Bought some chia seeds, thinking of throwing them in my oatmeal in the morning. Can I just throw them in raw? Or am I supposed to cook them? (or do something else with them)

  • I soak them overnight in the fridge for a sort of pudding. Oat milk & cacao & vanilla with some berries is nice. I also put the soaked gel in smoothies sometimes.

    I use them in baking too, but always soaked.

    In my understanding it can be bad if you eat them dry as they absorb so much water.

    In my county there is also a recommended daily amount for them, I think about 1-2tbs. So I tend to follow that if eating them.

  • BodyBySisyphus [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    15 days ago

    Cooking is not necessary.

    I mix em with frozen fruit and yogurt. You can also soak a quarter cup or so in half a cup of water and use the resulting goo as part of your wet ingredients in bread or pancakes etc

    I like to take a quarter cup of chia, a quarter cup of lime juice, and two tablespoons of sugar in a pint or so of water to use as a hydration beverage post exercise or when it’s hot out

  • pooberbee@lemmy.ml
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    15 days ago

    I regularly mix them into oatmeal. You just need to add some extra water because they soak up a lot. Maybe an eighth of a cup of water for a 12g serving of chia seeds (sorry for the mixed units)

  • HexBeara [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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    15 days ago

    Joking aside I was told and after a quick Google search, you’re supposed to soak them. They absorb 10x their weight in water. What you should use them for though… Idk. I do know that when I worked for first watch they made it into a pudding using cocanut miilk and berries and it was amazeballz (would say fire but due to my lack of melanin and looking through the some older posts, as a honk y I’m obligated to be cringe)

    • rootsbreadandmakka [he/him]@hexbear.netOP
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      15 days ago

      yeah that’s what I’m getting from trying to read up a bit. I think I’m going to try and soak them for like 15 minutes or something in some water before adding them to the oatmeal.

      • HexBeara [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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        15 days ago

        Sounds good, once you get a better idea of the textures and flavors they impart, more than likely you’ll find more things to put em in. Along of course, the plenty of suggestions these darn hexbearinos will give ya.

  • Speaker [e/em/eir]@hexbear.net
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    15 days ago
    1. I find they go really well in (non-dairy im-vegan) yogurt. Sprinkle some on, stir, wait 5 minutes.
    2. Chia egg (mix with cold water, wait 5-10 minutes) is a great substitute in every recipe that needs a binder. Lots of uses in baking.
    3. Smoothies. Go nuts.
    4. Overnight oats are a popular meal prep option, and chia can add lots of good nutrients without conflicting with whatever flavor profile you’re working into the oats.
  • PointAndClique [they/them]@hexbear.net
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    15 days ago

    Soak em definitely. The longer you soak them the softer and slimier they get. I usually have a little plastic tub of them pre-soaked in the fridge that I’ll stir through hot porridge (rather than cook with the porridge). More reliable results and keeps the texture