Who says breakfast has to be the same every day? With a little creativity you could turn this meal into something as special and varied as lunch, dinner, or — even better — dessert! This tropical chia pudding has flavors reminiscent of a piña colada.
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Chia seeds offer tons of nutritional benefits; when they're moistened, they develop a jelly-like coating around the seed, which is soluble fiber. They're also rich in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids and contain a decent amount of zinc, potassium and Vitamins B1, B2 and B3.
This recipe can be eaten as either breakfast or dessert; the optional granola gives it a nice crunch!
RECIPE: Tropical Chia Pudding
Yields about 2 cups
Prep time: 30 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1 cup light coconut milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 teaspoons maple syrup (depending on how sweet you want it)
- 3/4 cup finely chopped pineapple
- 2 tablespoons shredded coconut (optional)
- 1/4 cup granola (optional)
Directions
- Mix the chia, coconut milk, vanilla extract, and maple syrup in a bowl. Stir with a spoon, fork, or whisk for 5 minutes or until the chia starts absorbing the liquid and the mixture thickens.
- Cover with a plate and refrigerate until you're ready to serve breakfast. You can make this the night before if you prefer.
- Place 1/4 of the thickened chia (about 1/2 cup) in a dessert glass, bowl, or cup. Cover with 1/4 cup chopped pineapple, and then cover the pineapple layer with more chia.
- Top with half of the granola and dried coconut, and with a little more chopped pineapple.
Repeat the rest of the ingredients, and serve. If you aren't going to eat this right away, you can chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
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