We just can’t get enough of chia seeds at the moment. These little things pack a punch of nutrition — they’re high in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, calcium and antioxidants. If you’re a jam lover and enjoy it on your toast or in your yogurt (or off a spoon), but you don’t love the high sugar content, this Blueberry Lemon Chia Seed Jam is for you! It’s simple to make and there’s enough natural fruit sugar to make it sweet. If you’ve never tried making your own jam because it seems too complicated, have fun with this and enjoy a leisurely weekend breakfast.
Ingredients for about 2 cups of jam:
2 cups (500g) of fresh blueberries
Zest of 1 lemon, finely grated
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
4 tablespoons chia seeds
1-2 tablespoons agave, maple syrup or honey
Grate the lemon zest before you juice the lemon — it’s much easier than trying to grate an empty lemon! Combine the blueberries and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Over medium heat, allow the mixture to cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring now and then, until the blueberries start to open up.
Blend the berries with an immersion blender until smooth. You can do this directly in the pot, off the heat as long as the blender part is fully immersed under the berries. Otherwise be prepared for blue splatters everywhere (just sharing past experiences)! Simmer for another 5 minutes over a low-medium heat to allow the berry mixture to thicken a bit.
Take the pan off the heat and stir in the chia seeds, lemon zest and one tablespoon of the agave, maple syrup or honey. Try it to see if it needs more sugar. Leave it for a few minutes to allow the chia seeds to bloom, then cool and enjoy! This keeps well in the fridge for a week in an airtight container.
