice cakes with peanut butter
- Mix into overnight oats
- Serve as a garnish on pancakes, crepes, or waffles
- Make a parfait by mixing with Greek yogurt and homemade granola
- Mix into your favourite ice cream or frozen yogurt
- Add to smoothies for extra sweetness
- Mix into muffin or cookie batter, like these flourless vegan thumbprint cookies.
- Eat by the spoonful!
If you try this recipe (and love it!) be sure to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram with #bitesforfoodies so I can see your creation!
YES I love chia so this is fantastic! I make a similar jam myself 🙂
I’ve been addicted to them as of late…just made a chocolate pudding with chia seeds and it’s just as delish! Thanks for the feedback 😉
I always stay away from sugar-free because they are often migraine triggers. But isn’t it disheartening to learn that so many foods contain GMOs?? This looks like another one of your amazing recipes – and your photos are really fantastic!
Really? I didn’t know that…but then again I don’t suffer from migraines! It IS so disheartening to find out about all these GMO’s…nothing we eat is safe anymore! Ugh!
I was just going to attempt to make chia jam myself over the weekend-we are so on the same page! 🙂
Yes, we are! I’m making chocolate chia pudding next, you?! 😉