Strawberry Chia Jam: a quick and healthy jam recipe with only 4 ingredients and three steps!

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This recipe was originally published on May 4, 2019. It was updated on July 7, 2021.

Article summary:

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Growing up, our jam homemade recipes were always delicious -- super jammy and a rich strawberry flavor I can't forget -- but not necessarily nutritious.

Loads of granulated sugar were added along with the pectin to create the thick-textured jam. In the years since I've tried out low sugar and reduced sugar jam recipes, but nothing has replicated that full strawberry jam flavor.

Not until I created this strawberry chia seed jam recipe, that is! Because the chia seeds naturally thicken up, no pectin is needed. Also, thanks to fresh or frozen berries, this chia jam has a full fruit flavor and killer mouthfeel. No more of that fake sweetener flavor of the sugar-free jams often sold in stores.

Finishing off the jam is a touch of lemon juice to make the berry flavors sing. The agave or maple syrup add processed sugar-free sweetness to the spread if your berries or taste buds need a little boost of it, but it's totally optional.

Make this recipe budget-friendly by using frozen strawberries, but fresh berries can also be a steal when they're in season (in May & June). Take that budget-friendly step one step further by making and freezing a large batch when you find those berries on sale.

Either way, with a short cooking time (under 20 minutes!), a handful of easy-to-find ingredients, and a few simple steps, this recipe is an approachable way to add nutritious and delicious foods to your family's table.

This chia seed jam recipe is...

• Sweet
• Jammy
• Bright
• Flavorful

Gone are the days that homemade jam is synonymous with hours laboring in the kitchen! This jam recipe gives you all the payoff with just a fraction of the work.

Ingredients:

• Strawberries - fresh or frozen
• Liquid sweetener (optional) - honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup
• Lemon juice - fresh or bottled
• Chia seeds - I love the Mamma Chia brand

Substitutions:

• Fruit - this jam can be made with almost any type of fruit; blackberry, raspberry, mixed berry, and blueberry chia jam are all delicious. You can also make this jam with peaches, pineapple, cherries, and plums though you will need to peel and/or pit and dice the fruit before simmering in the pot.

How to make strawberry chia jam:

1. Bring the strawberries, liquid sweetener (if using), lemon juice, and chia seeds to a simmer in a medium saucepan.
2. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-13 minutes, stirring consistently and mashing as you cook, or until the jam has thickened.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and cool the jam until at room temperature.

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Chia jam pro-tips:

• Mash the fruit to the desired amount - you can mash the fruit as much or as litle as you'd like. If you like jam chunkier, mash it less; it you like it smoother, mash it more.
• Sweeten to taste or according to how sweet the fruit is - the liquid sweetener is optional. Use it if your fruit is tart or you like sweet jam. You can also use it to taste, adding only the amount you want.
• Use fresh or frozen fruit - this recipe works for both fresh and frozen fruit. Frozen fruit can be a surprisingly great value for the price, though fresh fruit can be a bit sweeter. Frozen fruit also makes this recipe doable year round!
• Adjust the cooking time if using fresh fruit - if making this recipe with fresh berries, cook them for 3-5 minutes less than you could frozen berries, or until they've broken down and the jam has thickened up.

Recipe FAQs:

Serving suggestions:

Serve this jam anywhere you would serve traditional jam. I recommend on:

• Toast
• Greek yogurt parfaits with granola
• Pancakes
• Waffles
• Charcuterie platters
• Brie quesadillas
• French toast
• .... and more!

I also love using this jam to make my 3-ingredient yogurt popsicles!

Dietary adaptations:

This recipe is naturally gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, and processed sugar-free!

Storage directions:

• Refrigeration: leftovers last covered in the refrigerator for 7-10 days
• Freezing: leftover jam can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months

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Tools needed to make this recipe:

• Measuring cups & spoons
• Medium-size saucepan
• Spatula

Favorite breakfast recipes:

• Vegan Coffee Cake
• Mountain Breakfast Skillet
• Oatmeal Blender Pancakes
• Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole
• Banana Double Chocolate Chip Pancakes

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