Chamomile Strawberry Chia Pudding #SundaySupper

Eating healthy does not mean foregoing dessert when recipes like this Chamomile Strawberry Chia Pudding exist. Lightly sweet and packed with nutrients this healthy strawberry dessert is good for the soul AND the body. This post is sponsored by Florida Strawberry in conjunction with a social media campaign through Sunday Supper LLC. All opinions are my own.

Here in Brooklyn, we think of strawberries as a late Spring/early Summer berry because that’s when we see them at our farmer’s markets. New Yorkers are notorious for assuming what’s true for us is true for everybody. We are the center of the universe, right? But the fact is that we can have ripe, delicious strawberries as early as December if we look for Florida Strawberries at our local grocer.

So, I encourage my fellow Brooklynites to widen their perspective a bit and consider the country at large. Basically because, if we do, we can double our annual intake of fresh, ripe, red delicious strawberries! Obviously, that’s a good thing just in terms of taste. More deliciousness is always welcome. But it’s also good in terms of our health.

First of all, they’re loaded with Vitamin C. It only takes eight strawberries to deliver the same dose of C as an entire orange. So we are stocking up on Florida strawberries around here as their growing season runs parallel to our cold and flu season. I’m putting them in allthethings. Salads. My daughter’s lunchbox. And, as you’ll soon see, our healthy desserts. Because an ounce of prevention is…well…delicious!

Strawberries also rank high for folic acid and potassium and some research indicates they may help prevent cancer.

They’re also convenient (another thing New Yorkers love!) Rinse ‘em off, throw ‘em in a ziploc and you’re out the door!

All of which is to say that we will never be sorry for introducing more fresh Florida strawberries into our diets.

So I created this healthy strawberry dessert with just that goal in mind. This Chamomile Strawberry Chia Pudding is light, floral and refreshing. Healthy enough to be an anytime-you-want-it dessert, which are my favorite kind. Fresh strawberries combined with ginger and chamomile tea makes a perfect lightly-sweet treat to cap off any meal.

If you’re new to healthy chia pudding desserts, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Tips for Making the BEST Strawberry Chia Pudding

• My biggest chia seed recipe tip? Let. Them. Soak. Chia seeds transform from hard tiny seeds to a more gel-like texture when they come into contact with a liquid, in this case cashew milk. Most chia pudding recipes will tell you to soak for 8 hours. But I notice a distinct difference after the 12 hour mark. Around this time the seeds have really broken down. They’re softer and less distinct.
• Also, the amount of chia seeds used determines the degree to which the pudding will set. More seeds will give you a firmer set. Fewer will create a runnier pudding. There’s no right or wrong here, it’s simply a matter of personal taste. This Chamomile Strawberry Chia Pudding recipe is intended to be firm. If you like a softer pudding feel free to use 6 or even 5 Tablespoons of chia seeds instead of the stated 7. Alternatively, you could make the recipe as written and add more tea and/or cashew milk if it comes out too firm.
• Lastly, I find chia pudding really benefits from a few vigorous stirs. One right after combining the seeds with the liquid. They kind of want to float on top but make sure they get down in there. One more stir right before you cover it and put it in the refigerator to chill. And one really good one after removing it from the fridge before serving.

If you’re hungry for even more recipes including fresh Florida Strawberries there are tons on the official Florida Strawberry web site. They also have great tips for choosing the best berries and for storing them.

To learn even more about Florida Strawberries check them out on:

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube

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Chamomile Strawberry Chia Pudding

Prep Time

20 mins

 

Lightly sweet and packed with nutrients this healthy strawberry dessert is good for the soul AND the body.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 200 kcal

Author: Christine | Mid-Life Croissant

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 4 chamomile tea bags
• 1 heaping cup fresh Florida Strawberries stemmed and quartered
• ½ Tablespoon fresh grated ginger
• 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
• 7 Tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 cup unsweetened cashew milk
• Fresh Florida Strawberries and chopped raw pistachios for garnish

Instructions

1. Combine the boiling water and tea bags and let steep 15 minutes.

2. Squeeze water out of the tea bags, then discard them. Let tea cool completely.
   

3. Combine the chamomile tea concentrate with the strawberries, ginger and maple syrup in a blender. Blend until smooth.

4. In a medium sized bowl, combine the strawberry mixture with the cashew milk and chia seeds.

5. Stir vigorously until seeds are well combined.

6. Let sit at room temperature 10 minutes.

7. Stir vigorously again. Cover and chill in fridge overnight (8 to 12 hours. See Notes.)

8. When ready to serve, remove from fridge and give one final vigorous stir.

9. Place pudding in bowls and top with fresh strawberries and pistachios.

Recipe Notes

• Shorter chill time for soft set pudding. Longer for firm set.
• Makes approximately four 3-ounce servings.
• Prep time doesn't include overnight chilling.
• Calorie information is approximate for one serving without garnish. Will vary according to serving size.

Healthy Family Recipes Using Strawberries

Healthy Strawberry Appetizers

• Chicken and Strawberry Caprese Wonton Cups by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Strawberry Avocado Pinwheels by Helpful Homemade
• Strawberry Avocado Toast by Family Foodie
• Strawberry Balsamic Flatbread by Authentically Candace
• Strawberry Shrimp Ceviche Cocktail by Soulfully Made

Healthy Strawberry Salads

• Strawberry Avocado Salad with Fresh Mozzarella and Walnuts by Jersey Girl Cooks
• Strawberry Chicken Spinach Salad by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Strawberry Pasta Salad by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Strawberry Quinoa Salad with Feta Cheese by Cricket’s Confections
• Strawberry Spinach Feta Salad by Caroline’s Cooking
• Wild Rice Salad with Strawberries by Sunday Supper Movement

Healthy Strawberry Main Dishes

• Chicken with Strawberry Satay Sauce by Kudos Kitchen by Renee
• Rotisserie Chicken Strawberry Pizza by Go Epicurista
• Strawberry Balsamic Chicken by Flour On My Face
• Strawberry Glazed Salmon by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

Healthy Strawberry Desserts

• Chamomile Strawberry Chia Pudding by Mid-Life Croissant
• Frozen Strawberry Chocolate Yogurt Bark by Renee’s Kitchen Adventures
• Paleo Strawberry Cobbler by Pies and Plots
• Strawberry Oatmeal Bars by Desserts Required
• Strawberry Pavlova with Coconut Cream by Recipes Food and Cooking

The Sunday Supper Movement is committed to bringing our readers delicious recipes that encourage them to gather and eat together around the family table. Search for your favorite ingredients on our Sunday Supper website. Also check out the Sunday Supper Pinterest boards for plenty more ideas and inspiration.

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