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Find even more ways to use chia seeds, a nutrient powerhouse, in this list of some of the best Savory Chia Seed Recipes! These little superfoods do wonders in both sweet and savory recipes, so check the post below for more savory ideas on using chia seeds in your kitchen.
Most people think of sweet foods when they think of chia seeds. Chia pudding, chia seeds in overnight oats, chia seeds as a binder for vegan baking… but savory chia seed recipes are just as popular!
Chia seeds are a versatile staple in my own cooking. I particularly love them in my pumpkin chia pudding, vegan banana pudding, and my easy coffee overnight oats recipes.
And while chia seeds are most often associated with sweet pudding or baking, these little seeds have no sweetness to them, so you can absolutely use them in savory recipes as well.
Check out my list below for savory chia seed recipes.
What are Chia Seeds and Why are They Amazing?
In case you didn’t know, chia seeds are amazing. These tiny seeds from the plant Salvia hispanica are slightly smaller than a grain of quinoa when dry, yet they do expand when they become wet. In fact, a chia seed can expand to 10 times its size.
Native to Guatemala and Mexico, chia seeds have been used for centuries by many cultures including ancient Aztec and Mesoamerican cultures. They were a major part of many people’s diets and even were considered to have medicinal properties.
Chia seeds expand massively when submerged in liquid. For this reason, eating dry chia seeds isn’t recommended. They don’t taste good that way and are much more difficult to digest.
These nutritious little seeds are loaded with protein, fiber, calcium, and healthy fats including all of the Omegas (3, 6, and 9). Just 2 tablespoons of chia seeds also provide an impressive percentage of your daily value for iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin B1 (thiamine), and vitamin B3 (niacin).
Chia seeds are reported to be useful for weight loss, lowering the risk of heart disease, lowering blood pressure, and are loaded with antioxidants which fight free radicals.
How to Gel Chia Seeds
- You need a ratio of 4 parts liquid to 1 part chia seeds.
- Make sure to mix it thoroughly before leaving the seeds to gel so everything gets coated in liquid.
- To use chia seeds as a binder or to make chia pudding, you need a minimum of 15-20 minutes for the seeds to absorb the liquid and expand. They work well as a binder so allow them time to sit.
- If your chia seeds are very old, they may not gel well. Like baking powder, it’s best to work with relatively fresh seeds.
Where to Purchase Chia Seeds and How to Store
You can buy chia seeds in almost any grocery store now. They are usually in the health food section, or sometimes in the baking section. You can also purchase chia seeds online.
Nuts and seeds are best stored in the refrigerator or freezer so they don’t go rancid quickly. But they are shelf stable and can be stored in a dark cupboard if you plan to use them sooner rather than later. Due to their versatile nature, chia seeds are a permanent item on my ultimate vegan pantry staples list.
Savory Chia Seed Recipes
While chia seeds are known well for their applications in sweet dishes like baked goods, pudding, and overnight oats, there are a lot of savory uses too. Check out my list of savory chia seed recipes below.
1. Superfood Salad
1
Superfood Salad by Choosing Chia
2. Gluten-Free Super Seed Bread
2
Gluten-Free Super Seed Bread by Yummy Mummy Kitchen
3. 5-Ingredient Vegan Caviar
3
5-Ingredient Vegan Caviar Recipe by Wow It’s Veggie
4. Vegan Mushroom Wellington
4
Vegan Mushroom Wellington by Vegan on Board
5. Raw Carrot Salad with Spicy Chia Dressing
5
Raw Carrot Salad with Spicy Chia Dressing by MyGoodFoodWorld
6. Savory Pizza Oatmeal Bake
6
Savory Pizza Oatmeal Bake by Vegan Richa
7. Vegan Lentil Loaf
7
Crowd-pleasing Vegan Lentil Loaf Recipe by Choosing Chia
8. Baked Falafels
8
Baked Falafels by Lazy Cat Kitchen
9. Savory Red Curry Chia Pudding
9
Savory Red Curry Chia Pudding by Spabettie
10. Sagey Leek and White Bean Patties
10
Sagey Leek and White Bean Patties by Feasting at Home
11. Chia and Red Pepper BBQ Relish
11
Chia and Red Pepper BBQ Relish Sugar-free by Nest and Glow
12. Easy Vegan Nut Roast
12
Easy Nut Roast by Vegan on Board
13. Savory Chickpea Protein Bars
13
Savory Chickpea Protein Bars
14. Curried Carrot Chickpea Chia Burgers
14
Curried Carrot Chickpea Chia Burgers by Veggie and the Beast
15. Vegan Zucchini and Corn Fritters
15
Vegan Zucchini and Corn Fritters by Happy Kitchen
16. Tomato Chia Jam
16
Tomato Chia Jam by Healthy Midwestern Girl
17. Flourless Zucchini Chia Savory Breakfast Muffins
17
Flourless Zucchini Chia Savory Breakfast Muffins by Kiip Fit
18. Cornbread Gluten Free Stuffing
18
Cornbread Gluten Free Stuffing by Picky Eater Blog
19. Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
19
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad by Fifteen Spatulas
20. Chickpea Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Sauce (Vegan)
20
Vegetarian Chickpea Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Sauce by Being Nutritious
21. Savory Chia Pudding with Miso, Nori, & Roasted Tomatoes
21
Savoury Chia Pudding with Miso, Nori & Roasted Tomatoes by Natural Nourishment
22. Vegan Savory Carrot Tart
22
Vegan Savory Carrot Tart by Our Plant-Based World
23. Avocado Tomato Salad
23
Avocado Tomato Salad by Healing Tomato
24. Savory Vegan Buckwheat Meatballs
24
Savory Vegan Buckwheat Meatball Recipe by Veganook
25. Healthy Multi Seed Crackers
25
Healthy Multi Seed Crackers – Beside the Mountain
26. Seeded Whole Wheat Sourdough Sandwich Bread
26
Seeded Whole Wheat Sourdough Sandwich Bread by Sourdough Brandon
27. Black Bean Quinoa Burgers
27
Black Bean Quinoa Burgers by Keeping the Peas
28. Easy Vegan Naan Bread
28
Easy Vegan Naan Bread Recipe by Second Recipe
29. Tofu Quinoa Bowl
29
Tofu Quinoa Bowl by Serene Trail
30. No Bake Ginger Tahini Protein Balls
30
No Bake Ginger Tahini Protein Balls (Without Oats) by Low Histamine Eats
31. Broccoli Dippers with Fresh Veggies
31
Broccoli Dippers with Fresh Veggies by Healing Tomato
32. Turmeric Lentil Fritters Tomato Bowl with Tahini Dill Sauce
32
Turmeric Lentil Fritters Tomato Bowl with Tahini Dill Sauce by Vegan Richa
33. Vegan Eggplant Pie Recipe
33
Vegan Eggplant Pie Recipe by Our Plant-Based World
34. Masala Oats – Indian Savory Oats Upma
34
Masala Oats – Indian Savory Oats Upma by Profusion Curry
35. Savory Lentil-Mushroom Burgers
35
Savory Lentil-Mushroom Burgers by FatFree Vegan Kitchen
More Chia Seed Recipes to Try
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There are so many wonderful recipes on this list, where to start? Thank you for the wonderful inspirations on this list. I intend to make my way through each one.