I recently experienced the joy of Oregon’s berry season at its peak. It turns out, the strawberries and blackberries there are far tastier than any I had previously eaten, and I found myself devouring them in handfuls.
To capture a piece of Oregon to take home with me, I bought marionberries and carefully transported them via car, airplane, and then car again. Though I enjoyed some juicy bites, I realized they were fading quickly and I wanted to preserve their intoxicating flavor. Considering pure jam-making involves a lot of sugar and patience, a balance I didn’t want to strike, I was leaning towards another solution.
For anyone overflowing with summer fruits and in a similar dilemma — not wanting to over-sweeten them or spend too much time on jam-making, I recommend trying out chia seed jam. It is a ten-minute process that perfectly encapsulates the authentic berry flavor.
Traditional jams require a lot of sugar and cooking time, but that’s not the case with chia seed jam. The chia seeds naturally thicken the mixture. As a result, the berries’ true taste is allowed to play hero. The jam will remain fresh for a few weeks in the fridge and can be frozen for longer keeping. This berry jam is the perfect antidote to the unwelcome winter blues.
Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph
As a beginner in jam making, you’ll find this chia seed jam recipe pretty straightforward. Requiring only a few ingredients and minimum cook time, it doesn’t require any fussy canning. The magic ingredient, chia seeds, does all the work.
Feel free to experiment with the fruit proportions and types in our recipe. For instance, I tried doubling the marionberries, which worked well. Do remember to adjust the sugar as per the berries’ natural sweetness.
The mixture will thicken in the fridge after a few hours. If possible, prepare it a day before you plan to use it. I was able to store my batch for two weeks. For longer keeping, freezing works excellent.
I mostly enjoyed my jam in plain yogurt, a delightful combination. For meal preppers, you can add spoonfuls of this jam to small jars filled with yogurt for homemade fruit yogurts for the week. Also, it makes a tasty toast spread, cake topping or filling, smoothie, and more.
Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph.
