Chia seeds are small but mighty! Grassy flavored with a faint nutty aroma, chia seeds are, well of course, not the best tasting ingredients you’ll ever lay your hands on, but nevertheless, they’re packed with so much goodness that one should ever omit them from their grocery shopping list.
They’re optimally balanced with nutrients and phytochemical, loaded with protein, omega 3 fatty acids and fiber as well as the B vitamins, thiamin and niacin to mention but a few.
There are several interesting ways that people in the past have incorporated chia seeds into their diets. And while newer and newer methods are constantly evolving, we’ll take our time, in this article, to focus on how to properly enjoy a bowl of chai seed drink while reclining comfortably into a cramped sofa. That’s all i have here!
Excited, let’s get started!
1) Soak chia seeds in plain ol’ water
One of the simplest and easiest ways to enjoy chia drink is chia water. Simply get a room temperature water or cold water, and soak chia seeds in it for 20 to 30 minutes. Voila, your drink is ready. Never expected that did you?
Remember, for the measurements, anything is fine, so long the cup retains identity as a drink rather than a smoothie or pudding. For those that still need guidance, soak a quarter cup of chia seeds in 4 cups of water. That should make a pretty decent drink.
2) Soak chia seeds in plain ol water and then tweak with ingredients around the house.
Not everyone is going to enjoy a mixture of two subtle ingredient of contrasting texture. Does water really have texture?
If you find yourself eagerly on that boat, consider adding chopped fruits to bring out life into the drink. You can as well add a drop of citrus drink such a lime, orange, tangerine, or lemon, or add some flavorings such as vanilla, strawberry, cocoa or whichever you like.
Simply, whatever ingredient you think should work will with your chia water, feel free to give it a shot, and trust me, you’ll never go wrong with chia water, unless you’re naïve to try out palm oil!
3) Mix into smoothies
Who knew chia seeds would be a great addition for your bowl of creamy blueberry smoothie?
When next you have a smoothie on one side and chia seeds on the counter, consider merging the two together for some texture, aesthetics and nutritional boost.
Here’s how to do it, make the chia seed into gel by soaking in water first and then add that into the resulting smoothie. Or, alternatively, blend a table spoon or two of the chia seeds together with the other ingredients and let sit for some few minutes for them to absorb water and get slimy, thus making the smoothie creamy.
As an even better alternative, google up a smoothie recipe incorporating chia seeds!
4) Use as ingredient in puddings or porridge
Add chia seeds into fruit puddings for an extra boost in nutrition. While doing so, make sure to let the pudding mixture sit for a while so the chia seeds properly absorb the liquids in the mixture by virtue of their hydrophilic nature. This would make the smoothie even more interesting.
When it comes to the measurement, feel free to play around with it, but a good rule of thumb is to start with 1 tablespoon of chi seeds to a quarter cup of liquid and work from there.
5) Make chia cereal
Overcome your Twinkies rut by opting for chia seeds as the main cereal instead. Soak the mixture in milk or whatever liquid you’re using overnight and then serve with nuts, fruits, or vanilla extracts, or just the way you like it.
6) Soak chia seeds in fruity drinks or Yoghurt.
Instead of water, try soaking chia seeds for 30 minutes in fruit juice or yoghurt. These add more life than using only water since we have some flavors to start with.
7) Chia seeds sprinkled on Yoghurt
Grounded or raw, chia seeds make a great addition to yoghurts. How you incorporate them will depend on the very state you prefer chia seeds in your drink. So feel free to either sprinkle a generous amount of the seeds on the top, or ground them and mix thoroughly into the yoghurt, your choice.
8) Add to cereals
Prepare your cereals as usual and stir in a generous amount (about 1 tablespoon) of chia seeds, ground or whole into the oatmeal mixture. Because chia seeds are flavorless, they are one of the best ways to get more nutrition without sacrificing the flavors of your food.
9) Chia gel
Chia gel is very similar to chia water except that we’re forcing out more gel from the seeds in this case. To make chia gel, soak 1/3 cup chia seeds in 2 cups of water in a sealable jar. Shake well for 20 seconds and let sit for a minute. Then shake again for another 20 seconds and refrigerate for 15 minutes. The mixture will turn gelatinous and can be stored in this jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
That’s 3 weeks of marathon madness!
10) In soups and instant soups
Chia seeds, especially when grounded, can be incorporated as ingredients into quick lunch soups to boost their nutrition. You can also make soups from scratch with chia seeds as part of the ingredients.
11) In tea
Chia seeds in your tea will not impart any taste to it especially when you soak it for longer than 10 minutes so that the seeds develop a gelatinous coating that not only makes them easier to swallow but prevents the actual seeds from breaking, thus keeping them from imparting their grassy flavor to the tea.
To add chia seeds to your tea, sprinkle 1 teaspoon in it.
12) In ice cream
Sprinkle grounded or whole chia seeds on top of your ice cream for a new dimension of kick.
13) In lemonade or limonda or chia fresca
Prepare the mixture as usual then add chia seeds and let sit for about 10 minutes so the seeds absorb water and create a gelatinous coating. Stir occasionally if you see seeds floating or falling to the bottom. Serve with lemon wedge and ice, or chill in the refrigerator and enjoy straight out from it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I soak chia seeds in hot water?
No, only soak chia seed in cold water.
How to soak chia seeds
Soak a quarter cup of chia seeds in 4 cups of water
Can I drink chia seeds before bed?
Yes, you can drink chia seeds before bed without any health implications.
Can I take chia seeds in empty stomach?
Absolutely, chia seeds can be take on an empty stomach as breakfast food. You can drink them in any of the ways mentioned above that suits you.
Final Verdict
There are many ways to consume chia seeds as a drink. It simple depending on what you have available on the pantry. You can make chai pudding, chia gel, and chia water or even introduce them as additions into your ice cream or lemonade. The list is endless!
