Chia Berry Jam

1. Heat frozen berries in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Stir occasionally until the fruit is heated through and begins to break down
2. Use a spoon to mash the fruit to desired consistency
3. Stir through chia seeds and lemon juice until well combined, followed by honey.
4. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Stir before serving with HEIA Tertiary Flavour Challenge winner Sweet Potato Pancakes!

• Depending on the berries in your mixture, your jam may be tart (high amount of raspberries = more tart). This can change with the seasons. To sweeten your jam, try an additional tablespoon of honey, or spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to balance the flavours.
• If you want a thicker jam, simmer berries for an additional 10 minutes over a low heat, stir often to prevent sticking. Stir in chia seeds, and remove from heat, allow to sit for 10-15 minutes. The jam will continue to thicken up in the fridge.
• To make a smooth jam, blend once cool.
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days. To store for longer, freeze in small portions (ice cube trays work great!), and defrost in microwave.

Serves = 2

Nutrition information (per serve):

• Energy (1135kJ)
• Protein (6.3g)
• Total Fat (9.3g)
• Saturated Fat (0.9g)
• Carbohydrate (31g), (Starch (2.7), Sugars (28g), Added sugars (0g), Free Sugars (11.7g))
• Dietary Fibre (19.5g)
• Sodium (8.5mg)
• Calcium (247mg)
• Iron (3.8mg)

This recipe has been adapted from the winning recipe of the 2025 McCormick and HEIA Flavour Forecast Recipe Challenge! The challenge is designed for Year 9 and Year 10 students, encouraging them to respond to a design brief and create two original recipes that reflect the flavour trends for the year. Click here for more info!