Strawberry Rose Chia Jam is a simple, quick, and nutritious jam made with fresh strawberries, chia seeds, sugar, and hint of rose water. It’s slightly sweet with floral notes and really delicious on a toast, with oats & parfait.

Last month, I went strawberry picking for the first time at a nearby farm it was such a fun experience. April was a very very hectic month with pop-ups so naturally when my friend Hao suggested we take a spur of the moment trip to Hidden Honey Farm about 30 minutes in Midlothian, I immediately jumped in her car. The farm was huge with never ending rows of strawberries to be picked from and Dixie, the farmer said she grows seasonal vegetables, fruits throughout the year using natural practices and free of chemicals/pesticides along with farm-raised eggs, honey, jam, and ice cream etc.

Strawberries – sweet, bright-red summer fruits eaten straight out of the ground were truly sweet and had an intense strawberry flavor, which now I know lacks in the store-bought ones. The boyfriend and I snacked (a lot) on fresh strawberries and I used the remaining ones to make Strawberry Rose Chia Jam. Chia jam is a quick, nutritious jam made with few simple ingredients & the jam can be enjoyed with toast, swirled with yogurt or oatmeal in the morning.

The key ingredient in Strawberry Rose Chia Jam is chia seeds, the superfood packed with omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and fiber. They have the ability to turn any liquid into a thick gel as they absorb several times their mass in liquid, creating a jelly-like substance in the process. You can use pretty much whatever fruit you have on hand along with sugar (to help break the fruit and add sweetness) along with chia seeds to create a spreadable, jam-like condiment. You can use chia seeds to make chia pudding // on oatmeal // topping on salad // muesli or granola.

Rose is one of my favorite flavors to add – it’s floral and pairs so well with cardamom; remember these pistachio muffins with cardamom and rose jam I shared last year! For the strawberry rose chia jam, I used rose water to flavor the jam which adds a slightly floral note but doesn’t take away from the strawberries.

Rose water, the distillate from rose petals and water is a versatile ingredient often used in beauty products (as a toner, perfume) as well as for culinary use in baked goods, beverages, desserts, shakes etc. I like to think of it as vanilla or almond extract with intense rose flavor. I usually get rose water from a Middle Eastern or Indian grocery store and use the brand Cortas (as shown in the picture) because it only contains 100% rose water without the any artificial ingredients, preservatives, or chemicals.

According to The Kitchn, the ratio of fruits to chia seeds is 2 cups of fruits : 2 tablespoon chia seed and suggests adjusting the amount of chia seed depending on the consistency. Both fresh or frozen fruit can be used to make chia jam and you can play with different sugar ratio and other flavorings.

Strawberry Rose Chia Jam

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh strawberries, rinsed & sliced
• 2 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon rose water

Directions

• In a medium sauce pan, add strawberries and sugar and cook over medium heat.
• Allow the fruit to cook until it starts to slightly soften. Use a spoon to mash berries so it breaks down and becomes slightly syrupy. It should take about 8-10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in add chia seeds and rose water.
• Taste and adjust the sweetness and rose water as needed.
• Let stand for 5-10 minutes until it starts to thicken up. Add chia seeds only if needed but the consistency gets thicker once it sets in the fridge.

I can’t wait for you guys to make Strawberry Rose Chia Jam this Summer. They are abundantly in season now so use whatever berries you have on hand or mix of different berries to make your version of chia jam. Don’t forget to share your creation and tag @foodpleasurehealth or pin for later use.