Cottage Cheese Chia Pudding

Welcome to your new weekly grab-and-go routine! This chia pudding is simple to stir collectively, made with actual substances, and offers you one thing recent and engaging to seize from the fridge everytime you want it: Whether or not you take pleasure in it very first thing within the morning or as a day snack, it’s the sort 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.
• Infinite topping choices so it by no means will get boring.
• Straightforward 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 gas your muscular tissues (your mind being the most important one!) and a little bit fats to present you vitality to gas the day. From there, you possibly can take it in any route you need. Pile on recent berries, sprinkle in nuts, or swap it up each week so it by no means feels repetitive. It’s simple, versatile, and one thing you’ll truly sit up for consuming. We’re sort of obsessed!

Ingredient Notes

• Cottage Cheese: Use full-fat, low-fat, or fat-free based mostly in your desire. For those who favor 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 Alternative: 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 that it’s nicely stirred earlier than measuring.
• Agave Syrup: Supplies a clean sweetness. You possibly can substitute with the identical quantity of honey or maple syrup.
• Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract offers the most effective taste.
• Salt: Only a small pinch enhances the general taste.
• Chia Seeds: Be sure to make use of complete chia seeds, not floor. You possibly can often 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 additional 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

Top-of-the-line elements about this recipe is how simple it’s to alter it up so it by no means will get outdated or boring. We’ve been consuming this in our family each day for months and haven’t gotten bored but! Use what you’ve got, 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 possibly can swap the mango for diced pineapple too for a similar tropical vibes.

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

Apple Pecan: Diced apples with chopped pecans are so good, particularly whenever you need one thing a little bit completely different. If you’re 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 recent proper earlier than serving. They brown shortly, so they aren’t perfect for jars that can sit for just a few days. Bananas go nicely with both pecans or walnuts.

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

Prep Forward for the Week

If you’re attempting to make mornings simpler, that is such a easy technique 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 measurement 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 high of the pudding, then add nuts on the very high. Holding the nuts above the fruit helps them keep crunchy as a substitute of getting delicate.

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

That is a kind 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. For those who like a little bit texture, simply whisk all the things collectively and go away the cottage cheese as is. You will note small curds all through and that’s completely nice.

For those who favor 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 traditional pudding texture as soon as it chills.

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

Adjusting Thickness

Chia pudding can differ 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 one more half-hour.