Cha cha cha Chia! I am getting more and more obsessed with chia seeds. I am enjoying them in yogurt, in granola, on salads. I’m hoping to try some chia banana bread soon as well. One of the easiest and tastiest ways to enjoy chia seeds is by making pudding. Because the seeds gel in liquid, they are a great way to make tasty pudding.
This pudding is super easy, I just added a bunch of stuff I had in the house, Ghiradelli cocoa powder, stevia for sweetener, and some almond milk. Skim milk or soy would work well too. I got some low calorie whipped cream at Whole Foods to serve on top, but berries would be delicious as well.
At first taste: I was a bit weirded out by this pudding. Because I so rarely eat dessert I was super psyched to try this. It does not taste like conventional pudding. But I tried it again and ended up loving it and eating the whole batch. The texture takes some getting used to but it’s creamy, sweet and chocolately. It will totally satisfy a chocolate craving and makes for a great low calorie after dinner snack. So give this a shot and have realistic expectations. But I promise it’s worth a try.
A servings has only 136 calories, making it a great treat for a snack or dessert.
Health Benefits of Chia Seeds:
- Chia seeds are hydrophillic, meaning then can absorb over 10 times their weight in water. This makes them great for hydration, as they absorb the water we drink and hold it in our bodies.
- Eating chia seeds slows down how fast the body converts carbohydrates into simple sugars. This leads scientists to believe chia seeds may have huge benefits to diabetics.
- Chia seeds have 5 times the calcium of milk, 2 times the potassium of bananas, 3 times the iron of spinach and 3 times the antioxidants of blueberries!
- Chia seeds have more omega-3′s than flax! And, unlike flax, chia seeds do not have to be ground to be digested and can be stored for years without going rancid.
- 19-23% of the seed’s weight is protein. Like quinoa, it contains a complete amino acid chain, giving your body complete protein on par with meat or eggs.
- Chia seeds reduce your cravings for sweets and junk foods because its high levels of soluble fiber allow for a measured release of unrefined carbs into the bloodstream. This is the opposite of a sugar rush and crash which creates more cravings.
- 3 cups of unsweetened almond milk (or skim, soy or rice)
- ½ cup chia seeds
- 3 tbsp unsweetened dark cocoa powder
- 2 packets of stevia
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
- optional: shaved chocolate for garnish
- optional: whipped cream or whipped soy for garnish
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together all ingredients (except garnish)
- Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight
- Serve and garnish with whipped cream, shaved chocolate or berries
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I knew chia seeds were healthy, but I didn’t know all the info you gave us. Thanks for that — I’ll definitely be making more of an effort to include them in my diet. Starting with this great pudding! Lots of flavor, and pretty healthy (as far as these things go). Good stuff — thanks.
What a great idea to add chia seed in the pudding! Extra nutrition is always nice to add! I love seeing the nutrition fact next to your recipe!
Oh I love, love, love, chia seeds! I know there is a ton of debate over their health benefits, but the texture is wonderful.
I can’t wait to try your recipe!!
i’ve been wondering about chia seeds, now I definitely need to pick some up! this sounds so yummy!
A new food incorporated into pudding? Why not! Looks delicious.
Cool! Love chia seed, and mixing them into a chocolate pudding is just brilliant!
I want to make this!! Yummy.
I just tried chia seed pudding for the first time last week and it was shockingly good. I didn’t have very high expectations, but now I’m a little bit obsessed.
I’ve been loving chia seeds lately! I usually throw them in smoothies, but this reminds me I need to try more chia puddings.
Mmmm chia seeds in dessert sounds brilliant my friend
Cheers
CCU
Oh I have a question for you! More about your photo than the recipe. The drinking chocolate disc you have – I have a couple that look identical but I have no idea how much to use for a cup of cocoa. How much do you use?
Those are disks of Mexican stone ground chocolate – I buy them from a local company and they make amazing hot chocolate. You grate them with a microplane or box grater. I think I usually use half a disk or a bit more for a mug full.
I’ve never tried using chia seeds like this, but now I’m exciting to give it a go! It sounds light and lovely for dessert.
Very interesting! I’ve never had chia seeds. They look like the give the pudding a tapioca-ish effect.
Your killing me here! I love creamy chocolate treats. I can’t imagine how the combination of chai and chocolate taste; however, I love both flavor so I can’t imagine I wouldn’t absolutely love it. The other thing I like – no cooking and something you can whip up in minutes. Thanks for sharing this!
Didn’t know about chia’s calcium level. And Taza chocolate is amazing!
Agreed. I love Taza. I have to resist buying the chocolate covered nuts, those are my favorite.
These are gorgeous, Dara! And they don’t break the calorie bank, either…double bonus!
Those puddings looks so tempting, like a super healthy chocolate tapioca. I am going to have to get some chia seeds! I didn’t know how wonderful they are for us!
this looks so good! i can’t wait to make it!
We often use chia seeds in milk preparation called ‘Faluda’. This is very nice recipe and now I can use them to make different recipes like yours, other than faluda.
Thanks! I have never tried Faluda – but I am going to google it now.
Easy and chocolate? I’m in!
Well, just put my chia pudding in the fridge, my son is 1 year old and he can’t tolerate dairy yet so since our coconut milk trial seems to be a pass I decided to give this a shot.
I did it very simple just coconut milk and the seeds, maybe I will put some coconut manna if it turns to bland.
Thank you for your post, the Chia info and the great picture!!
I have some ground chia seeds i use for baking–can I substitute those? Would it still work? I really want to try this
Hi Carissa, I’m not sure if ground chia will work. The “pudding” effect is caused by the seeds gelling. I don’t know if ground chia does the same thing. If you give it a try let me know how it turns out.
Ground chia works really well. Just give them time to set (a few hours). I got a type that were chocolate, coconut flavored (no added sugar, just flavor). Got this from Whole Foods, Spectrum Essentials, Decadedent Blend. I have been making the pudding for a week. I use one container of flavored yogurt, 100 or so calorie size, a 1/2 a cup of plain low fat yogurt, 1/2 a cup of coconut water, stevia, regular water, cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons and 1 mashed banana. I mix all this, taste and adjust as necessary, this is the the way it will taste after it sets. This makes a lot and lasts at least 3 days.
Thanks for the suggestion Deb. I love that this recipe is so versatile.
Hi,
If I wanted to use sugar instead what would be equivalent to the 2 stevia packets?
…I came across this recipe quite by accident, and I enjoyed the style in which you cook..very similar to my own, in some ways. I have also used coconut milk for this, but the naturally occurring sugar content is high, so ..like you, I prefer the almond milk ( unsweetened). I use chia seeds in a lot of my ‘ stuff’ lol…from smoothies to incorporating into meatballs, and have used them in a bread crumb mixture for a coating..to puddings. I dont know if people know how beneficial they are !
I was so surprised to see your name is Dara. Not sure if you pronounce ‘ soft’ but thats how my daughters is pronounced. 
Now.. for the ‘ interesting part’..lol. I seldom SEE or HEAR the name ‘ Dara’…; the first time I ever heard it was in …1979. Yep. Fast forward to 1993…when I had my youngest child..( I was 38 years young , then..) and its my youngest daughters name.
…And your food photos are great ! Will definitely be back to check out your blog !