Homemade jam is a summertime favorite, but here’s a delicious way to make your own raw blueberry jam with just four simple ingredients.
Blueberries are loaded with anthocyanins, special antioxidants that help regulate the anti-inflammatory system within our bodies. Some studies have suggested that these anthocyanins have health benefits for the heart as well.
Chia seeds are well known for their amazing health benefits as they deliver a massive amount of nutrients and are high in Omega-3 fatty acids. In addition to providing fiber, iron, and calcium, chia seeds are also loaded with antioxidants as well.
By combining these two delicious superfoods, you’ll be giving your body a burst of healthy antioxidants while keeping your tastebuds happy.
For a sweetener, we prefer to use raw, unfiltered honey. Not all honey is the same, please be aware that some honey is actually FAKE. Fake honey has additives such as glucose, dextrose, molasses, sugar syrup, invert sugar, corn syrup, starch, or even flour. Here’s how to tell the difference.
Pure honey is not sticky when you rub it between your fingers. It’s quite thick and takes time to move side to side in a container when you tip it. The taste actually dissipates quickly. When heated, pure honey will caramelize rapidly without foaming. If spread onto a slice of bread and allowed to set for a couple of minutes, the bread will actually harden.
Fake honey, on the other hand, is quite sticky, due to the additives. It’s thinner and has a tendency to move quickly from side to side in a container when tipped. The flavor lingers for quite some time and will foam when heated due to added moisture, sugars and water. When it’s spread onto bread, the bread will become moist due to the additives.
Homemade Raw Blueberry Chia Jam Recipe
You’ll Need:
4 cup fresh blueberries
2 Tbsp of raw honey
2 Tbsp chia seeds
Directions:
Combine the chia seeds with 4 tablespoons of water in a small bowl and soak for 10 minutes.
In a food processor or blender combine the blueberries, and honey, pulse. Then add the gelled chia seeds and process until well blended.
The lovely chia gel provides the fruit with a jam texture.
How to Store Raw Blueberry Jam
This fresh, raw jam should be kept covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Alternatively, the jam can be successfully frozen for up to 6 months.
Note: This jam is delicious on fruit bowls, toast, and in fruit sorbets. Layer it with yogurt for a refreshing fruit parfait. While it’s delightful as a raw jam, it cannot safely be canned for pantry storage.
More Flavor Ideas
If you love fresh raw jam, this recipe also works well with strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, mulberries, or even apricots. Just swap out the fruit, the directions remain the same.
This recipe makes about 4 cups.
Enjoy!
How to Make Raw Blueberry Jam
Equipment
- Food Processor or Hand Blender Stick
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh blueberries
- 2 tablespoons raw honey
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- ¼ cup warm water
Instructions
- Combine the chia seeds with 4 tablespoons of water in a small bowl and soak for 10 minutes.2 tablespoons chia seeds¼ cup warm water
- In a food processor or blender combine the blueberries, and honey, pulse. Then add the gelled chia seeds and process until well blended.4 cups fresh blueberries2 tablespoons raw honey
- The lovely chia gel provides the fruit with the jam texture.
Equipment
Notes
If you altered the ingedients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cooking/baking time.
Nutrition
© Can Stock Photo / ElenaZajchikova
Raw blueberry jam is one of my favorite things to eat. I love the tartness of the berries and the sweetness of the jam. It’s a perfect combination. The best part of raw blueberry jam is that it is so easy to make. All you need are some fresh blueberries, sugar, and lemon juice. You don’t even need to cook it, just mix everything together and let it sit for a few hours. The result is a delicious, healthy jam that you can spread on toast, use in yogurt, or eat straight from the spoon!