In addition to my southern belle alter ego (the one who made you Cajun Shrimp and Grits, Baked Fried Chicken, and Bourbon Buttermilk Pie), a part of me also longs to live on a farm. In my idyllic country world, I raise my own chickens, grow my own vegetables, and can the bounty of my fields. I long to fill mason jars with sacred summer flavors, then stow them safely for a dreary morning in February. It sounds industrious, wholesome, and wise.
In real life, five hours of yard work on Saturday nearly killed me, I find chickens to be rather smelly, and I refuse to live more than 15 minutes from a Trader Joe’s. Thank goodness for strawberry chia jam. It allows me to savor all of the benefits of homemade jam, without the fuss of actually canning it.
Refined Sugar-Free Strawberry Chia Seed Jam – Easy and Delicious!
When you make your own jam, you can use the freshest, sweetest fruit available, control the amount and kind of sweetener (store-bought jams are often saturated with refined sugar), and above all, experience the deep, pure fruit flavor of scratch-made jam. While traditional canning requires scrupulous attention to detail, intense sterilization, and a dedication to quantity that intimidates me, this strawberry chia jam demands only three ingredients, 30 minutes (much of which is hands off), and makes as small or large a batch as you please.
Making strawberry chia jam is as simple as heating and mashing the fruit with a bit of honey, stirring in the chia seeds, then letting it cool. That’s it. We be jammin’ (sorry).
As the jam rests, the chia seeds thicken and remind me of little speckly strawberry seeds. In addition to being cute, they’re loaded with fiber (a whopping 5 grams per tablespoon), giving the chia jam an extra nutritional benefit. It’s also a great way to use up any overripe berries you have lurking in your refrigerator, and you can swap the strawberries for other summer fruits you love or have on hand. My next project is blueberry chia jam, if for no other reason than I impulse bought the two-pound value berry box at Trader Joe’s last night.
How to Serve Chia Seed Jam
On Toast. I’ve been enjoying this strawberry chia jam on toast for easy breakfasts, snacks, and even desserts. Chia seed jam PB&J anyone? With Yogurt or Oatmeal. Mixing this jam into a bowl of yogurt or oatmeal takes a simple breakfast to the next level. On Waffles or Pancakes. Slather some on Strawberry Shortcake Waffles or Vegan Pancakes for a breakfast the entire family will love. On Biscuits. Nothing satisfies quite like a plate of fluffy, buttery Drop Biscuits with homemade jam.
More Strawberry Recipes for Breakfast or Dessert
Strawberry Crisp Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake Strawberry Oatmeal Bars Strawberry Bread Strawberry Vanilla Yogurt Muffins
Chia jam, done. Think I’m ready for a pet chicken?
