Hot & Tasty Breakfast!
Well, Autumn definitely arrived on time this year! We went from blue sunny skies and 25° to a night-time temperature of 7° overnight. I was almost, that is ‘almost’ tempted to put the heating on… but it is, after all, still only September.
So, potatoes are back on the menu (not that they ever really left!) and we have had soup several days already. This morning in my kitchen felt especially cold, which may of course have something to do with the hard concrete floor which is waiting to be resurfaced, or just the fact that it was 10° outside. Of course, I could have just made my regular porridge, but I am still enjoying having my chia seeds – enter chia porridge.
Chia Seeds
So what are chia seeds? Chia seeds are tiny black or white seeds from the Salvia hispanica plant, and despite their size, they are absolutely packed with nutrition. These little powerhouses are one of the richest plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for heart health, brain function, and reducing inflammation. They’re also high in fibre to keep your digestion happy and help you feel fuller for longer, with the bonus of also providing plant protein, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Chia seeds are perfect for creating quick, healthy breakfasts – once soaked, they can absorb up to 10–12 times their weight in liquid, developing a naturally creamy texture that’s ideal for puddings, smoothies, and of course, this delicious porridge.
The Chia Porridge Recipe
You might automatically think of oats when you think of porridge – but I have replaced the oats with chia seeds. The main ingredients here are therefore chia seeds and milk (of your choice). For this version, I have also used a banana (a great use of over-ripe bananas) and some cocoa powder.
As with any porridge, you can add as many toppings as you wish, for example: fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, nut butters, spice, jam or frothy milk!
Porridge made with chia seeds rather than oats, with added banana for natural sweetness.
- 1 ripe banana
- 150-250 ml milk of choice (I used unsweetened oat)
- 2-3 tablespoons chia seeds (black, white or mixed)
- 1-2 teaspoons cocoa powder
- * toppings of choice e.g. fresh fruit, jam, nut butters, seeds
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Peel the banana, then roughly break into a saucepan. Add the milk, then gently bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and allow the banana to soften completely – you can increase the speed of this by mashing the banana with the back of your spoon.
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Sprinkle the chia seeds over, and the cocoa, stir in, then leave to simmer for ten minutes. Check the consistency and add more milk if needed.
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Turn off the heat and let the chia seeds expand fully. Check the consistency is to your liking (add more milk and reheat gently for a couple of minutes if needed).
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Spoon (or pour) into your serving dish, add your toppings (& a side of frothy milk)!
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Enjoy!
What do I need?
Hopefully you already have everything you need for this recipe, but in case you’re new to baking and cooking, or just want a refresh, here are a few items you might like. These links will take you straight to Amazon where you can then search as usual for anything you need. If you follow these links, Amazon might pay us a small commission, which goes towards paying the website hosting fees. We’d be very grateful if you do, thank you! Have a look at these: saucepans, kitchen utensils, decorative serving bowls, milk frothers (because frothy milk is good for so many things!) and mini milk jugs, or any other items which you might need. Much appreciated!
Serving
Serve your chia pudding hot with all your favourite toppings! Try banana and peanut butter; chocolate spread and chopped hazelnuts with frothy milk; fresh strawberries, raspberries & blueberries; pecans and maple syrup or just eat it as it is!
Storing
The cooked chia pudding will thicken on storing, so it is best to make and eat what you need as you need it. That said, you can gently reheat it in a pan with a splash more milk, and it will keep for several days covered in the fridge.
Sharing
I hope you will make this for someone else and share the recipe with others! Let me know what toppings you are adding – I love hearing all your ideas and trying them out!
As always, I love hearing about any recipes of mine you try, any ideas you adapt or suggestions you have for future recipes. Please share and tag me @LifeDietHealth or using #LifeDietHealth on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or X.
Leave me a comment below… I love to chat!
I hope to speak with you soon
Laurena x
Yay, autumn time again🍂🧡Potatoes and oats very much on my starch solution plan- still doing that on and off😋
We had 28′ over the weekend, today it’s 7′ here too!
Pumpkin season is coming!!! and of course the cooler weather for you Eva! 28c though… then down to 7c is a shock! I think I’d rather it just hover around 20c! Anyway, I’m definitely loving potatoes at the moment, so look out for some more tasty recipes (I currently have a 7.5kg sack I’m working my way through)! #NewRecipes