Blue Spirulina Chia Pudding

Blue Spirulina Chia Pudding ready to eat

I love autumn. The colors are so lovely at this time of year, the yellows and oranges on the trees before the leaves fall make it a joy to walk around, to go on hikes in nature. The ground is covered with leaves of all shades, adding another layer of beauty to the world. The daytime light is soft now, instead of the harsh summer glare. There is so much to appreciate and enjoy. And because the days are getting shorter, I enjoy getting up early in the mornings to make the most of the daylight hours.

view over the Hudson River in NY in autumn
view over the Hudson River in NY in autumn

As part of my fall rituals, I am focusing on eating healthier and more sustaining breakfast to start my days. I love chia seeds, granola, milk and honey. I have been combining these together to make chia pudding with granola, which is delicious as well as nutritious. Adding blue spirulina takes this simple breakfast to a whole another level – the resulting blue spirulina chia pudding is gorgeous! The blue spirulina has such an intense cobalt blue color that I feel like I’m staring at a work of art.

To get the pudding-like texture you need to soak the chia seeds for about half an hour. I soak them the night before and leave the blue spirulina chia pudding mixture overnight in the fridge, which makes life easier in the mornings. When you wake up, the beautiful dish is ready. The simplicity, ease and beauty make breakfast something to look forward to.

What is Blue Spirulina?

Blue spirulina is an algae, a cyanobacteria that was consumed by the Aztecs. In other words it has been around for a long time, which is quite reassuring. It’s so packed with nutrients that it’s considered a superfood – high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, proteins, it provides essential amino acids and has anti-inflammatory properties. (Please note though that while it supports the immune system, if you have an auto-immune disorder like multiple sclerosis, lupus, or arthritis, you should not take blue spirulina as it’ll worsen symptoms). There are all kinds of claims that it may help lower cholesterol, fight cancer, etc., however there haven’t been enough scientific studies to prove these claims. Overall though it has a ton of nutrients.

Health Benefits of Chia Seeds

Chia seeds also have many health benefits. The omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants may help protect the heart and brain. The fiber in chia seeds can support digestive health, stabilize blood sugar levels (helping control diabetes), help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. So the combination makes the blue spirulina chia pudding a true superfood breakfast powerhouse.

How to have the Blue Spirulina Chia Pudding

You can have the blue spirulina chia pudding simply as is (see my pudding directions below), or layer and add toppings as you like. The overall taste (if you make it the way I do) is mild and creamy, a little sweet from the honey, and crunchy from the granola. Adding berries imparts freshness and a little tartness. I’ve shared my favorite combination here but really you can customize however you want – substitute other fruits, you don’t need to add yoghurt, you could add ground flaxseed or wheat germ. You can make it vegan by substituting plant-based milk/yoghurt and maple syrup instead of honey.

Because I prep it the night before, it’s ready in the mornings. Sometimes when I don’t feel like eating breakfast, I’ll save it and have the blue spirulina chia pudding as a late afternoon snack. It’s good any time!

Packaged ingredients including chia seeds, yoghurt, blue spirulina powder, granola
packaged ingredients
all ingredients for Blue Spirulina Chia Pudding
ingredients
Chia seeds, milk, blue spirulina, honey and vanilla in a container ready to mix
step 1

Blue Spirulina Chia Pudding

SERVES: 1 large serving (or 2 small servings)

INGREDIENTS

Pudding

  • 4 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 1 cup milk (I use whole milk, but you can use any kind of milk you like including plant-based milk)
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon blue spirulina powder
  • 1 teaspoon honey (or maple syrup if you want to make it vegan)
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Layering & Toppings

  • ¼ cup yoghurt (I use whole milk plain yoghurt, but you can use whatever kind you like or even skip yoghurt)
  • 1 teaspoon honey (if adding plain yogurt)
  • 1 tablespoon granola of choice
  • A few blueberries
  • A couple of blackberries

METHOD

  1. In a container that can be fitted with a lid, add chia seeds, milk, blue spirulina, honey and vanilla. Stir thoroughly to mix well.
  2. For the next 10 minutes, stir from time to time to ensure that the chia seeds don’t clump or settle.
  3. Cover with lid and refrigerate for an hour or overnight.
  4. When ready to eat, take a bowl or glass and layer in the following order (if you care about making it look pretty), otherwise just add the remaining ingredients in a bowl, stir and eat:
    • granola
    • honey
    • yoghurt
    • pudding
    • blueberries and blackberries
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Blue Spirulina Chia Pudding ready to eat
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