Chia Seed Smoothie
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Try this chia seed smoothie if you're in the mood for something sweet (almost treat-like) but want the added health benefits of a fruit-heavy, fiber-packed sip.
Also, add this tropical strawberry kiwi smoothie and coconut milk smoothie to your smoothie must-try lineup!
Bursting with strawberry, raspberry, banana, and chia seeds, this chia seed smoothie recipe will quickly become a go-to breakfast or snack. Even the kids will like it!
If you haven't dabbled in the chia seed world yet but are chia-curious, this smoothie is a great place to start! Go grab your blender!
What are chia seeds?
Chia seeds come from a plant in the mint family (although chia seeds do not taste minty at all).
They are small seeds that can absorb a lot of water. When this happens, chia seeds form a gel-like consistency. When it comes to chia seeds in smoothies, if you don't care for a gel consistency, make sure you consume your smoothie right after blending.
You can eat chia seeds whole or ground. They can be soaked or raw.
Health benefits of a chia seed smoothie
There are lots of amazing health claims out there for chia seeds, however, it's important to remember that consuming one chia seed smoothie isn't going to change your life.
It will, however, provide 9 grams of fiber, 76% of your daily Vitamin C intake, and 7% of your daily calcium. All great health benefits!
Do chia seeds have a taste?
Chia seeds have a subtle flavor, that's almost nutty. The more chia seeds you incorporate into your smoothie (or dish) the more pronounced this flavor will be.
The biggest contribution you'll notice when adding chia seeds to a smoothie is in texture. The longer you let chia seeds sit, the more water they absorb and the more of a gel they will form. If you consume the smoothie right away, you won't notice much flavor or texture, just a lot of nutrients going down the hatch!
Ingredients to make a chia seed smoothie
This simple and delicious chia seed smoothie recipe takes just 4 ingredients and will likely be devoured faster than it takes to even make it! Here's what you'll need to add to your blender:
- Strawberries: Add 1 cup of frozen strawberries. You can add fresh strawberries, however, may want to consider adding some ice to the blender so that it's nice and cold.
- Raspberries: Pour in 1 cup of frozen raspberries. The raspberries will give a tart balance for the sweetness of the banana and strawberries. You can use other berries, if you have blueberries or blackberries on hand.
- Banana: Throw in a whole banana. It can be fresh or frozen to add a creamy, sweetness to the smoothie.
- Chia seeds: This star ingredient flies under the radar. Chia seeds won't add much taste, but they will help make sure this is a nutrient-dense smoothie! You'll need 1 tablespoon of chia seeds.
How many chia seeds should I put in a smoothie?
Great question! For this chia seed smoothie recipe, you'll add 1 tablespoon of raw chia seeds. They do not need to be pre-soaked, and you can add them directly to the blender as is. You will barely notice the chia seeds in your smoothie in this quantity.
The more chia seeds you add, the greater the chances are of noticing them in your smoothie. If you have a high-powered blender, you can completely blend them until unnoticeable. You will, however, get a slight nutty flavor as you add more. If you don't blend them in completely the chia seeds will add a grittiness to the smoothie, as you add more.
Substitutions and Additions
This sweet and frosty smoothie is a delightful sip just as it is. That said, you can take this chia seed smoothie recipe as your canvas and get creative with your favorite ingredients or what you have in your kitchen. Here are some ideas:
- Tropical twist: If you want to amp up the tropical taste of this smoothie, adding some mango, pineapple, or even a good squeeze of lemon will taste great!
- Creamy dream: If you like a really creamy smoothie, you can add your favorite greek yogurt or even a splash of milk, or almond milk.
- Protein: To increase the protein in this chia seed smoothie you can incorporate your favorite protein powder, some hemp seeds, or high-protein yogurt.
Recipe FAQs
Can you put chia seeds in a smoothie?
Chia seeds are a great addition to a smoothie, as they don't alter flavor, however, do add lots of nutrients. Drink it right away if you want to avoid the chia seeds absorbing water and creating a gel-like consistency ā as they do in our chia seed pudding!
Can you put raw chia seeds in a smoothie?
Absolutely! Chia seeds can be consumed whole or ground, raw or soaked.
Can you blend chia seeds without soaking them?
Yes! You can add raw chia seeds to the blender to make this chia seed recipe.
More smoothie recipes
Chia Seed Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 cup frozen raspberries
- 1 banana
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Place strawberries, raspberries, banana, and chia seeds into your blender.1 cup frozen strawberries, 1 cup frozen raspberries, 1 banana, 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- Pour in the water and then blend on high speed until smooth.1 cup water
- If you'd like you can top each glass with a little sprinkle of chia seeds and a frozen raspberry. Serve immediately as the chia seeds will thicken the smoothie if you let it sit.
Video
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our chia seed recipes!
