Can I eat chia seeds raw or not? To answer your question right away – yes, you can! However, you should keep a few important points in mind when eating chia seeds raw.
We will show you these and other ways to prepare chia seeds in the following article.
Chia seeds contain a high proportion of fiber , omega-3 fatty acids and are high in protein . In addition, they are an absolute all-rounder, as the chia seeds are so versatile:
You can mix them in cereals , smoothies , pudding , bread and also in pasta , such as pancakes . Chia seeds are also popular as a topping over ice cream and yoghurt . So they can be integrated into our diet in a variety of ways.
Now, however, the question arises: Can you eat chia seeds raw? Or do I have to let them swell before eating ? The answers to these questions can be found in the following blog post.
Eating Chia Seeds Raw: What Should I Consider?
The fact is: chia seeds can also be consumed without prior soaking. The human body is able to break down the grains or seeds as a whole if sufficient fluid is supplied to the body at the same time.
This is the whole point: if you consume chia seeds raw, it is essential to consume enough water or another liquid and not to exceed the recommended daily dose of the German Society for Nutrition (15 g per day).
Otherwise, there may be side effects, such as constipation or other stomach discomfort.
How should you eat chia seeds?
Chia seeds can be consumed in different preparation methods. There is no general recommendation regarding how the chia seeds are consumed.
You can let them swell before eating, but you can also eat them roasted, ground, and crushed. As a topping, the seeds can also be used raw in salad, cereal , porridge or granola .
With regard to the calories of the chia seeds, nothing changes depending on the preparation method. The most common method of preparing chia seeds is to let them swell. To do this, you can add the chia seeds to water or milk.
The following milk alternatives are also good for letting the chia seeds swell:
- Coconut milk
- Oat milk
- Soy milk
- Nut milk
When the chia seeds swell, a gel-like mass is formed and the volume of the seeds increases many times over. This way, the seeds will keep you full for a long time, help you lose weight, and we will also show you six reasons to eat the chia seeds regularly .
Chia seed crushing
In general, chia seeds do not have to be crushed. From the bag, you can add the chia seeds directly to the cereal or prepare a delicious chia seed pudding from them.
If you still want to grind the seeds, you can use a grain mill. In order not to lose the effect of the chia seeds , you should consume them as soon as possible after crushing.
Grinding chia seeds
The seeds can also be ground in the grain mill. In this case, a finer degree of grinding must be set than for scraping. Pancakes, muffins, or delicious bread can be baked with the chia seed flour.
Vegan Chia Seed Pancakes
Ingredients
- 100 g oatmeal
- 50 g flour
- 1/2 pkg baking powder
- 1 pkg vanilla sugar
- 1 pinch of salt
- 300 ml vegan plant drink
- 20 g melted coconut oil
- 1.5 tbsp chia seeds
Preparation
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First, crush the oatmeal in a small blender until it turns into flour.
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Then mix the oatmeal with the flour and baking powder.
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Then add the vanilla sugar and a pinch of salt.
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Next, melt the coconut oil and add the chia seeds and oil to the ingredients.
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Finally, pour the vegan milk over the remaining ingredients.
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Then mix all the ingredients gently with a spoon until a dough is formed. If there are still lumps in the dough, that’s not a problem; they will disappear during frying.
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Heat a pan and add some oil for searing. Our insider tip is to use a small pan that can also be used for frying eggs, ensuring that all pancakes are the same size.
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Gradually add small portions of the dough to the pan and fry the pancakes until golden brown.
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Finally, stack all the pancakes and garnish with toppings such as fruit, nuts, or chia seeds.
Nutritional values
Roast chia seeds
Roasted chia seeds taste particularly good as a topping for soups and salads. To roast, the chia seeds are placed in a non-stick pan and roasted without oil for about three minutes.
After that, let the slightly browned seeds cool down and sprinkle them over your salad or add them to the soup.
A healthy breakfast with chia seeds for every day
As you have now learned, you can prepare chia seeds in many different ways and enhance a dish with them. They can also be integrated into your healthy breakfast .
With chia seeds, your porridge or cereal becomes a particularly valuable meal every day in the morning.
If you don't want to worry about the perfect topping, try our wide range of porridge. There is so much to discover, from fruity to chocolatey.
In addition, our breakfast porridge is prepared in no time and ready to enjoy. This is how a healthy breakfast should be: simple, delicious, and healthy!
Where does the superfood chia seed come from?
Chia seeds come from the plant known scientifically as Salvia Hispanica. They originally come from Mexico and Latin America to Europe.
In their home country, the seeds have long been an essential part of a healthy diet. Here in Europe, the superfood is experiencing a real boom.
