Banana Chia Seed Pudding

It always amazes me how 5 simple ingredients can make something that tastes so good! Banana Chia Seed Pudding is a delightful treat that is very easy to make and will satisfy your sweet tooth in no time!

Is Chia Seed Pudding Good for You?

Chia Seed Pudding is not only delicious but it is also very good for your body. If you have children, it is the perfect way to trick them into eating something healthy.

Omega Fatty Acids are found in abundance in Chia seeds. These acids are a great for your body since they enhance heart and joint health and support memory function as well. Moreover, Chia seeds also contain a substantial amount of essential vitamins, minerals, and fibers.

In contrast, bananas are loaded with beneficial nutrients. One of these compounds is soluble fiber which when digested breaks down and transforms into a gel. This gel interacts with resistant starch and helps improve blood sugar levels.

Bananas are also a great source of Potassium which is essential for a good heart health.

A medium banana contains 10% of the daily recommended amount of Potassium which means this Banana Chia Seed Pudding is a great way to make sure you are ingesting enough Potassium through your diet.

Blueberries are also a powerful source of antioxidants. Furthermore, blueberries contain phytochemicals that help protect against the effects of many different diseases.

Banana Chia Seed Pudding Ingredients

Chia seeds plus Bananas in a pudding equals a very satisfying treat. Below are all the ingredients that you will need to make this delicious and easy pudding.

Bananas – The bananas give the pudding a super creamy texture and a sweet flavor. For this Chia Seed Pudding, I would suggest you use the ripest bananas you can find. The riper the banana, the sweeter the pudding will be. If your bananas are not as ripe, you can always increase the amount of maple syrup from 1 tablespoon to 2-3 tablespoons.

Blueberries – Blueberries are naturally sweet so they add a natural burst of sweetness to the pudding while also adding some texture.

Chia Seeds – Chia seeds are the main ingredient of this pudding. These hard little seeds absorb the milk and expand after a few hours and become soft morsels creating a thick and creamy texture. There are both white and black varieties of Chia seeds available and you can use either as these don’t have any taste and absorb the flavors of the other ingredients.

Milk – Milk is the liquid of choice for this pudding and you can use any kind of milk you want. I used whole milk for this recipe. However, you can use dairy-free milk such as almond or coconut milk to make this pudding as well.

Maple Syrup – Maple Syrup adds a little sweetness to the Banana Chia Seed Pudding. You can also use Honey or Agave Nectar if you don’t have Maple Syrup.

Banana Chia Seed Pudding Variations

This Chia Seed Pudding is totally customizable. You can add any ingredient that is in season or a fruit you really like, such as;

• Cinnamon
• Strawberries
• Non-Dairy Milk
• Nutmeg
• Flaxseeds

How Long Should You Let Chia Seeds Soak?

Even though chia seeds will absorb the milk in no time, you still need to give them time to develop their traditional gel-like consistency. It’s best to let the chia seed pudding sit in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight if possible.

Tips for Making Chia Seed Pudding

When you add milk to the chia seed pudding, let it sit for 5 minutes before stirring. For a nicer consistency, you should stir your pudding a few times before placing it in the fridge.

Stirring the pudding distributes the chia seeds evenly and allows them to absorb the milk better. In addition to this, stirring also prevents the seeds from clumping together.

You can always blend the pudding in a blender if you want a super-smooth texture. The blender will crush the ingredients creating a pudding that has a velvety smooth texture.

How to Store Chia Seed Pudding

Chia Seed Pudding is the perfect breakfast or mid-day snack you can make in advance and store in a mason jar or an airtight container. This Chia Seed Pudding will last for 5 days when stored properly in the fridge.

As the pudding sits in the fridge, it may thicken up a little bit. Simply stir it before serving and you’re good to go.

Although you can technically freeze Chia Seed Pudding, I wouldn’t suggest it. The pudding will become waterlogged as it defrosts which may change the texture. Nevertheless, this Banana Chia Seed Pudding only takes 5 minutes to make so whenever you want, you can whip up a new batch.

How to Tell if the Chia Seed Pudding is Bad?

With regards to flavor, Chia seeds are relatively bland, therefore if your pudding has a bitter taste, it is spoiled and needs to be discarded immediately. While bad Chia seeds won’t necessarily make you sick, no one willingly wants to eat rotten food so it’s best to just chuck it in the bin and make a new batch.

More delicious Breakfast Recipes

• BLUEBERRY AND KIWI BREAKFAST BOWL
• PLANTAIN PANCAKES
• CHIA SEED PUDDING WITH COCONUT MILK