Rhubarb is one of those foods that most of us have heard about…but not many of us have eaten and even fewer of us have bought and cooked ourselves.

Until a few days ago, I had never bought rhubarb in my life, much less used it in any recipes.

I had no idea what it tasted like…or even whether it was a fruit or vegetable! (I learned that it’s technically a vegetable but often regarded as a fruit because of its use in sweet recipes.)

All I knew was that it looked like a magenta-colored celery stalk…and that the most common way people eat it is in strawberry rhubarb pie.

Chopped rhubarb. So pretty and colorful!

Chopped rhubarb. So pretty and colorful!

I’ve never been much of a pie person (more a fan of crisps and crumbles) and had no clue what to do with rhubarb, so to Pinterest I went in search of a recipe!

I stumbled upon a simple, whole food recipe without refined sugar that featured rhubarb and (bonus!) contained only 4 ingredients.

The jam tastes like a combination of sweet strawberries, tart cherries and tangy lemon, even though there are no strawberries or cherries in it. Rhubarb has that unique of a taste!

You can put this deliciously tart and tangy jam on toast, in oatmeal or breakfast porridge, or in plain yogurt, or use it as a dessert topping.

Chia seeds are another ingredient in this recipe and are a staple in our pantry. They can be used in so many ways, including jams, puddings and smoothies. Not only that, but they’re a super-powered beauty detox food with some pretty amazing health benefits listed below!

Ch-ch-ch-chia seeds! You can find these at any health food store or online at Amazon, Vitacost or other stores.

Ch-ch-ch-chia seeds! You can find these at any health food store or online at Amazon, Vitacost or other stores.

  • Swell to 10-15 times their original size when combined with liquid and form a gel, which helps to keep us feeling full for hours
  • Perfect before, during and after workouts since they’re super hydrating
  • Help balance your blood sugar and keep energy levels up since they contain lots of fiber
  • Their gel-like consistency promotes optimal digestion and keeps things moving in our digestive system (trust me, we want to keep things moving!)
  • Contain high levels of antioxidants, which fight the damage of things like stress, poor diet, smoking and other health stressors, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for balancing hormones and nerve functions

Tart & Tangy Rhubarb Chia Jam

The final product! Super simple chia jam :)

The final product! Super simple chia jam 🙂

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh rhubarb, leafy ends removed, stalks chopped across into ¼-inch slices
  • 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (I used honey)
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or orange juice (I used lemon juice)

Click here for the full recipe!

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