Hemp and Blueberry Chia Pudding with Caramelised Banana

There are so many plant-based milks available in the shops today and I am so grateful for the huge variety we have. It does make trying out all of them a little pricey and, sure, there will be a few hits and misses along the way, as they all taste very different. From sweet hazelnut milk to unsweetened almond milk and through all the nuts, seeds and grains in between… it’s amazing what we can turn into milk.

I have just welcomed hemp milk into my life and I am so happy that I did. I usually will opt for the unsweetened variety as I prefer to add my own sweetness if necessary, but even the original sweetened hemp milk isn’t too sweet for my taste buds and would make a great coffee. The ingredients are pretty simple in the Good Hemp milk, mainly being water, hemp extract, calcium carbonate with added vitamin D2. It does contain some acidity regulators and emulsifiers, but so do the majority of long-life milks so this doesn’t really alter my opinion, especially as I don’t consume litres of the stuff daily. It is a great soya-free alternative and is naturally rich in Omega 3 and 6 which are essential fatty acids. Plus for those of us looking to minimise our impact on the planet, I have recently learned that Hemp breathes in 4 times more CO2 than the same area of trees!

Hemp and Blueberry Chia Pudding with Caramelised Banana

So, what does it taste like? It’s fairly savoury and ‘seedy’ if you like, and does taste like hemp hearts or hemp seeds, if you’ve tried those. It has quite a distinctive flavour and I wouldn’t opt to drink a glass of it but it makes a great cup of tea and doesn’t curdle like many do. I also love it in smoothies and porridge as it adds a little creaminess.

However, my favourite way so far to enjoy hemp milk is in a breakfast chia pudding pot, and this one is a new favourite of mine! Simply mix chia seeds, hemp hearts, some mashed banana (for sweetness), blueberries, a little cinnamon and a pouring of hemp milk and you have breakfast ready to go the next morning. Perhaps the best part about the pudding is the caramelised banana on top. Gently fried off in some coconut oil, syrup and cinnamon, the bananas transform into the most deliciously sweet and caramel-like fruit you may have tasted. It’s a great way to top any breakfast bowl as it packs in some fruit while tasting like dessert. I also love the abundance of blueberries in this Hemp and Blueberry Chia Pudding with Caramelised Banana, meaning that with every mouthful you receive a fruitful burst of antioxidants and juiciness.

Hemp and Blueberry Chia Pudding with Caramelised Banana

Let’s start milking those hemp seeds… or grab a carton from the shops!

Hemp and Blueberry Chia Pudding with Caramelised Banana
Serves 1

Ingredients:
30g chia seeds
20g hemp hearts, plus extra to serve
½ tsp cinnamon, plus ¼ tsp
200-250ml unsweetened hemp milk
1 tbsp syrup of choice, optional
1 banana, halved
80g blueberries, plus extra to serve
½ tsp coconut oil
½ tbsp syrup of choice

Method:

1. Place the chia seeds, hemp hearts and cinnamon in a jar or sealed container and mix. Mash half of the banana and add to the chia mix with 200ml milk, 1 tbsp syrup (if using) and the blueberries. Give the chia pudding a good stir and allow to rest for 10 minutes before stirring again and leaving in the fridge for at least 4 hours (or overnight).

2. When ready to serve the pudding, check the mix isn’t too thick and add the extra milk if needed.

3. Slice the second half of the banana lengthways.

4. Heat up the coconut oil in a frying pan and add the sliced bananas. Allow to cook for a minute or so on each side until slightly golden before drizzling over the remaining syrup plus the ¼ tsp cinnamon and fry on either side until nicely caramelised, about 2 minutes.

5. To serve, pour the chia pudding into a bowl, top with the caramelised banana, extra blueberries and enjoy. Serve with any extra toppings like yoghurt, granola and nut butter. This recipe is easily doubled so increase the volume as necessary to make a few breakfast bowls as the pudding will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container.

Hemp and Blueberry Chia Pudding with Caramelised Banana

I hope you love this Hemp and Blueberry Chia Pudding with Caramelised Banana as much as I do and I look forward to hearing from you. Please leave a comment below and tag me in your creations – I’m @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy.

With hempy love x

This post is sponsored by Good Hemp, although all opinions are my own and I regularly enjoy their hemp milk as well as the hemp seeds mentioned here.