Alex Coiov, 10A
Moist yet creamy and with crunchy bits, chia pudding is one of the many exotic foods people enjoy nowadays. Originally from Central America, chia seeds were a staple in the ancient Aztec diet because the Aztec warriors would indulge in such delicacy before going on war expeditions. Additionally, such seeds can absorb ten times their dry weight in water; this makes them the perfect candidate for a pudding. As for the price, 150g of chia seeds can be purchased online at “sanovita.ro” for nine lei (transport is not included). However, they can also be found in supermarkets such as Selgros for a similar price.
The recipe for it is as follows:
· four parts cow milk (Coconut milk in tin cans is recommended, but all kinds of nut milk work – coconut milk in tin cans is found at Selgros, and nut milk, in general, can be found in any stores, the price ranging from ten to twenty lei per litre);
· one part chia seeds – usually, two tablespoons of chia are more than enough for a portion;
· Toppings/Enhancers - these can be cinnamon, cacao powder, dark chocolate, matcha powder, peanut butter: especially the kind that contains 100% peanuts, fruit: since summer is right around the corner, think of buying strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries;
· Sugar/Sweetener (optional) – sugar may overpower the mild taste of chia;
· Time: one hour is more than enough; however, if the mixture is left overnight, more milk (or water) is necessary, as the pudding will harden and expand overnight;
Cooking steps:
1. Put the chia seeds into a bowl and add the liquid of choice.
2. Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
3. Add the spices or toppings, and keep stirring.
4. Put a plastic wrap over the bowl and put the mixture into the fridge OR enjoy just it as it is.
Aside from its mouthwatering yet mild flavour, chia pudding contains several macronutrients. The three primary macronutrients are fat, carbohydrates, and protein. Two tablespoons of chia seeds come with a whopping 8 grams of fibre. Fibre is a type of carbohydrate that is undigestable by the human body. Eight grams represents 30% of the daily recommended dose. Although humans cannot digest it, fibre is crucial for our gut microbiome. Essentially, this microbiome makes up the bacteria living inside us which do many things ranging from vitamin synthesis to contributing to our immunity.
Furthermore, two tablespoons of chia seeds contain 5 grams of Alpha-Linoleic acid (a fancy name for the omega-3 fatty acids found in plants). Although ”ALA” (Alpha-Linoleic acid) cannot be used by the body as efficiently as animal-derived omega-3s, the daily recommended intake for ALA remains at one to two grams. Since chia seeds contain an abundance of ALA, and omega-3 is essential for brain function and a healthy heart, there is no reason for missing out on chia pudding.
To sum up, chia pudding is both a delicious treat and healthy food. With a mild taste that can change according to the toppings one chooses to use, chia pudding packs many macronutrients such as fibre and ALA. Therefore, this is an outstanding snack for the upcoming summer.