Chia is one of the ingredients I have mostly experimented with recently. Chia seeds are called super-food thanks to their characteristics and their benefits to the body. They are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, rich in fibre and protein, and most importantly for this recipe: they not only make it healthy, but also play the role of thickening (starch commonly used in common recipes).
This strawberry jam is made only of 3 ingredients, which can be easily found in simple markets.
The difference from the common jams stand in the fact that:
- You can feel more the taste of the fruit
- The sweeteners amount is reduced significantly
- Is less durable than normal jam
After finishing cooking, you have to let the jam to cool down and you will notice it will start thickening. This is why you need to cook it a day ahead if you plan to serve it on an occasion.
You can store the jam in a hermetic container for 2 weeks in the refrigerator and 2 months in the freezer. If you are freezing it make sure to defrost by leaving in the refrigerator before.
In this article, I am showing 2 ways how to cook this jam. I personally prefer the first one, but feel free to choose according to your taste (if you want it to be more of the same consistence or to have fruit pieces).
Method:
First Version: Grind the strawberries and the maple syrup until they become a homogeneous mass.
Cook it in average heat for 4-6 minutes, stirring constantly until the mass starts to boil and thickens.
Add the chia seeds and keep cooking, stirring constantly with the spatula for another 4-5 minutes.
Place the jam in a container and let it cool down entirely.
Store it in a glass jar in the refrigerator.
Second Version: Cut the strawberries in 4 pieces and place them in a pan.
Add the maple cyrup and cook in average heat for about 5-10 minutes if you are using fresh strawberries and 15 minutes if you are using frozen strawberries.
Cook the mass until it starts boiling and the strawberries have softened and have started to be juicy.
If you want you can crush the strawberries with a spoon to make the jam have the same consistency.
Add the chia seeds and keep cooking by stirring constantly for 4-5 minutes with a spatula.
Place the jam in a container and let it cool down entirely.
Store it in a glass jar in the refrigerator.
Photography by me
