This light and creamy Blue Chia Pudding with Mango is super delicious, refreshing, nutritious, and healthy. And it’s a real explosion of bright colors that will boost your energy and put you in a good mood for the whole day. This simple yet impressive dish combines the creaminess of chia pudding with the tropical sweetness of mango, creating a harmonious and nutritious breakfast or healthy snack.
This Blue Chia Pudding with Mango is a perfect choice for those with dietary restrictions, as it is vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free. Whether you have specific dietary needs or simply prefer to enjoy a plant-based and allergen-friendly dessert, this pudding allows you to enjoy a delicious treat without compromising your dietary choices.
Ingredients
To create this delectable Blue Chia Pudding with Mango, you’ll need:
- Mango: Mango gives a tropical twist, natural sweetness, and is especially beautiful for a blue and yellow color combination. Use 1 large ripe mango or 1 cup canned mango pulp.
- Blue Matcha Powder (Butterfly Pea Flower Powder): Derived from blue butterfly pea flowers, this powder not only imparts a stunning blue color but also offers a slight floral flavor and mild earthy taste.
- Chia seeds: These nutrient-rich seeds add a creamy texture and provide the pudding consistency to the dish.
- Almond milk influences the texture of chia pudding by providing the necessary moisture for the chia seeds to absorb and expand, resulting in a delightful gel-like consistency.
- Maple syrup adds a touch of natural sweetness to a pudding.
How to Make
Chia pudding is one of the quickest and easiest breakfasts. It requires only a few minutes of your time and a few steps to follow:
- In a bowl, combine almond milk, maple syrup, chia seeds, and blue matcha powder. Stir well to thoroughly mix all the ingredients. Cover the bowl and refrigerate it for at least 3-4 hours or overnight, allowing the chia seeds to absorb the liquid and create a thick, gel-like consistency.
- Peel and cut the ripe mango into chunks. In a high-speed blender, blend the mango chunks until smooth. If using canned mango pulp, measure out 1 cup.
- Take two serving glasses and evenly distribute the mango puree at the bottom, filling each glass halfway.
- Give the chia pudding mixture a good stir to break up any clumps. It should have a thick and gel-like texture. Spoon the chia pudding on top of the mango layer in the glasses, dividing it equally.
- Serve and enjoy this refreshing and nutritious Mango Blue Chia Seed Pudding!
Healthy Benefits of Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are incredibly healthy and can be considered a true superfood. Packed with essential nutrients, these tiny seeds offer a wide range of health benefits that contribute to your overall well-being.
Rich in calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, chia seeds provide important minerals that support strong bones and teeth. They are also abundant in antioxidants, protein, and fiber, which are essential for maintaining a healthy body. One of the remarkable qualities of chia seeds is their high omega-3 fatty acid content, which is crucial for supporting heart health and promoting brain function. By incorporating chia seeds into your diet, you can ensure you’re getting these beneficial fatty acids.
In addition to their nutritional benefits, chia seeds are incredibly versatile due to their neutral flavor and taste. This makes them a perfect addition to a variety of recipes. When it comes to this mango chia pudding, the chia seeds provide a creamy and soft texture while allowing the other ingredients to shine. The final taste of the pudding will absolutely depend on the other ingredients that you will add. By incorporating chia seeds into your diet and enjoying this delicious mango chia pudding, you can experience the wholesome goodness they offer while savoring the refreshing tropical flavors. It’s a delightful way to nourish your body and indulge in a treat that is both healthy and delicious.
What Is Blue Matcha?
This recipe includes the usage of blue butterfly pea flowers, also known as blue matcha. Blue matcha is a powder made from blue butterfly pea flowers. It is a completely different powder than green matcha. Blue matcha has a delicate floral flavor and a mild earthy taste that adds a lovely touch to your recipes. But what truly makes it special, is its beautiful blue color, which adds a touch of magic to your culinary creations.
