Pomegranate Chia Jam (or any fruit you'd like)

In the workshops I lead, where I teach how to prepare easy, protein-rich food, I love to set a small table of delicious vegan snacks so people don't starve while the food is being prepared.

What's on this table?

Fresh vegetables, fresh buckwheat bread that I bake, and all kinds of delicious spreads I make.

I think for the upcoming workshop on Friday morning, I'll bring, among other things, pomegranate chia jam.

This is a jam that contains a high amount of chia and very little sugar.

I chose to make this jam with fresh pomegranates this time, but you can make it with any fruit you love, fresh or frozen. Pomegranates have just flooded the supermarkets (so why not buy a kilo or two?!)

I like to prepare this jam in advance and store it in a jar in the fridge. In the morning, I add a tablespoon to my granola or spread a thin layer on bread before heading to the office (which is in my house, yay!).

Unlike store-bought jams or typical homemade ones, this jam contains very little sugar and the preparation process is very short and simple.

So, you're probably wondering what makes the jam set if there isn't much sugar?

Aha!

The chia! My love.

If you didn't know, when chia seeds are soaked, they release a thick, sticky gel that I use instead of the sugar in the jam. Good trick, right?

In my opinion, it's a great way to consume chia seeds in a slightly different way (that doesn't get stuck in your teeth—try going to a meeting after eating porridge with chia, embarrassing!)

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How to eat it?

One tablespoon of jam can be a wonderful solution when we crave something sweet and relatively low in calories as a topping for bread, porridge, or yogurt.

The high fiber content found in both the chia seeds and the pomegranate seeds will keep us feeling full for a long time.

Chia seeds also contain a good amount of Omega-3 fatty acids, and pomegranates are full of wonderful antioxidants.

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Nutritional values by Noam Bachar, fitness trainer and nutritionist:

One tablespoon of jam weighing 30g contains:

40 kcal

8g carbohydrates

1g protein

1g fat

Print

Chia Jam

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes

Total Time 14 minutes

Serving Size 10 servings

Ingredients

• 280 g Pomegranate seeds Two medium pomegranates - or the same amount of any chopped, very ripe fruit you like
• 2 tbsp Chia seeds
• 2 tbsp Date syrup (Silan)
• 2 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract

Instructions

1. In a small pot, combine the pomegranates, date syrup, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Mix well and bring to a boil over low heat.
2. Continue cooking for about 5-8 minutes.
3. Remove from heat, add the chia seeds, and mix thoroughly.
4. If you prefer a firmer jam, add another tablespoon of chia seeds.
5. Let it cool and set for at least half an hour before eating.
6. Once the jam has cooled, transfer it to a jar and keep refrigerated.
7. Unlike "regular" jams, this jam (because it doesn't contain a lot of sugar) doesn't keep for a long time and can be refrigerated for only a few days.

Notes

You can completely omit the date syrup if you wish - the chia will still thicken everything, but the result will be less jam-like and less sweet.