Cottage Cheese Chia Pudding

Welcome to your new weekly grab-and-go routine! This chia pudding is simple to stir collectively, made with actual components, and provides 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 type 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 enhance to each serving.
• Countless 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 gasoline your muscle groups (your mind being the biggest one!) and slightly fats to provide you vitality to gasoline 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 look ahead to consuming. We’re type of obsessed!

Ingredient Notes

• Cottage Cheese: Use full-fat, low-fat, or fat-free primarily based in your choice. For those who want 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, ensure it’s properly stirred earlier than measuring.
• Agave Syrup: Offers a easy sweetness. You possibly can substitute with the identical quantity of honey or maple syrup.
• Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract offers one of the best taste.
• Salt: Only a small pinch enhances the general taste.
• Chia Seeds: Make sure that to make use of complete chia seeds, not floor. You possibly can 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 essentially the most nourishing of the nuts. Pecans or sliced almonds can be utilized as properly.

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 outdated or boring. We’ve been consuming this in our family each day for months and haven’t gotten bored but! Use what you may have, what’s in season, or no matter sounds good that week.

Tropical Vibes: Diced mango with a sprinkle of shredded coconut is all the time 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 motive. 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 if you need one thing slightly 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 recent proper earlier than serving. They brown rapidly, so they don’t seem to be supreme for jars that can sit for just a few days. Bananas go properly 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 maintain issues fascinating.

Prep Forward for the Week

In case you are making an attempt to make mornings simpler, that is such a easy method 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’d 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. Preserving the nuts above the fruit helps them keep crunchy as a substitute of getting mushy.

They may final roughly 4 days within the fridge. I normally make a batch on Sunday to get us by the week. In actuality, we like them a lot that I typically make one other batch midweek so we now have 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. For those who like slightly texture, simply whisk every part collectively and depart the cottage cheese as is. You will note small curds all through and that’s completely positive.

For those who want it completely easy, 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 means within the fridge, so you actually can not mess this up.

Adjusting Thickness

Chia pudding can fluctuate barely relying in your milk and the chia seeds you utilize.

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.