BLACKBERRY JAM

I have just spent the most amazing week at Cortes Island  on our beautiful West Coast. *See pictures below. Blackberries were everywhere you looked so we picked a ton. Blackberry Jam was on my list of things to make with our pickings but I wanted to develop a Blackberry Jam recipe that was sugar free or as close as I could get. 

Chia seeds came to the rescue. Chia seeds help jams to thicken without the use of sugar and pectin. Aside from being a great thickener, Chia seeds are incredibly healthy for us.

Here are just 4  properties that Chia seeds in Blackberry Jam benefit us with:

1. Chia seeds are an excellent source of fiber, especially insoluble fiber, which is an important nutrient for your digestive system. Insoluble fiber acts like a broom for your digestive tract, cleaning it out and keeping it healthy.
2. Chia seeds are full of good Omega 3 fats which are very Omega-3 fats which are important for healthy brain function
3. Chia seeds are a good source of many important minerals , including calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, that are needed for strong bones . 
4. Including  Chia seeds in our diet has an anti-inflammatory effect, helping to prevent many degenerative diseases.

Blackberries have some amazing health benefits:

 

Cortes Island Blackberry Jam

 

INGREDIENTS

3 cups blackberries

1 TBSP lemon juice

2 TBSP water

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 TBSP liquid honey

3 TBSP chia seeds

METHOD

In a saucepan over medium heat, begin to heat the blackberries. Stir constantly for approximately 1 minute.

Add in the liquid ingredients and continue to heat until the blackberries become soft and become gel like. This should take about 4-5 minutes.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the chia seeds.

You can use this Blackberry jam over yogurt or ice cream, on pancakes, toast or whatever else you can think up.

 

More photos of beautiful Cortes Island