A Sauce Solution

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I'm not much for giving out recipes, but there are some things that are really beneficial for our power pantry, and need to be shared. Some time ago, I did a post on great seeds, and one of those is chia. It is a fairly new darling of the health-nut crowd, being overlooked for decades because of its small humble nature. Fact is, chia seeds have been a great nutritional addition to food for thousands of years (I like including it in my breakfast because it's known as the 'warrior seed' of the Aztecs - it gives me an attitude boost besides the health boost.)

What's so good about chia? (check this link for 11 proven health benefits.) Beyond the fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids, beneficial minerals and protein, they have this interesting propensity to gel. Simply add water or any liquid, and within minutes you get a gooey, gelatinous mass; thin it out and you get sauce, or add more chia and you get something more like a spread.

I've been adding chia to my breakfast muesli for a long time, and I've been wanting to try it in more things like spreads, sauces, smoothies and pie or cobbler fillings. This holiday season is a great time to experiment, so we bought a big bag of chia at Costco the other night... now we're all set.

I can't yet vouch for these recipes from our own experience, but check out some of these creative ways of using chia seeds to thicken old favorites and new treats as well. Basically, instead of using tapioca, pectin or sugar (honey, etc.) you use some combination of chia seeds and liquid as the base for your next syrupy concoction, or as a great grainy addition to a bread or crust.
This is a great list from Daily Burn - 14 Creative Chia Seed Recipes
And a good one from Chosen Foods - Chia Seed Gravy

So go out on a bit of a limb this holiday season, and replace that corn starch or wheat flour, gelatin or tapioca, with some humble chia seeds. It's far healthier and a tremendous power pantry addition.

By the Way

One of the best things about chia seeds is that they are basically tasteless. You'll get all the nutritional and functional (thickening) benefits of adding them to recipes without any odd tastes to overcome or get used to. By using ground chia, you overcome any aesthetic issues with the seed hulls floating in your favorite gravy...