Saskatoon “Sneaky” Chia Jam

What kid (or adult for that matter) doesn’t like jam? Jam and toast, peanut butter and jam sandwiches. It’s almost a right of passage for any kid. But the thought of serving the typical store bought jam loaded with added sugar did not rest easy with me. Instead I started serving Chia Jam and “sneaking” it in as a healthy alternative.

Saskatoon berries are a staple in the prairie provinces and my freezer is packed full of them after each fruit picking season. Saskatoon berries per 1 cup are loaded with Vitamin C (36%), 4.5g of fiber, iron (2%), as well as an excellent source of manganese, magnesium, calcium, potassium, copper and carotene… To name a few. Saskatoon berries are similar in looks to a blueberry but tend to have a wild nutty and sweet tang to them that is simply irresistible.

The Saskatoon berries in the Saskatoon “Sneaky” Chia Jam can be substituted with endless fruit options. Chia jam can simply made with staples often on hand and ready in less than 10 minutes.

Saskatoon “Sneaky” Chia Jam

Ingredients

(yields approximately 1/2 pint)

• 2 cups of saskatoon berries frozen or fresh (or any other fruit)
• 1-2 tbl spoons of water (I like to add water to the fruit mixture to give the chia seed more moisture to absorb which tends to make for a more thicker jam texture)
• 2 tbl spoons of natural organic honey (more honey can be added for a more sweeter jam or a few dashes of Stevia)
• 2 tbl spoons of chia seed

Directions

• Pour fruit into pot and slightly crush fruit and simmer for 2-3 minutes on medium heat
• Add 2 tbsp of natural organic honey, stir and mix
• Add 2 tbsp of chia seed, mix well and let simmer for 1-2 minutes
• Transfer jam mixture into containers (mason jars work best)
• Let the jam rest for a few minutes (to allow chia to absorb moisture)
• Refrigerate

Notes:

• Jam will last 1-2 weeks in refrigerator before spoiling
• Jam can also be frozen

Enjoy!