No berry story is complete without a reminder about how to make easy jam in minutes. Chia Fruit Jam to the rescue. The rich berry taste isn’t trivialized by massive amounts of sugar, thanks to the chia seeds that give body and thickness. Furthermore, you can use either fresh or frozen fruit to whip this goodie up in minutes. In our recipe, we suggest adding a little honey or maple syrup for sweetening.
Delicious Chia Fruit Jam
Ingredients
- 3 cups (750 mL) fresh ripe or frozen berries such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries
- 3 Tbsp (45 mL) honey or pure maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp (30 mL) chia seeds
- 1 tsp (5 mL) fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp (2 mL) pure vanilla extract
Nutrition
Per serving:
- calories 0 g protein22
- fat1g
- saturated fat0g
- trans fat0g
- carbohydrates6g
- sugars3g
- fibre2g
- sodium1mg
Directions
01
In medium nonstick pan, combine fruit and honey or syrup. If using strawberries, cut into uniform pieces. Bring to a gentle boil and then reduce heat to medium. Gently mash fruit with a potato masher as fruit softens, leaving a few larger pieces for texture, if you choose. Stir in chia seeds and continue to simmer, stirring steadily to keep it from sticking, until jam is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Jam will thicken as it sits and cools.
02
Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Serve immediately on toast or hot cakes, on ice cream or yogurt, and much more. You can also transfer to a jar with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for up to a week or freeze for up to 3 months.
Irene McGuinness is a writer, recipe developer, food stylist for numerous magazines and corporations, and alumna of the Writer’s Studio at Simon Fraser University
