Cooking with Chia Oil
One of the latest additions to our product line is sure to please the health nuts in your life. Chia oil, which is derived from chia seeds, is now available.
Chia oil is packed with beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids can help improve your cardiovascular health by lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure. Additionally, chia oil contains a fair amount of calcium. It’s also naturally gluten-free, making it an excellent recipe booster for those who stick to a gluten-free diet.
There are quite a few different ways to enjoy chia oil. Chia oil is not a neutral-tasting oil, and we’ve found that it’s best to use it in smaller amounts in oil-heavy recipes (especially at first). Subbing 1 tbsp. of chia oil into a salad dressing or dipping oil recipe usually works out great. We’ve also found that drizzling a small amount of the oil into a homemade smoothie hits the spot.
One of our favorite things to make with chia oil is homemade pesto. The oil works well with the strong flavors of basil and garlic. To start, put three to five large cloves of garlic, ½ cup of pine nuts or walnuts, and a few shakes of salt and pepper into a food processor. Process the mixture until it makes a lumpy paste. Add 2 to 3 cups of fresh basil and process the mixture until the basil is finely chopped.
Pour 1 tbsp. of chia oil into the food processor, then process the pesto for about 30 seconds. While the food processor is still running, drizzle up to ¾ cup of olive oil into the mixture, stopping when the pesto reaches a saucy consistency. Add ½ cup of freshly grated Parmesan to the pesto, and consume it immediately on pasta, sandwiches, crackers or pizza. Delicious!
Have you cooked with chia oil? What are some of your most successful dishes?
One Response to “Cooking with Chia Oil”
We tell people about chia seeds and how great they are. We have friends who are having memory problems that take the chia gel daily and swear by it.