A creamy almost instant pudding made from chia seeds is swirled with a bright and tangy raspberry rosewater sauce and topped with fresh raspberries in this easy make-ahead breakfast/ light dessert.
Found in everything from drinks to snacks and desserts, chia seeds have been having their moment in the lime light as a superfood. It’s hard not to notice these versatile black and white seeds popping up everywhere you look.
Maybe it’s the fact that the nutritionally dense seeds boast a trio of fiber, protein and essential fatty acids in a portable package that’s easy to add to almost anything or that their unique gelling ability keeps you full and satisfied for longer. Of course I can’t help but like the idea that I’m fueling my body with the very same seeds that kept Mayan and Aztec warriors going strong for long days.
I’m also particularly partial to the cool, slippery, lumpy, bumpy texture they create when soaked in coconut milk overnight. Chia seed pudding has that same creamy comforting appeal of rice or tapioca pudding but with significantly less effort considering it takes only a matter of minutes to put together and keeps for days in the fridge.
Light, creamy and totally satisfying all at once, it makes an excellent warm weather breakfast or not too sweet dessert/snack that doesn't require any cooking. A swirl of tart raspberry puree brings color and a burst of freshness to the cool creamy pudding base and a handful of fresh berries tops the whole thing off. A squeeze of zippy lime juice brings the raspberry sauce to life and I like to add a few drops of rosewater for a bit of an exotic undertone, but feel free to leave that out if it’s not your thing.
If I’m having it for breakfast I add a generous dollop of sheep’s milk yogurt to the coconut chia pudding for some gut-friendly probiotics and a little extra protein but if you prefer a dairy-free version an all coconut pudding is equally tasty.
Pudding for breakfast? You better believe it.
Raspberry Chia Pudding
Light, creamy and totally satisfying this coconut milk chia seed pudding with raspberry swirl makes an excellent warm weather breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 cup/240ml light coconut milk
- 3 Tablespoons/ 63g raw organic honey (divided use) or maple syrup for a vegan version
- A pinch of sea salt
- ¼ cup/48g chia seeds (I like to use white for a prettier pudding)
- 1 cup/140g frozen thawed raspberries
- The juice of 1 lime
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon rosewater (start with ¼ and add ore if you prefer it stronger)
- 1 cup/225g plain whole milk yogurt ( I like to use sheep’s milk yogurt) for a vegan version replace with plain unsweetened dairy-free yogurt.
- 4oz/115g fresh raspberries to top
- The zest of about half a lime to garnish
Instructions
- Combine the coconut milk, 1 Tablespoon of the honey, pinch of salt and chia seeds in a small bowl or jar and stir or shake until blended.
- Let stand covered overnight in the fridge to thicken. Stir to incorporate the seeds if they have settled the following morning.
- Meanwhile, toss the thawed frozen raspberries with the lime juice and the rest of the honey in a blender or food processor and puree (adding 1 Tablespoon of water if necessary) to create a smooth sauce.
- Pass the puree through a fine mesh strainer if desired to remove the seeds. Add rosewater and cover and refrigerate overnight.
- The next morning stir together the yogurt and thickened chia coconut milk mixture and spoon the pudding into bowls or glasses; swirling in raspberry puree and topping with fresh raspberries.
- Garnish with lime zest and serve with additional runny honey or maple syrup on the side if desired.
Notes
Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian
NOTE: If you prefer a dairy-free paleo and/or vegan version use dairy-free yogurt and maple syrup instead.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 209Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 95mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 9gSugar: 12gProtein: 7g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
carol p. says
i don't live near a Whole Foods store - or any type of health food store for that matter. is there something that i can use instead of rose water? (i still don't know what it is...) thank you! this looks absolutely delish! i have everything except the rose water ready to go!
Sylvie says
Hi Carol, You can also order rosewater online if you can't find it in a store near you or simply omit it, it will still be delicious without it!
Erin M says
These look delish!! One question-how long will they keep in the fridge? Do they have to be eated immediately or can I made a bunch and eat them throughout the week?
Sylvie says
Yes you can prepare a big batch ahead of time for the week and it should be fine for up to 5 days. I'd just keep the chia pudding and sauce separate until serving.
Marly says
This may be the best use of chia seeds I've seen so far. Well, you know, except for the chia pets. Those were pretty darn cute. Can't wait to give this recipe a try!
Jessica says
Can I ask where you bought Rose Water from. I'm obsessed with Rose scented everything so I'm dying to make this! Great Recipe : )
Sylvie says
You can usually find rose water in Middle Eastern markets (try a Persian market) or some higher end grocery stores like Whole Foods carry it as well. Hope that helps!
Reiko says
Hi! I have a big bag of chia seeds that I don't know what to do with! I should definitely try this. Looks absolutely delicious!! Love all the pictures, too!
Sunnie@ModernGirlNutrition says
Whoa! Your photography is amazing! 🙂 Raspberries are the best things ever. Love your blog