Coconut Chia Pudding

by Mary on March 3, 2013

coconut chia pudding in a glass, topped with blackberries and slivered pistachios

coconut chia pudding

Chia pudding isn’t just a healthier alternative to tapioca, it’s better and easier to make. My son who won’t touch tapioca pudding eats this, and my husband and I prefer it. I’ve only been making chia pudding a few weeks and we’ve already had it three times.

Certainly there’s no contest between tapioca and chia nutritionally: chia seeds are packed with protein, fiber, antioxidants, and omega three fatty acids, whereas tapioca pearls are pure starch. Chia is a traditional food with a long history of use in Mesoamerica.  Chia seeds are pricey but a little goes a long way: this recipe uses only 1/3 cup and serves three or four. The cheapest places I’ve found for chia seeds are Trader Joe’s and in bulk at my local food co-op.

I’ve used coconut milk, but you could certainly make this pudding with other kinds of milk. With coconut milk, natural brands like Thai Kitchen or Native Forest are thick and high quality without added whiteners, gums, or stabilizers, and in the case of Native Forest, the can is BPA-free. Blackberries make a beautiful garnish because their deep purple goes so well with the dark chia seeds (I used blackberry honey, too) but substitute your favorite berry or sweetener of choice at will.

A lot of chia pudding recipes are no-cook, but I found that at least when using coconut milk I needed to heat it a little to dissolve the coconut fat and make it smooth (perhaps if I lived in a warmer climate this wouldn’t be an issue). I experimented with the proportion of chia seeds to coconut milk and found, like Carrie Vitt of Deliciously Organic, that I prefer about 1/3 cup of chia seeds per  1 1/2 cups of coconut milk (the amount in a typical can).

I gave this recipe Middle Eastern touches like cardamom, rose water, and a chopped pistachio garnish. I’ll have to try other possibilities like a simple nutmeg and cinnamon spicing, but I like it this way enough that I haven’t gotten around to that!

5.0 from 2 reviews
Coconut Chia Pudding
 
A very easy dessert!
Recipe type: dessert
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups natural coconut milk (the amount in a can of Thai Kitchen or Native Forest coconut milk)
  • 4 Tbs. natural honey or other sweetener such as maple syrup
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla
  • ½ tsp. cardamom
  • 1 tsp. rose water
  • ⅓ cup chia seeds
  • ½ cup blackberries or other berries
  • a few tablespoons pistachios, finely chopped
Instructions
  1. In a pot, combine coconut milk and honey.
  2. Heat and stir just enough to melt the coconut milk smooth and warm and integrate the honey into the milk.
  3. Turn off heat, add vanilla, cardamom, rose water, and chia seeds.
  4. Pour into dessert glasses.
  5. Leave glasses at room temperature for at least two hours to give the chia seeds time to absorb liquid and soften. If you are going to leave the chia pudding a long time, like overnight, you can put it in the refrigerator for food safely, but bring it back to room temperature before serving.
  6. Garnish with blackberries and finely chopped pistachios.

 

{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

Heather March 6, 2013 at 5:59 pm

Chia pudding is one of my favs – although I tend to make it most often as a breakfast treat. Lately, I’ve made mine in the peanut butter & chocolate variety. 🙂 Your sweeter version looks great!
Heather recently posted..Wednesday Words of WisdomMy Profile

Reply

mary March 7, 2013 at 4:53 am

Another vote for breakfast chia pudding, I do learn a lot from making this blog, would not have thought of it!

Reply

Hannah March 7, 2013 at 2:47 am

I just love chia pudding! It’s perfect as a snack and a meal component- I often have it in the summer instead of my standard hot oatmeal in the morning. When it’s full of such wholesome ingredients, why not have pudding for breakfast?
Hannah recently posted..Anything but LeftoverMy Profile

Reply

mary March 7, 2013 at 2:49 am

Chia pudding for breakfast, what a great idea!

Reply

Heba March 17, 2013 at 11:13 pm

As much as I sprinkle chia on yogurt, salad and add to smoothies, I have yet to make a chia pudding! I love this version because of all the Middle Eastern influences of rosewater, pistachios and cardamom. I hope you don’t mind but I shared your post on MidEats facebook page (my other blog focused on Middle Eastern food): https://www.facebook.com/mideats I’m excited to try it, actually this week!! Thanks 🙂
Heba recently posted..Interview with Lauren of DC Healthy Bites, and Info about “Eating Real in Processed World” DC Event on March 12thMy Profile

Reply

mary March 18, 2013 at 6:09 am

I’m really glad that you shared it on Facebook, thanks a bunch! I love that Middle Eastern style spice combination, it’s great in a strawberry lassi too!

Reply

Ivy March 18, 2013 at 6:40 am

This looks and sounds amazing and so healthy. Unfortunately neither tapioca or chia are available in Greece.
Ivy recently posted..Strawberry Mud Cake – Happy Birthday EliaMy Profile

Reply

mary April 5, 2013 at 11:18 pm

I’m surprised about tapioca not being available there! Then again, there are so many ingredients, like all the wild greens and herbs, that are available in Greece but not other places.

Reply

Alexis April 4, 2013 at 1:11 am

This looks unbelievable! I just posted chia pancakes, so I’m all over the chia recipes, especially anything that involves coconut milk! I love the addition of cardamom and pistachios. Incredible flavors!

Reply

mary April 5, 2013 at 11:21 pm

Thanks! I’m in a chia phase, too, and I love Middle Eastern flavors like cardamom and pistachio.

Reply

Kiran April 8, 2013 at 3:41 am

Love the added cardamom and rose water in this pudding. I can’t live without chia and coconut milk. It’s just so good!
Kiran recently posted..Mushroom Egg Drop SoupMy Profile

Reply

Leave a Comment

Rate this recipe:  

CommentLuv badge

Previous post:

Next post: