Chia Seeds - what on earth do I do with them?

[CSLewis]

I bought a bag of these, having got carried away reading some article about how to be super-healthy, avoid cancer, yadda yadda... But the only thing I do with them is lob a tablespoon into my bread maker each time.

I have read that the gel can be used as an egg substitute in baking..? Does anyone have any tried and tested recipes like that? Preferably for tray-bake/child's-lunchbox-friendly-type things.

I just saw them mentioned on here in a recipe for home-made muesli, which sounded intriguing. Any other ideas, please?

[whois]

I chuck half a tablespoon of chia seeds over by musli or mix in with porridge oats before cooking.

I quite like them as a pudding too, natural yog, dollop of lakelands ginger syrup and then the chia on the finger syrup. They kind of go a bit tapioca like after a little bit.

[CSLewis]

Thanks Whois, you've reminded me that I did chuck some into porridge once, and the children didn't notice .
Any other ideas welcome, particularly for baking..?

[KateMoose]

I sprinkle them over my porridge every morning too. They are also good in smoothies. Check out the blogs Nutrition Stripped, Deliciously Ella and Oh She Glows for some great recipe ideas. The Oh she Glows recipe book is fab and in there is a chia seed doughnut recipe which I have not done yet but everything I make from the recipe book is lush.

Try these:
ohsheglows.com/2014/09/09/raspberry-chia-seed-jam-oat-crumble-squares-vegan-gluten-free/

ohsheglows.com/2014/04/07/almost-instant-chocolate-chia-pudding/

Look up chia seed pudding also and they can pretty much be sprinkled into anything. When I first started to be dead healthy ignores empty packet of sweets on desk I baked sweet potatoes and topped them with sautéed spinach in garlic with chopped cherry tomatoes and drizzled with tahini then topped with flax and chia seeds.

[agoodbook]

I bought some to make a healthy fruit jelly/jam - wasn't very good, so I chuck them in the bread maker too - liked it so much, now buying it for that!

[AmericasTorturedBrow]

I turn half eaten apples into apple "jam" but cooking them down in water with chia seeds and cinammon

[Coughle]

I think the muesli was me

I have some broccoli roasting in the oven right now, dipped in egg and then in chia seeds and polenta! Should be nice and crunchy.

I use it in cakes as an egg replacement. One chia egg= 1 tablespoon chia+ 3 tablespoons water.

Sprinkle over salads.

Stir into stews etc.

Just be careful when using it in things where consistency matters, as it absorbs loads of moisture.

[Coughle]

Kate I love the ohsheglows website, great recipes!

[KateMoose]

Its great isn't it? I have just found a butternut squash pasta sauce recipe on there that I am going to try tonight. Yum.

[CSLewis]

Thanks all, keep 'em coming Kate, that oaty jammy thing is just what I was thinking of.

Coughle, do you use any 'normal' cake recipe and sub the chia eggs, or are there any in particular you can recommend?

I stuck some in flapjacks the other day - tasted fine but were way too crumbly and dry (maybe the chia sucked up all the moisture..?), so I broke them up and stuck them in the freezer to add to crumble topping.