Cardamom Chia Seed Pudding
Want your recipes to pop with flavour? Add a HINT of cardamom. Want your guests to make funny faces? Add a LOT of cardamom! Cardamom is a bold spice. That’s one thing we can agree on. One thing we can’t agree on is how to describe cardamom. Fellow foodies define it as a strong aromatic spice with hints of citrus, mint, wood or smoke. To me, ground cardamom is sweet and floral which is why it blends so well with desserts.
Cardamom is made up of blended seed pods from plants in the Zingiberaceae (ginger) family. It originates from India and it’s often added to Indian rice pudding called kheer. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? If it works with rice pudding surely cardamom will work with chia seed pudding? Absolutely!
Also, let’s not forget about chia seeds. But what about omega-3 fatty acids? Yes, chia seeds are high in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid. That’s fantastic news! It’s not? The bad news is we’re terrible at converting ALA into biologically active docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). And by bad news, think of a conversion rate of (less than) 2% to 10%. It’s not all bad news, however, because Chia is still rich in protein, fibre, and antioxidants.
Bottom line: chia seeds are good for you and make a great tasting dessert! They’re a healthier substitute for rice and the vanilla and cardamom bring serious flavour game to this pudding. It’s probably one of the easiest, healthiest and tastiest snacks or desserts you’ll ever make.
Cardamom Chia Seed Pudding
Author: Jen - A Naturally Nu Foodie recipe
Prep Time: 5 to 10 minutes
Chill Time: 3 hours (minimum) to overnight
Total Time: 3 hours and 5 minutes
Number of Servings: 2 to 3
Ingredients:
⅓ cup (80 mL) chia seeds
1-1/3 cup (340 mL) coconut milk
1 tbsp + 1 tsp (20 mL) maple syrup
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
¼ tsp (1 mL) ground cardamom
Coconut milk (optional)
Method:
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk until blended well.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, even overnight.
Stir with additional coconut milk before serving into a small bowl. Top with cut-up fresh fruit and/or toasted nuts.
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