Summer Pomegranate & Mango Chia Pudding
I have a bit of an obsession with summery chia puddings at the moment. I think it started out because it was so darn cold a few weeks ago so I just started pretending that it was summer and eating summery things. I’m now making them left, right and centre with different milks and fruit and along the way discovering cups of absolute deliciousness.
This particular chia pudding was made by soaking chia seeds in almond milk with coconut chips, pure maple syrup and cinnamon and then layered between fresh mango, pomegranate seeds and toasted crunchy bits like cashews, almonds and seeds. I basically used this recipe but replaced the coconut milk with almond milk which makes the chia pudding lower in fat so it’s great for those who are mindful of their cholesterol levels and saturated fat intake. Along with those that want a lighter pudding.
When we lived in Italy we were given Pomegranates around Christmas time as they were seen as a symbol of good luck. It’s fair to say that most of the households in our village had a beautiful red pomegranate sitting proudly somewhere. Although the seeds can be a little tricky to remove, the fiddly work is well worth it. I love the crunch and delicate sweetness they add to the pudding. Combined with creamy, soft sweet mango it is truly so good!
My summer pudding trick must be working because today it was scorcher -a record for the season with a high of 29°C. It was so hot that I had to take the pooch to the river to cool down and then come home and make the strawberry chia pudding you see below. Again the same principals apply but I just swapped out the mango and pomegranate for sliced strawberries. Perfect for Mrs Jones’s strawberries that are grown just down the road. You know it’s summer in Marlborough when Mrs Jones’s strawberries are ready!
I'd even go as far to say that this little beauty would make a great Christmas day dessert for those taking it easy. It's so simple to prepare and it can all be done a day or so ahead of time and then simply layered just before serving. Impressive but without the fuss!
Pomegranate and Mango Chia Pudding
All you need to do is simply layer the following:
1-2 Tbspn chia pudding (recipe here but remember you can replace the coconut milk with almond, soy or cow’s milk)
1 Tbspn diced fresh mango
1 Tbspn of pomegranate seeds
1-2 Tbspn chia pudding
1 Tbspn diced fresh mango
Small amount of crunchy toasted nuts and seeds (recipe here)
Finish the pudding off with ~1Tbspn of pomegranate seeds
NB: You can replace the pomegranate and mango with any fresh fruit of your choice (i.e. strawberries) but if I don’t have pomegranate seeds, then I like to finish the pudding off with the crunchy nuts and seeds!
Gluten-free, Refined Sugar-free
