I've been craving protein a lot lately. I think this is common with pregnancy, as I'm also told that protein is super important during pregnancy in general. I've had to get creative with my protein sources lately, as my appetite has been a little unpredictable. This pudding is packed with protein sources, thanks to the chia seeds, kefir, and almond butter. It's highly nutritious, has no added sugar, and fills you up for hours.
Chia seeds are so unique. I discovered them in my raw food days and have been a fan ever since. They are full of Omega-3's, protein, and fiber- for a triple packed nutritious punch. They also help stabilize blood sugar levels and are naturally gluten free. They can be used in all sorts of ways, such as add-ins for granola or smoothies, toppings for salads or soups, or my favorite way shown in this recipe: to make pudding. This tiny seed, when added to liquids and let set for several hours, becomes gel-like and thickens the liquid like crazy.
And so my craving for protein has led me to experimenting with this pudding for over a week now, each time experimenting with different proportions to get it "just right." Today I landed on it. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. (Please note: you will probably want to double this recipe so that you have lots of pudding left over for quick breakfasts or snacks. It will keep for at least three days in the fridge.)
Chocolate Chia Pudding
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup plain kefir or yogurt
1 banana
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons almond butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 drops liquid stevia
1/2 cup ice cubes
1 cup water
Place all ingredients in the order listed into Vitamix or high powered blender. Blend on high for about 30 seconds. Enjoy right away or refrigerate for several hours or overnight to allow the chia seeds to expand and become gluey, making the pudding really thick.
Thanks for this recipe. I've just started experimenting with chia. Looking forward to trying this! Jacinthe
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