Vegan mixed berry chia jam

Vegan mixed berry chia jam: fruity, quick to make and nicely balanced with mixed berries, chia seeds and lemon juice.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 5 min
• Cooking time: 10 min
• Total time: 15 min
• Calories: 80 kcal per serving
• Protein: 2 g
• Fat: 4 g
• Carbs: 8 g

Ingredients

• 300 g frozen mixed berries
• 3 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 squeeze of lemon juice

Method

You’ll need: saucepan · mixing bowl · potato masher

1. Put the frozen mixed berries in a small saucepan and let them thaw slowly over a low to medium heat.
2. Simmer the mixed berries briefly until they're soft and release their juice. Crush them lightly with a fork or potato masher.
3. Stir in the lemon juice and mix everything briefly. This gives the jam a little more freshness and balance.
4. Stir the chia seeds into the warm berry mixture. Leave it to swell for a few minutes, stirring once more in between.
5. Take the jam off the heat and let it cool slightly. It will thicken a little more as it does.
6. Spoon into a bowl or a clean jar and serve for breakfast with bread, yoghurt (plant-based to keep it vegan) or porridge.

Good to know

Sometimes all you need in the morning is something fruity on a spoon. This jam is uncomplicated, pleasantly tart and lovely and smooth.

Swaps

Frozen mixed berries → raspberries or blackberries (usually less sweet, good for a low-carb breakfast) Frozen mixed berries → strawberries (milder flavour) Chia seeds → psyllium husk (binds strongly and often means fewer carbs per serving) Lemon juice → lime juice (similarly fresh, adds acidity with nothing sweet added)

Allergens

The recipe is naturally free from most of the common allergens, although some sensitive people react to chia seeds. For small children, only serve it in a suitable consistency because the seeds swell a lot; in pregnancy it's fine in normal food amounts, and the frozen berries are cooked here.

Frequently asked questions

Which nutrients are in mixed berries?

Mixed berries mainly provide vitamin C, manganese and various polyphenols such as anthocyanins. The exact amounts depend on the type of berry and how they're stored.

What's special about chia seeds?

Chia seeds contain fibre and plant omega-3 in the form of alpha-linolenic acid. They also contain minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

Is the lemon juice just there for flavour?

Mainly, lemon juice brings acidity and freshness to the jam. It also provides small amounts of vitamin C, although in such a small quantity that's fairly modest.

Do chia seeds suit everyone?

Not always. Because of their fibre and the way they swell, chia seeds can cause wind or a bloated feeling in some people, especially if you're not used to them.

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