Cottage Cheese Chia Pudding

Welcome to your new weekly grab-and-go routine! This chia pudding is simple to stir collectively, made with actual elements, and offers you one thing contemporary and engaging to seize from the fridge everytime you want it: Whether or not you get pleasure from it very first thing within the morning or as a day snack, it’s the form of recipe that helps you are feeling nourished and prepared for regardless of the day brings.

Why My Recipe

• Cottage cheese provides a naturally excessive protein increase to each serving.
• Limitless topping choices so it by no means will get boring.
• Simple to prep forward for fast breakfasts or snacks all week.

What makes this chia pudding particular is the cottage cheese. For me, it’s about having the protein to gasoline your muscular tissues (your mind being the most important one!) and a bit fats to present you vitality to gasoline the day. From there, you may take it in any path you need. Pile on contemporary berries, sprinkle in nuts, or change it up each week so it by no means feels repetitive. It’s simple, versatile, and one thing you’ll really look ahead to consuming. We’re form of obsessed!

Ingredient Notes

• Cottage Cheese: Use full-fat, low-fat, or fat-free based mostly in your choice. Should you choose a smoother texture, mix it earlier than mixing. Small curd blends extra simply than giant curd. I personally just like the chunk and nourishment of the full-fat complete curd.
• Milk Of Selection: Dairy milk works nice, however almond, coconut, soy, or oat milk can all be utilized in the identical quantity. If utilizing canned coconut milk, be sure it’s nicely stirred earlier than measuring.
• Agave Syrup: Offers a clean sweetness. You may substitute with the identical quantity of honey or maple syrup.
• Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract provides the most effective taste.
• Salt: Only a small pinch enhances the general taste.
• Chia Seeds: Make certain to make use of complete chia seeds, not floor. You may normally discover them close to the oats, well being meals part, or baking aisle.
• Recent Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries all work. Use about 1/3 cup per serving. Recent is finest right here. Frozen berries can be utilized, however thaw and drain first to keep away from further liquid.
• Chopped Walnuts: I like the crunch these add, plus they are surely probably the most nourishing of the nuts. Pecans or sliced almonds can be utilized as nicely.

Taste Variations

Among the finest elements about this recipe is how simple it’s to vary it up so it by no means will get previous or boring. We’ve been consuming this in our family each day for months and haven’t gotten bored but! Use what you’ve gotten, what’s in season, or no matter sounds good that week.

Tropical Vibes: Diced mango with a sprinkle of shredded coconut is at all times a favourite. You may swap the mango for diced pineapple too for a similar tropical vibes.

Blueberry Pomegranate: Blueberries and pomegranate arils are a basic combo for a cause. End with sliced almonds or chopped walnuts for crunch. The crunch is one in every of my favourite elements!

Apple Pecan: Diced apples with chopped pecans are so good, particularly once you need one thing a bit completely different. In case you are prepping forward, soak the diced apples in a bowl of water with a squeeze of lemon juice for about 3 to five minutes. Drain and pat dry earlier than including so they don’t brown within the fridge.

Banana Lovers: Bananas are nice right here, however solely add them contemporary proper earlier than serving. They brown rapidly, so they don’t seem to be best for jars that can sit for a couple of days. Bananas go nicely with both pecans or walnuts.

Different Concepts: You may also drizzle nut butter on prime, swirl in a spoonful of jam, or add mini chocolate chips if you wish to preserve issues fascinating.

Prep Forward for the Week

In case you are making an attempt to make mornings simpler, that is such a easy solution to do it. They’re nice for breakfast or for a high-protein snack.

Divide the combination into 12-ounce jars. That’s my private favourite dimension as a result of it leaves sufficient room for toppings with out overflowing. Ten-ounce jars additionally work if you would like a barely smaller portion.

Fill every jar about three-quarters full. Add fruit straight on prime of the pudding, then add nuts on the very prime. Retaining the nuts above the fruit helps them keep crunchy as an alternative of getting gentle.

They are going to final roughly 4 days within the fridge. I normally make a batch on Sunday to get us by means of the week. In actuality, we like them a lot that I usually make one other batch midweek so we’ve got them for the weekend too.

That is a type of small habits that makes an enormous distinction. When one thing good is already ready within the fridge, you might be more likely to seize it.

Chunky or Easy

This one is completely as much as you. Should you like a bit texture, simply whisk the whole lot collectively and go away the cottage cheese as is. You will note small curds all through and that’s completely high quality.

Should you choose it completely clean, mix the cottage cheese, milk, agave, vanilla, and salt first. Then stir within the chia seeds. It turns right into a extra basic pudding texture as soon as it chills.

Each variations thicken the identical approach within the fridge, so you actually can’t mess this up.

Adjusting Thickness

Chia pudding can range barely relying in your milk and the chia seeds you employ.

If it feels too thick after chilling, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk till it reaches the consistency you want.

If it feels too skinny, stir in 1 tablespoon of chia seeds and let it sit within the fridge for an additional half-hour.