Simply Raw

Among the foods that really deserve to be included in our daily diet are chia seeds. I share with you one of my favorite recipes, a chia see porridge from famous raw chef Russell James. To better understand these wonderful little seeds that provide us with the good fats that are essential to the proper functioning of our bodies (especially the precious Omega-3’s) and to find out where you can find them, read on.

Chia Seed Porridge

Soak in water on the previous evening:
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- ½ cup whole oats
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup raisins
- 4 Medjool dates

Soak separately ½ cup chia seeds in 1 cup of water.

On the following morning, drain and rinse the seed mixture and place it in a blender or food processor with the chia seed and water mix (which will have become one gelatinous mass).

Add :
- 1 ½ cup almond milk
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon cinammon

Blend for just a few seconds until the oats and seeds have broken down and you have a mixture that looks like porridge. Serve with fresh fruit (banana, apple, all kinds of berries, etc.) and a little more almond milk, if desired. This porridge will keep in the refrigerator for a few days in an airtight container.

Treasures of nutrition

Chia seeds come from Central America. They are real treasures of nutrition, boasting high quantities of iron, fiber and essential fatty acids, and are a great natural plant source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 EFA’s. They are well known to mankind as they have been a staple of the Aztec and Mayan diets for many centuries.

Like flax seeds (linseeds), chia seeds will become gelatinous when soaked in water. They can absorb 4 times their volume in water. They are mostly used soaked, and added to other ingredients to make porridge, or unsoaked but ground to add to dessert recipes. They can replace flax in any recipe, can be added ground on salads or cereals, or constitute the basis of smoothies and other energizing drinks. Make chia milk as you would any other seed milk.

These tiny little seeds are a real marvel for raw fooders who favor nutritious food, the kind that is clean, free of toxins, easy to digest and full of energy! According to various sources, they offer many health benefits, from improving heart health to reducing blood pressure, stabilizing blood sugar, helping people lose weight or giving people extra energy.

Where can you find them?

They are not easy to find around here, however, as most health food stores have never heard of them, and they are relatively expensive. But when it comes to my health, I clearly look for quality! If you want to buy some, I carry them here (CHF39 for 500 gr.) I have been importing them from France for a few months, a high quality strain from Spain, but I have now found another supplier which will allow me to offer it at better rates in the autumn. Don’t wait until them to try these little gems out!

Chia Fresca Drink

- 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- 1 cup water
- juice of one orange
- 2 teaspoons agave nectar
- pinch cinammon

Blend all ingredients and enjoy. This refreshing and energizing drink is simply divine!