Chia Seed Pomegranate Sauce Recipe -- A naturally sweetened and low sugar alternative to classic cranberry sauce made with pomegranate juice and chia seeds.
Howdy partner!
I hope you are snug as a bug in a...giant blanket watching Hallmark Channel movies as you read this. Or maybe that's just me...
Today's blog is brought to you by recipe fails. Yes, hard to believe that even I can have those moments of (un)clarity and make something perfectly disastrous. Did I mention I'm fluent in sarcasm?
I'll fill you in on that right after I express how excited/nervous/anxious/bipolar I am about tomorrow's half marathon!!!
All the early morning, freezing cold, balls hot, and every feeling in between runs have all boiled down to this. I am unbelievably grateful and ready for it, and to be over. I'm sure I'll have plenty to recap after I earn my medal and stack of pancakes...or fajitas..or whatever I damn well please after 13.1 miles!
But if you are thinking of a race, or have one coming up I suggest reading Heather's recap of her first half marathon. Her words just really moved me as I doubted and contemplated so many things along the way. I can't even count the many reasons why I love this girl.
Any-awkward seg-ways.. let's get down to some food and recipe fails for this month's Recipe Redux!
In the US, November marks the Thanksgiving holiday. But many of us are especially thankful for food memories we have shared with friends or relatives throughout our lives. Was it a special meal you ate as a child? Or, maybe it was a food you grew and harvested with your own children. Please share one of your favorite food memories and the healthier “redo” of the recipe.
Ah yes, Thanksgiving! I almost (sugar) plum forgot through the movies, commercials, and store decor of Christmas that's been here since gee I dunno BEFORE HALLOWEEN!
Don't let me go all Chuck Brown on you, but come on now. We all know Christmas is the Mariah Carey of the holidays..so can ya just give back October and November?
As a kid and sugar-holic, I could have really cared less about the turkey, taters, and buttery corn. I wanted the gelatinous, can-ribbed log of cranberry sauce. I made it sound irresistible right?
I would belly up to probably a good half can's worth, and would have downed the whole thing if MJ allowed it. If only my future self could have smacked myself with a sack of sugar taught my younger self a lesson about sugar. Well I guess I lived to tell the tale...and became a dietitian.
SO I knew I wanted to put a spin on this, and with three pomegranates at my disposal, I had just the right idea.
...or so I thought. Turns out pomegranate seeds don't puree so well. My sauce made raspberry jam look like pudding. Crunch-tastic. Tasty, but not even close to resembling my beloved can of cran.
Oh that just looks naahh-sty.
So back to the drawing boards it was, and with a much better outcome. I used a basic gelatin recipe, but added in some chia seeds for that extra gel and health-but factor. The result?
A sweet and tart alternative with far less sugar and aluminum-indents than my childhood fav.
Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups pomegranate juice
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp unflavored gelatin
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp orange zest
Instructions
- Grease a glass loaf pan with cooking spray or butter.
- in a small pot over medium heat, combine half of the pomegranate juice, chia seeds, honey, and gelatin.
- Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
- Remove from the heat, and add remaining juice.
- Pour mixture into prepared pan and refrigerate overnight.
- Invert onto a plate, or transfer to serving dish.
Notes
Veganize: Substitute honey for vegan sweetener such as maple syrup. Substitute gelatin for agar agar.
- Category: Condiment
Now you can add more gelatin or chia seeds for a really firm sauce, but I thought this texture was perfect. And with only a couple tablespoons of honey, I could probably down the whole thing without too much guilt or sugar hangover. But I'll save myself for pie and sangria.
After my camera decided to die as soon as I started my photo shoot, this masterpiece awaited in the fridge...where it decided to make like a plumber and crack. Well that's just not a pretty picture..
So mushed and in another dish it went! Much bettah.
If you want more of a chutney-like texture instead of a wiggly jiggly thang, just leave out the gelatin.
[Tweet "A low-sugar alternative to cranberry sauce! Chia Seed Pomegranate Sauce #thanksgiving"]
Be sure to check out the rest of the festive recipes below!
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Make it a great day & wish me luck tomorrow!
What's your favorite dish at Thanksgiving?
What's a special recipe you only have during the holidays?
Heather
🙂 You are one of my favorite people in all the land! Thank you for the sweet words about my post!