Chocolate Chia Pudding
As should be well established at this point, I don’t really believe in buying food. I’m also just about as far as you can get from being a health food junkie. I am definitely the last person to urge you to go out and purchase expensive, frou-frou, health food store goods that claim to cure cancer and end global warming and whatever else.
So I did not go out in search of chia seeds after they were featured on Oprah! or whatever last year. Chia seeds found me. With an entire pound of them staring me down from the cupboard, I decided to give them a chance.
Ch-ch-ch-chia! Yeah, I just went there. You remember those commercials for Chia pets back in the early 90s? They were my generation’s answer to the pet rock. Yes, the seeds that make Chia pets grow fuzzy green “fur” and those magical raw chia seeds that health food purists have been drooling over for the last year are one and the same. Except now, with their rebranded makeover, they’re about twelve times as expensive!
Anyway, as it turns out, chocolate chia pudding is actually pretty decent. Its little gelatinous balls are reminiscent of tapioca, and make for a refreshing hot weather treat. One nice thing about chia seeds is that they soak up just about all the liquid you can throw at them. There’s no reason you’d eat an entire batch of chia pudding in one sitting, so when you’re done snacking, top off your container with rice milk, stir to incorporate, and let it chill some more — you’ll end up with a basically bottomless bowl of pudding.
Oh, and lastly, a disclaimer: in addition to being high in Omega-3s, let’s just say chia seeds are known to have a laxative effect. The first time I made chia pudding, I didn’t let it sit and absorb fully. Waiting is for losers, right? So I took a couple of bites of the pudding while it was still crunchy. I won’t romance you with the details of my intestinal pain several hours later, but don’t say you weren’t warned. Or hey, maybe you can consider it a “deep colon cleanse.” Right.
Chocolate Chia Pudding
¼ c chia seeds
3/4 c vanilla rice milk or your favorite non-dairy beverage
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp agave nectar or maple syrup
½ tsp vanilla
Put all ingredients in a covered container; stir well and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Serve chilled. If it’s too thick for your tastes, just stir in a little extra non-dairy milk right before eating. Top with slices of banana, fresh berries, nuts, or granola if you’re so inclined.
Variations:
Add 1 tsp hazelnut extract for Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding (my personal favorite), or ¼ tsp peppermint extract for Chocolate Mint Pudding. Add another tablespoon of cocoa powder and some walnut pieces for Brownie Pudding, or throw in some coconut and pecans and a pinch of cinnamon for Cowboy Pudding.
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Oh! This recipe looks yummeelicious.
I must make it – so simple, too. 
I love chia. I’ve made dif. types of this pudding before…and I also add it periodically to cereals and such.
Okay, first, I was like–Hooray–a new pudding recipe. Then I read the rest of the stuff about the chia seeds and nearly fell off my chair laughing! So maybe I’ll try this at some other point in time–but it does look yummy!
Haha, yeah — I probably shouldn’t go into chia seed marketing, should I?
I feel like I’m officially the last one to jump on the chia train now! I’ve been meaning to seek out some chia seeds for awhile, and I guess it’s about time. As soon as I obtain some, I’m trying your recipe.
I love chia pudding, esp when it’s chocolate. It’s also good with some peanut butter on top. When I’m feeling lazy, I just make it with chocolate hemp milk.
Good to know; I’ve been tempted to add peanut butter in the past, but I figured adding it might make the consistency weird.
Wow this looks good. I haven’t used chia before, but I think I’ll try this next time I make a chocolate pudding pie! I might even blend in some strawberries…
I think that’s a great idea! Raspberries would be delicious, too. Or even orange slices!
Haha, thanks for the warning!
I need to get hold of chia seeds since there seem to be so many great recipes using them around at the mo, and obv including this one
sari and i just discovered chia seeds too, and we’ve been making pudding out of it using coconut milk for a super rich decadent treat! i hadn’t thought to add chocolate though…
Oh wow, I bet using coconut milk instead of rice milk would really kick this up into the decadent dessert category. Though, I don’t know if my stomach could handle it!
ch-ch-ch-chia! sorry…couldn’t help myself!
looks super yummy. loved the chia pudding i’ve tried and chocolate sounds amazing.
I’ve never had chia seeds before but you make them look delicious! Hahaha, but I’m cracking up learning about their, ahem, side effects!
amazing. i was not even aware of this craze, nor that chia seeds are edible. also i miss you!
I will be trying this, no doubt.
Am I reading this correctly…we don’t need to cook it at all? Just stir everything up and let it sit? If so, wow, so easy even my toddler could make it (but I don’t think I’ll let him try it until it is, well, “absorbed.”
Exactly