It also offers some health benefits. It contains antioxidants that help strengthen the immune system and protect your body. It’s also known to help digestion and may even have positive effects on anxiety and depression.
One of the interesting things about blue matcha is that it acts as a natural colorant. When you add it to your desserts, it imparts a vibrant blue hue. However, if you combine it with acidic ingredients like lemon or lime juice, the color can change from blue to a rich purple. This happens because the butterfly pea flowers contain pigments called anthocyanins, which respond to changes in acidity. So, if you’re looking to color your desserts, keep in mind how the addition of acid can alter the visual appeal of your creations. By using blue matcha, you can create treats that not only taste great but also make your desserts and drinks visually stunning.
Add-ins Ideas and Possible Substitutions
- Coconut Exotic Flavor. You can substitute the almond milk with creamy coconut milk to enhance the tropical taste of the pudding and add a coconut flavor to the pudding. Also, sprinkle with toasted coconut flakes or shredded coconut for added texture and flavor.
- Blue Matcha Substitution: It is the key ingredient that gives the pudding its stunning blue color. If you don’t have butterfly pea flower powder, you can use blue spirulina powder instead. Alternatively, you can omit the blue colorant altogether and enjoy a delicious mango chia pudding without the blue hue.
- Make it Green: If you’re looking to explore a different color palette, you can add green matcha powder or moringa powder to achieve a lovely green hue. In this Strawberry Matcha Latte recipe, you can find detailed information on how to choose the best green matcha powder.
- Other Sweeteners: The recipe suggests using maple syrup to naturally sweeten the pudding. However, if you prefer an alternative sweetener, you can use honey, agave nectar, coconut sugar, or stevia. Adjust the amount according to your desired level of sweetness.
- Other Fruit Variations: While the recipe calls for mango, you can experiment with other fruits as well. Try using fresh berries like strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries for a different flavor profile. You can even mix different fruits together for a delightful fruit combination.
- Chocolate Curls or Cacao Nibs: If you’re a chocolate lover, sprinkle some chocolate curls or cacao nibs on top of your pudding for a touch of indulgence and a burst of chocolate flavor. It pairs really well with mango.
- Almond milk Alternatives: If don’t have almond milk, consider using alternative plant-based types of milk such as oat milk, soy milk, or cashew milk instead of almond milk.
How to Store
To store your Blue Chia Pudding with Mango in glasses, ensure to cover each glass with airtight lids or plastic wrap, and refrigerate them. If you are preparing a larger batch of the pudding for meal prep, store the chia seed mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It is recommended to store the mango separately to maintain its freshness. When you’re ready to enjoy the pudding, simply retrieve the chia pudding and mango from the refrigerator, combine them together in the serving glasses, and add your desired garnishes.
More Refreshing Breakfast Ideas
Also, be sure to check out our other healthy breakfast ideas that are refreshing and will boost you with energy:
- Tiramisu Overnight Oats
- Vegan Buttermilk Pancakes
- Creamy Mango Peanut Butter Smoothie
- Blueberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats
- Strawberry Banana Avocado Smoothie
- Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240 ml) almond milk
- 3 tbsp (40 g) chia seeds
- 1 tbsp maple syrup (or honey)
- 1-2 tsp blue matcha powder (butterfly pea flower powder)
- 1 large ripe mango (or 1 cup canned mango pulp)
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine almond milk, chia seeds, maple syrup, and blue matcha powder. Stir until well combined.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate it overnight or for at least 3-4 hours to allow the mixture to thicken.
- Peel the mango and cut it into chunks. Place the mango chunks in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.
- Divide the mango puree evenly and pour it into two serving glasses, filling them halfway.
- Remove the bowl with the chia pudding from the fridge. Give the mixture a quick stir to ensure it is well mixed, then use a spoon to spread it on top of the mango layer in each glass.
- Garnish the pudding with berries or slices of fresh mango as desired. Serve and enjoy!
