Chia Jam is my new favorite way to make jam! You won't believe how easy it is to make Strawberry Chia Jam - just four ingredients and under 30 minutes! No canning required!
Chia Seeds are So Good For You!
Sometimes I am ahead of the game and sometimes I am way behind. Like this easy 30 minute strawberry chia jam. I am so behind on the whole chia seed phenomena. I see them pop up in jams, smoothies, overnight oats, and even just sprinkled on salads.
What's the big deal, I thought. Sure they are a good source of protein, omega-3, and fiber - if you want to read more about how good they are, this article Chia Seeds Healthy Benefits has loads of information.
Chia Jam is Super Easy!!
So, how did I finally come about joining the chia seed bandwagon? Pure laziness. My store had some very nice looking organic strawberries on sale. After a little searching, I decided to make mini strawberry tarte tatins.
Doesn't that sound lovely? Oh, they were going to be so pretty. But then when the time to actually make them came, I was feeling kind of lazy. It sounded like work. You know, crusts and everything. And by crusts, I mean frozen puff pastry.
See what I mean? Lazy. Then I remembered chia jam. It's supposed to be easy. Just what a lazy person needs.
How to Make Chia Jam
There were all sorts of different ways and opinions on how to make strawberry chia jam. I settled on this version from The Kitchn. I liked it because it had a basic formula. One that I could use with other types of fruit to make all sorts of fruit chia jams.
Two cups of fruit to two tablespoons of chia seeds and a tablespoon or so of your favorite sweetener. Just so you don't think I am completely lazy and worthless, they had the extra step of cooking the fruit and I liked that idea. I know how sweet and syrupy fruit gets when you cook it even for a little while.
Strawberry Chia Jam Gets Two Thumbs Up!
The verdict? Two thumbs up for this easy strawberry chia jam. Remember the tarte tatins that I was going to make? Well, I had bought some vanilla ice cream to serve on top of them. Instead we had a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a little of this jam spooned over.
Heaven. I love that you can make it as sweet or not as sweet as you want, where unlike canning, you need a certain amount of sugar for the whole canning thing to work.
The kitchn mentions that you can blend up the seeds if you don't like them, but I like their tiny bit of crunch. Especially in a strawberry jam where you expect a few seeds. I will be making this jam all summer long, with any fruit I can find.
Looking for More Delicious Jam Recipes
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Easy 30 Minute Strawberry Chia Jam
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced strawberries
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon sweetener of your choice - I used agave nectar
Instructions
- Cook the strawberries in a medium saucepan over medium heat, until they start to break down and get syrupy. Use a potato masher or the back of your spoon if you want them more mashed.
- Take the pan off the heat and stir in the lemon juice and the sweetener.
- Stir in the chia seeds and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Cool to room temperature and then spoon into a jar and refrigerate. It will thicken even more in the refrigerator.
Jenny01 says
Antioxidants, protein, dietary fibre, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, and other minerals are abundant in chia seeds. Chia Seeds Benefits list numerous advantages for it, including accelerating weight loss and regulating blood sugar. They also improve the condition of the teeth and bones, speed up metabolism, and lessen inflammation.
Molly says
Just made this with a big haul of strawberries fresh from the field. I love chia seed pudding and the like so I had a feeling I would like this. It's a nice contrast to the sugary freezer jam (I also used your recipe!) which I love on toast and english muffins. I have a feeling the tartness of this will go amazing over vanilla bean ice cream like you suggested! YUM. Thanks for the great, easy recipes. Will be adding them to my cookbook for next year.
Ann says
I put chia seeds in my overnight oats. Never thought to add it to jam. I'll have to give this a go.
Cheryl says
I can do this and I even have jars like yours.
Thanks Pam❤️❤️
Miz Helen says
Your post has been featured on Full Plate Thursday and we are pinning it to our Features Board. Thanks so much for sharing with us and enjoy your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom says
You may find this hard to believe, but I've never had chia seeds! This looks so delicious, rich and tasty! Yum! I need to try it!!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Laura says
This looks wonderful! I love how low in sugar it is!
Marissa | Squirrels of a Feather says
Tasty and easy, my favorite kind of recipe! I love that long, white plate, where did you get it?
Pam Greer says
HomeGoods! As soon as I saw it, I grabbed it! That store is such a hit or miss.
Karren Haller says
I have strawberries and chia seeds, Im making your recipe. So easy!
Would love to have you share on my #OMHGFF Linkup
Have a great day!
Karren
April J Harris says
I just love the idea of a quick and easy homemade jam with something so good for you in it! I've featured your Strawberry Chia Jam at Hearth and Soul this week, Pam. Scheduled to pin too. Thank you so much for being a part of Hearth and Soul.
Ellen Pilch says
That looks really tasty.
Ann says
I'm not into super food fads. Is the chia gritty in the jam? Is it an essential ingredient here in that, does it help with the setting of the jam?
Pam Greer says
It is essential because when wet chia seeds get very gelatinous. They are kind of gritty, but not in a big way.
Shelby says
Just made this! Mom and Dad brought strawberries from their garden so I gave it a wing with their berries. Can't wait to taste it!
Ann says
I'm not into food fads so haven't experienced the joy that is chia seeds. Do they give the jam an even grittier texture than that provided by the strawberry seeds?
Pam Greer says
A little grittier, but what they really do is jell it up.
Tracy says
I love love love the addition of chia seeds to this jam!! Way to pack in the nutrition! Now I really can't wait for summer strawberry season!
Pam Greer says
I know they are perfect!!
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says
This looks soooo good, I've never used chia seeds in anything before - I'm way behind the game! This looks too easy and yummy not to try though!
Gorgeous photos too!
Pam Greer says
And I thought I was the only one who hadn't jumped on the Chia seed bandwagon!
shadi says
How gorgeous this jam is! And it's quick. I hear it calling my name! I have this big pack of chia seeds and it's strawberry season so I guess we all know what I'm about to do! 😀
jane @ littlesugarsnaps says
Pam, you are fantastic. I have Chia seeds but so far have only put them in smoothies because I'm too lazy to work out what else to do with them. Now I know. Your photos certainly do the jam justice. They make me really want to make it since the jam looks a nice shade of bright, fresh red - perhaps because the fruit has been cooked for less time than a traditional jam?
Amanda | The Chunky Chef says
Anything I can make in 30 minutes is a great recipe in my book 🙂
Julie at Hostess At Heart says
I love that this jam isn't full of white sugar! I'm going to have to try this one.
Pili says
I really love healthy recipes and your has a bonus with the chia seeds!
I would love to invite you to share this with us at our new Sweet Inspiration Party which is live every Friday, http://sweethings.net/sweet-inspiration-link-party1/
I hope you have a wonderful week!
Rosa @ Cat Lady Confidential says
I must try to make this recipe. It seems quite easy and delicious!
By the way, I sent you a message through your contact form a few days ago. Have you received it?
Pam Greer says
I'll have to check, I am way behind on my emails!
Deb in Hawaii says
Chia seed jam is my favorite--so easy, so good! I made a blackberry chia jam a few weeks ago that I am still using and I am sure strawberry will be next when we start getting the better berries in here. Gorgeous color! 😉