Thursday, August 27, 2015

Blueberry Chia Jam






I bought quite a few pints of blueberries when they were on sale. I froze half and looked around for something different to try. Liv Life posted this recipe and it caught my eye.

This was the first time using maple syrup in a jam recipe and was surprised with the results. I also never used chia seeds before. The only thing I knew about them was chia pets are sold around Christmas. Who knew you could add them to food?

Kim made the jam with fresh blueberries. I checked the comments and she mentioned that frozen would be ok to use.

I didn't change one thing in this recipe because this was something really new to me but so simple to make. 

The jam is not overly sweet but has a nice flavor. 

Ingredients:

4 cups blueberries- I used frozen
1/4 cup maple syrup- use the real kind - grade A or B 
1/4 cup chia seeds
Salt- if desired

Directions:

Place blueberries and maple syrup into a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat and  bring to a simmer.

Stir the berries repeatedly till they soften and begin to pop.


Add the chia seeds and pinch of salt if desired, and reduce heat slightly. 

 Continue to simmer, stirring , until the mixture becomes thick - 15-20 minutes.  (For even thicker jam give it another 5 minutes or so and watch so it doesn't burn).

Remove from heat and spoon into jars. 

 Place jar on a rack and cool, then cover and place in the fridge to chill. 

This makes 2 six ounce jars. I didn't water bath it but I don't see why you couldn't. I gave one jar away and the other is in the refrigerator.

Featured September 2, 2015 on Miz Helen's Country Cottage

Featured September 8, 2015 Tips & Tricks

Featured August 6, 2017 Over The Moon










52 comments:

  1. That looks fantastic Linda....and I've got frozen blueberries I want to use up too. We're heading to Aldi's over the weekend....I'll be scoping out chia seeds. What I really like is it makes a small batch and isn't overloaded with sugar...I think that's part of what keeps me away from jam and jelly making.

    I have plenty of NH maple syrup so I'm almost ready to give this a try! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll stock up at Aldi's before we leave since we don't have one close in Florida.

      Delete
  2. This looks so pretty. I had never heard of Chia seeds either, but with all this health food now, it is becoming very well known. You sure are a great Jam maker in addition to all the other greats. I don't go for blueberries too much, but I did enjoy your post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL- I can still remember the chia pet commercials!

      Delete
    2. I remember those Chia Pets well. I can remember saying I wanted one. Fred got me one for Christmas one year. Mine never looked as the ones on TV did.....guess I didn't have the Chia touch :-)

      Delete
  3. That makes sense that the chia would thicken it instead of pectin. Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This was the first time I used Chia Seeds. Next time I go to Aldi's I'll have to pick up more.

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Linda

      Delete
  4. This looks like a great recipe! So healthy!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi there! I'm stopping over from Let's Get Real today. I've used chia seeds in a variety of recipes, but still feel like a chia newbie. I've been wanting to try chia jam. I hope you don't mind............I have a couple of questions. Did you use black chia seeds? Did the seeds soften when you cooked them or did they stay a bit crunchy?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Christina,

      It was my first time using Chia Seeds. I bought a small package at Aldi's. It was very inexpensive.

      Yes, the seeds were black. When I took the jam off the stove and gave it a taste test some were crunchy but otherwise the jam was thick and did not have a crunch.

      I don't have any left to go and have another taste so that 's a good sign right?

      I saw another recipe for oatmeal with chia that you leave in the fridge overnight. I want to try that soon. Hope it's as good as the jam was.

      Thanks so much for stopping by.

      Linda

      Delete
  6. I love chia seeds but have not tried making jam with it yet, i'm going to try this soon! Thanks for stopping by the healthy living link party

    ReplyDelete
  7. I saw Chia & thought Chia pet too. I've never tried them but this sounds good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Every Christmas the commercials would push them!

      Delete
  8. This is great! I've started adding Chia seeds to my smoothies. I bought a 20 lb box of frozen blueberries from my local farm so I'm looking for ways to use them. I may just try this! Thanks for sharing at the Let's Get Real Link Up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angela- this is a great recipe to try. Hope you like it.

      Delete
  9. Yumm!! Looks like a healthy jam to try ! Thank you for sharing with us @ #HomeMattersParty. We would love to have you again next week.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Got my chia seeds from Aldi's today Linda....soon as I get the festivities done over Labor Day weekend, I hope to give this a try with some of my frozen blueberries. Thanks again for sharing this one...can't wait to give it a go. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great price on them right? Wish I had a Aldi's in Floirda that was close. There's one in Tampa but that's 2 hours away.

      Delete
  11. I love blueberries! I buy frozen all the time for smoothies. Chia pets..I mean chia seeds to:) I will have to give this a try for holidays! T Hanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's so easy to make and what a great gift to give someone.

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Linda

      Delete
  12. Not only does this look delicious, but chia seeds and blueberries are so good for you too. Thanks for sharing your post at the #AnythingGoes Link Party.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks for sharing the recipe - I will have to try it. I canned some cherries this summer with chia and they turned out well - it makes a good cherry crisp.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great idea! I bet this would taste great as a crisp.

      Your cherry crisp sounds delicious!

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  14. Hi Linda, wow thanks for sharing this recipe at Cooking and Crafting with J & J.
    We love to see what you share with us each week!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh wow...what a neat recipe! Yummy!

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Someone gave me the idea to make this up as Christmas gifts! Think it would be a fantastic gift.

      Delete
  16. What a different Jam, this looks delicious. Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope you are having a great day.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for posting on the What's for Dinner Sunday Linky part at the Lazy Gastronome! Your comments at the party are invited!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great way to get your chia on! Thank you so much for linking up to Merry Monday this week! I am sharing your post tomorrow on my Twitter. We hope to see you next week for another great party! Have a great week!
    Best,
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kim,

      See you next week at the party,
      Linda

      Delete
  19. Hello Pretty Lady, you are so creative! Thank you for sharing at the Friday Favorites Link Party! Please join us again to share what you have been working on this week. Christine @ Must Love Home

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Christine- I'll be making this recipe again, it's really good!

      Linda

      Delete
  20. This looks amazing!! I love the addition of the chia seeds. Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Hope to see you again this week! Pinned!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congratulations!
    Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Have a great day and enjoy your new Red Plate!
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I saw it last night when I was at the party.

      See you again next week

      Delete
  22. I have heard lots of great things about chia seeds, but have yet to try them.

    Thanks for sharing on Creative K Kids' Tasty Tuesdays link up. Hope to see you back next week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I saw a package at Aldi's and they were cheap. I pinned a few recipes with Chia and I thought why not give it a try. The Jam was perfect. I want to make more, it was really good.

      Delete
  23. I'm loving the idea of using chia to make jam! Sounds yummy. :) Thanks for stopping by and sharing this recipe on Five Friday Finds! I'm looking forward checking out your this week. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I liked the idea that it has maple syrup in it!

      Delete
  24. This recipe looks really easy and delicious. Thank you for sharing at the Recipe Swap.

    ReplyDelete
  25. This chia seed and blueberry jam looks perfect for breakfast thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning and tweeting.

    ReplyDelete