For many, the word "chia" conjures up an image of Chia Pets – those terracotta figurines with sprouts for hair – but it turns out there's way more to these little seeds than kitsch factor.
A member of the mint family, chia (Salvia hispanica) is native to Mexico and Guatemala and has been cultivated since pre-Columbian times. Legend has it that Aztec warriors could sustain themselves for an entire day with one tablespoon of chia seeds. Recently hailed as a "superfood," these tiny seeds (about one millimeter in diameter) are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, dietary fiber, and other nutrients.
Our first taste of chia seeds came in the form of chia fresca, a Mexican lemonade drink in which the liquid-soaked seeds form an intriguing gelatin-like texture, kind of like tiny tapioca pearls. The mostly flavorless seeds may also be used ground or whole in smoothies, cereals, salads, and baked goods. We use them for added texture in our morning granola or yogurt.
In last week's post on vegan egg substitutes, reader missjulia suggested using 1 tablespoon of chia seeds plus 2 tablespoons of water to replace an egg in baking recipes. Chia seeds are also used as a binder in gluten-free baking. Here are a few more resources and recipes:
• Agua de Chia (Rachel Laudan)
• Recipes Using Chia Seeds & Powder (Navitas Naturals)
• How to Use Chia Seeds and Flour in Gluten-Free Recipes (About.com)
• Gluten-Free Recipes using Chia Seed Slurry (Gluten Free Blog)
Have you used chia seeds in your cooking or baking?
Related: What To Do With Amaranth
(Image: Emily Ho)
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i use chia seeds to thicken yogurt and oatmeal
I just bought some for smoothies! We'll see how it turns out
Chia seed pudding yall!
These gave me stomach problems that lasted for two days. I don't care how good they are for you but I will never eat them again.
i use them for backpacking all the time. helps keep me hydrated over longer periods and great energy burst in the morning:
http://www.brettonstuff.com/index.php/backpacking/chia-seed-for-backpacking/
Top stuff with nut butter (toast, rice cakes, apples) and dip into chia seeds. It gives extra crunch and fiber!
We made a chia seed plum pudding last summer and it was amazing.
Here is a link to the recipe we used: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/notes/luzs-decolonial-cooking-club/chia-seed-plum-pudding/135013783206876
Feel free to join my decolonial cooking club on facebook where I explore Native American and Native Mexican ingredients....
I eat chia seeds every morning in a smoothie, in the afternoon in gel form and at night on well, anything. I also use them to make my favorite sweet treat. Take a cup of frozen berries, microwave until soft, blend and add a tbs of chia seeds. Mix well and let stand for a few hours. It gels up the fruit so it is almost like jello but creamier.
I was kind of interested in trying chia seeds, but a friend had a problem similar to Rosebud's and got scared off. I'm sticking to flax meal.
My mom is a chia fanatic, she busy that Mila stuff, it's essentially ground chia which can be added to anything. I have to admit I did notice an improvement in my energy when she made me take while she was visiting. Still not sure it's worth the cost though.
Where can you buy chia seeds? Would they be in a regular grocery store, specialty grocery, or only a health food store? I'm curious to try them. Thanks!
@sugarmagnolia5 Your best bet is a health food store, generally in the bulk section or with nuts and seeds. You can also find them on Amazon.com.
I use them in making vegan coconut milk ice cream as a healthy thickener. So far so good! The key is to grind them to dust- a regular food processor won't do it, you need a spice grinder.