Superfood Strawberry Chia Seed Jam

You are not going to believe how easy it is to make this superfood strawberry chia seed jam. Three ingredients, 10 minutes, and you have a super healthy, sweet and luscious homemade jam that is thickened with chia seeds, instead of a boatload of sugar. This is the ultimate quick and easy real food recipe.

(This post has been updated from a previously published post)

Ingredients

• Strawberries
• Chia Seeds
• Maple Syrup (or honey)

Seriously that is all you need. Now also believe me when I tell you that it takes 5-10 minutes. This is one of those recipes that you make and then think… why oh why have I not been doing this for years?

This was another recipe born out of necessity. Yesterday I impulse purchased a $12 loaf of gluten-free bread. I am not gluten-free. I did not need bread.

I got home, kicked myself, and then went looking for jam. I wanted a thick piece of overpriced bread with butter and jam.

No jam.

Went to the market.

Good quality jam without a ton of crap in it cost $8-$15 a jar.

Nope. Can’t do it.

I sulked back into my kitchen, dejected, and remembered I had a ton of strawberries left from my CSA haul.

INSPIRATION! 10 minutes later, homemade strawberry chia jam.

This recipe is so easy, it’s out of control. It won’t last for months and months like traditional jam. It is called “refrigerator jam”, and will last for about a week in the fridge, but honestly, my batch won’t make it a week, it is SOOOOOOOOO good!

I may or may not have eaten it with a spoon several times. I mean, I can’t say for certain if that happened, I just mean it MIGHT have happened. Maybe.

How to Make

• Start with about 2-3 cups of fresh or frozen fruit. I used fresh here, but frozen works as well.
• If the fruit is large (like strawberries or peaches) chop it down into smaller bits. I quartered my strawberries. If fruit is smaller like raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries just leave them whole.
• Place fruit in a saucepan over medium heat and cook until it begins to bubble and break down – about 5 minutes.
• Using a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon, mash fruit until you reach desired consistency. I like mine super chunky so I don’t over mash.
• Add 2 tbsp of chia seeds and stir well
• Add sweetener. I used 2 tbsp maple syrup but adjust quantity based on how naturally sweet the fruit is. More or less as desired.
• Stir well and allow to rest for 5 minutes or so. Once cooled transfer to a jar and refrigerate for a week.
• Or use immediately and then make another batch quickly 🙂

Serving Suggestions

• Eat by the spoonful –  seriously, I cannot stop!
• PB&J, or AB&J (almond butter and jam), this has been my breakfast for days.
• Spoon on top of yogurt or add to a yogurt parfait with homemade granola
• Spoon on top of pancakes, like my pink protein pancakes
• Make “fancy toast”, toast/ ricotta/ strawberry chia jam/ sliced strawberries and toasted almonds

You can try this recipe with a variety of fruit, either fresh or frozen, any type of berry or stone fruit (cherry, peach, apricot), tropical fruit like mango and pineapple would be great too!

For more tasty dishes like this one, check out my Spring recipes, Easter brunch recipes, May recipes, Mother’s Day Brunch recipes and June recipes roundups!

Strawberry Chia Refrigerator Jam

Abra Pappa, MS, CNS, LDN

You aren’t going to believe how easy it is to make this superfood strawberry chia seed jam. Three ingredients, 10 minutes, and you have a super healthy, sweet and luscious homemade jam that is thickened with chia seeds, instead of a boatload of sugar. This is the ultimate quick and easy real food recipe.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 7 minutes mins

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 1 pint

Calories 395 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2-3 cups fresh strawberries quartered
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds

Instructions

 

• Place all strawberries in a small saucepan, over medium low heat. Bring to a simmer. After about 5 minutes, using a potato masher (or whatever tool floats your boat) mash the strawberries. There should be a good amount of liquid in the pan. I like my jam chunky so I don’t over mash.
• Add maple syrup and stir, simmer for additional 5 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in chia seeds.
• Pour into container, cool, and enjoy.
• This will keep for about a week in your fridge or several months in the freezer

Notes

Variations:

• Add aromatics like cinnamon or star anise 
• Add citrus like lemon or strawberry
• Add a pinch of spice like a sliced jalapeno

Types of Fruit:

• Any berry: blueberry, raspberry, blackberry
• Stone fruit: cherry, peach, apricot, nectarine
• Tropical: pineapple, mango, kiwi

Nutrition

Serving: 1pintCalories: 395kcalCarbohydrates: 81gProtein: 7gFat: 8gSodium: 10mgPotassium: 821mgFiber: 17gSugar: 57gVitamin A: 55IUVitamin C: 278.3mgCalcium: 227mgIron: 3.8mg

Snap a photo when you try this recipe!Tag me! @abrapappa or #abraskitchen so I can feature your photo!

Meet Abra Pappa, MS, CNS, LDN

Abra Pappa, MS, CNS, LDN holds a master’s degree in functional medicine and clinical nutrition from the University of Western States. Abra practices functional nutrition in New York City with a clinical focus on eating disorders, digestive imbalances and women’s health. Abra is the publisher of the popular food blog, Abra’s Kitchen, a celebration of wholesome food, and has appeared in dozens of publications as a recipe developer, and wellness authority. Abra speaks and teaches on the topics of functional nutrition and mindful eating throughout the country.