This Blueberry Chia Jam only take 15 minutes to make, and is great on toast, stirred through porridge, or in desserts such as our Healthy Blueberry Crumble Bars.
Our Blueberry Chia Jam is a tasty way to add heart and brain healthy Omegas in to your families diet. Chia seeds are packed with them, as well as calcium, iron and potassium.
You can use any berries you like to make chia jams, we have recipes for Raspberry and Strawberry Jams. Both are delicious, and both are well received by my little ones.
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What you'll need
Ingredients
- Blueberries - you can use fresh or frozen blueberries to make jam.
- Chia Seeds - they contain omega 3 fatty acids (brain health and nerve function), iron, calcium and fiber, which make them a great food to include in your diet. The chia seeds are also used to thicken the jam, instead of high amounts of sugar and cornflour.
- Lemon Juice - Use fresh lemons, not the bottled stuff. Feel free to add some lemon zest to the jam as well for a more summery vibe.
- Maple Syrup - We only lightly sweeten our jams, and the tastiest way to do this is with maple syrup. Alternatively you can use another liquid sweetener such as agave or date syrup.
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Wooden Spoon
How to make the jam
Add the blueberries, maple syrup and lemon juice to a saucepan.
Cook on a medium-low heat for 10 minutes until the blueberries begin to soften and breakdown. Stirring often to help the blueberries release their juices.
Add the chia seeds to the saucepan and stir well.
Then using the back of the wooden spoon, squish the blueberries down to help release some more of the juices. We like to leave some of the blueberries still whole though for a little 'pop' when eating in on our porridge. This is entirely optional though.
Cook for a further 5 minutes, stirring regularly to avoid the jam sticking to the bottom of the saucepan.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow to cool before transferring the jam to a glass jar for storing..
The jam will thicken a little more whilst it's cooling, thanks to the gelatinous properties of the chia seeds (see photo 6 above).
Hint: Once you have made your jam, taste it before jarring. If you prefer a sweeter jam, now is the time to add a little more maple syrup. Try adding 1 more tablespoon of maple syrup, stir well and taste again. Once you're happy with it's sweetness, store in a glass jar in the fridge.
Substitutions & Variations
Here are a few other suggestions of how to jazz up your jam:
- Flavours- you could try adding vanilla and/or cardamon to your blueberry jam to give it a delicious twist. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla paste or extract and ½ teaspoon of ground cardamon to the saucepan at the same time as the chia seeds.
- Berries- any berries work well as a jam - cherries, blackberries or strawberries are just a few. Bear in mind that berries that are a little more tart will require more sweetener to balance it out (like raspberries and blackcurrant).
- Other fruits- you can use fruits such as plums, peaches or even kiwis to make a jam. This no sugar peach jam recipe from Grow Forage Cook Ferment is great for a sugar free and child friendly option. She does include a sugar option should you wish to sweeten it up though.
Storage
You can store this in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Just be sure that the jam jar lid is tightly screwed on when stored to preserve it's freshness for as long as possible.
You can store the jam in the freezer for up to 3 months, allow to fully thaw before using. Once defrosted, use within 1 week.
Recipe tip
Texture - If you prefer a smoother jam, use a potato masher to squish the blueberries. Do this prior to adding the chia seeds to the saucepan.
For babies and toddlers - If giving these bars to little ones (18 months +), swap the maple syrup for powdered xylitol, using the same quantities.
Xylitol is a natural sweetener that doesn't turn to acid in the mouth like other sugars do. And therefore it helps prevent tooth decay (you will also find this as an ingredient in some toothpastes). Moderate consumption of xylitol is recommended by dentists in the battle against tooth decay in both children and adults.
Recipe
Easy Blueberry Chia Jam
Equipment
- 1 Saucepan
- 2 Wooden Spoon
Ingredients
- 2 cups Blueberries fresh or frozen
- 2 tbsps Maple Syrup
- 2 tbsps Chia Seeds
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice about half a lemon
Instructions
- Add the blueberries, maple syrup and lemon juice to a saucepan.2 cups Blueberries, 1 tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice, 2 tbsps Maple Syrup
- Cook on a medium-low heat for 10 minutes until the blueberries begin to soften and breakdown. Stirring often to avoid any berries sticking to the pan.
- Add the chia seeds and stir well.2 tbsps Chia Seeds
- Then using the back of the wooden spoon, squish the blueberries down to help release some more of the juices
- On a low heat, cook for a further 5 minutes, stirring regularly.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow to cool fully before transferring the jam to a glass jar for storing. The jam will thicken a little more whilst it's cooling, thanks to the chia seeds.
Notes
Xylitol is a natural sweetener that doesn't turn to acid in the mouth like other sugars do. And therefore it helps prevent tooth decay (you will also find this as an ingredient in some toothpastes). Moderate consumption of xylitol is recommended by dentists in the battle against tooth decay in both children and adults.
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