When you’re on your tenth watermelon of the summer, you start to get reaaaally creative with different ways to use it! You’ll see a couple of watermelon recipes coming up on the blog for that very reason. The first of which, is this creamy watermelon chia seed pudding!
Creamy watermelon chia seed pudding? Sounds a little… strange, right? It sounded pretty strange to me at first, too. So strange that even though the recipe came out perfectly on my first round of testing, I had to make it two more times just to be sure that I wasn’t making up the fact that it was DELICIOUS.
I actually kind of had to convince myself that this was a good idea. And now, I do believe it’s my job to convince YOU that’s it a good idea, too 🙂
The base for the chia seed pudding starts by blending together fresh cut pieces of juicy watermelon, greek yogurt (Stay with me here. You can also sub in coconut yogurt for a dairy free option), lemon juice, and a little maple syrup to gently sweeten things up. The chia seeds are whisked in, and once their plumped up, the pudding is layered into little cups with fresh berries, and more juicy watermelon.
How am I doing on the convincing so far? 😉
The result is slightly tangy, sweet, and loaded with juicy watermelon flavor that’s just begging to be eaten every summer morning. Or as the perfect sweet snack in the afternoon when you get that craving.
And the best part of it all? It’s a healthy + lazy girl’s dream.
Anyone else in this club?
I mean, I work hard when I need to, but sometimes it’s just better to spend less than 5 minutes making something to eat.
Perhaps it would be wise to replace the word “lazy” with “efficient”.
That sounds a little better rolling off the tongue, don’t you think?
Effortless and efficient is just kind of the way it goes with chia seed pudding
Here’s how it’s built:
- Prep your base, whisk in the chia seeds, and leave it for a few hours or overnight to thicken.
- When it’s ready, layer it in a cup or your favorite bowl with some fresh berries + extra watermelon and you’re SET!
So easy.
And once it’s made and waiting in the refrigerator you can literally make your breakfast or snack in LESS THAN 3 MINUTES 😱
Having things like this on hand in the refrigerator is especially helpful when you’re trying to eat healthier, and want to set yourself up for success. It’s much easier to make healthy choices when you have them already made and available to you!
It’s also easier to make healthy choices when they’re creamy, summery, and slightly sweet like this watermelon chia seed pudding 😋
And besides being easy to make and super summery and delicious, this cup packs a powerful health punch!
are chia seeds good for you?
YES!
They are…
- Packed with antioxidants! Naturally occurring compounds in plant based foods that help protect our bodies from free radicals, which can damage the molecules in our cells and encourage various diseases.
- High in vitamins and minerals – Magnesium, Manganese, calcium, and potassium just to name a few.
- Full of fiber which makes them great for our digestive health. Besides their ability to keep us full longer, and promote healthy regularity, the soluble fiber in chia seeds acts as a prebiotic for healthy gut bacteria growth. Double win!
- Rich in omega-3 fatty acids – 2 tablespoons of chia seeds contain the same amount of these essential fatty acids as 4 oz of salmon!
what about the watermelon
While made up of mostly water (duhh), watermelon actually boasts quite a few important nutrients as well.
- The second highest food source for Lycopene (guava comes in 1st, and cooked tomatoes come in 3rd), a carotenoid anti-oxidant that can help prevent cancer, promote heart health, and, if eaten regularly has even been shown to help reduce susceptibility to sunburn! WUT?! Food is so cool.
- Vitamins A, C and moderate amounts of potassium.
- A valuable amino acid called citrulline, which partially converts to arginine, another amino acid. Both help with cardiovascular health, blood flow and circulation.
In order to get the maximum health benefits from your watermelon, allow them to ripen all the way (the darker the red color, the more anti-oxidants will be present!) and include the lighter, white-ish parts of the flesh that are close to the rind. That is where you’ll find the highest concentration of amino acids!
Blending your watermelon either for a chia seed pudding like this recipe, or into a smoothie or juice is a great way to include all (not just the sweetest) parts of the flesh.
Want more easy grain free breakfast recipes? Check out these favorites!
- Creamy vanilla bean and cherry raspberry smash chia seed pudding
- Maple cinnamon yogurt parfait with candied pecans and caramlized bananas {gluten free}
- Everything (but the) bagel sheet pan eggs with smoked salmon {gluten free + paleo option}
- Blended citrus juice with ginger and turmeric
Did you make this recipe? I would love to know how it turned out for you! when you rate my recipes and leave feedback it helps me continue to improve. you can leave me a comment below, or snap a picture and post it to instagram with the tag @nyssaskitchen or hashtag #nyssaskitchen! xo
Printcreamy watermelon chia seed pudding {gluten free + vegan option}
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
A simple and healthy recipe for creamy watermelon chia seed pudding made with minimal ingredients, and packed with juicy summertime flavor to keep you happy and healthy!
Ingredients
- about 2 cups cubed watermelon
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt, or your favorite coconut yogurt for a dairy free option
- juice of half a lemon
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 tbsp maple syrup (or more to taste, depending on how sweet your watermelon is)
- 7 tbsp chia seeds
- strawberries, blueberries and more cubed watermelon for serving
Instructions
- Blend watermelon, yogurt, lemon juice, sea salt and maple syrup in blender until smooth.
- You want about 2 cups of liquid once watermelon and yogurt are blended. If short add a little more watermelon and blend again.
- Pour into a large jar or sealable container and whisk in chia seeds.
- Store in the refrigerator for several hours, or overnight, until chia seeds are hydrated and pudding is thick!
- Serve topped with berries and more watermelon.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
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