Blueberry and walnut kefir with linseed

Blueberry and walnut kefir with linseed: a creamy recipe with wild blueberries, natural kefir, walnuts and a pinch of cloves – quick to make.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 5 min
• No cooking needed
• Total time: 5 min
• Calories: 250 kcal per serving
• Protein: 12 g
• Fat: 14 g
• Carbs: 18 g

Ingredients

• 100g wild blueberries
• 200ml natural kefir (unsweetened)
• 1 handful of untoasted walnuts
• 1 tbsp ground linseed
• 1 tiny pinch of ground cloves

Method

You’ll need: blender

1. Let the wild blueberries thaw slightly, so they stay cold but are no longer rock hard.
2. Blend the natural kefir briefly with the ground linseed and a tiny pinch of ground cloves until creamy, or stir thoroughly.
3. Put the blueberries in a glass or small bowl and pour the kefir mixture over them.
4. Roughly crush the walnuts and scatter them on top, so there's still some bite.
5. Leave to stand briefly, so the linseed swells slightly and the texture becomes smoother.
6. Serve fresh and enjoy it slowly, spoonful by spoonful.

Good to know

So simple it almost seems unspectacular – and that's exactly what I like about it. Cool, creamy, slightly nutty and with a lovely freshness in the glass.

Swaps

Natural kefir → sheep's milk kefir (often a little creamier, with protein and calcium). Walnuts → pecans (milder in flavour, also provide unsaturated fatty acids). Wild blueberries → blackberries (similar fibre content, with polyphenols). Linseed → chia seeds (swell a lot and also provide fibre).

Allergens

Contains milk and tree nuts. For small children, only serve the nuts finely chopped, never whole or in large pieces, and during pregnancy pasteurised kefir is the safe choice.

Frequently asked questions

What's special about wild blueberries?

Like other dark berries, wild blueberries contain anthocyanins and fibre. They're usually smaller and more intensely coloured, which often goes with a higher content of certain polyphenols.

What fatty acids do walnuts and linseed provide?

Both mainly contain alpha-linolenic acid, a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid. Walnuts also bring monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

How much lactose does kefir contain?

Part of the lactose is broken down during fermentation, so kefir usually contains less than milk. How much depends on the product, and how you react to it varies from person to person.

Why ground linseed rather than whole?

Ground linseed mixes in more evenly and swells faster, while whole seeds often stay intact. It's important to have enough liquid, as the seeds swell a lot.

Does the pinch of cloves make a nutritional difference?

Cloves contain aromatic plant compounds and antioxidants. In the tiny amount in this recipe, it's mainly about flavour; any relevant nutritional contribution is small.

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