Looking for a healthy and delicious breakfast, a fiber-rich snack or a light dinner option? Look no further than this recipe for Basil Seed Pudding with Cherries and Pistachios! Not only is this pudding free of lectin, but it’s also packed with nutrient-dense ingredients that will keep you feeling satisfied and energized all day long.
Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy breakfast option, a healthy snack to keep you going between meals, or a light and refreshing dinner, this recipe has you covered. So why wait? Let’s dive in and learn how to make this healthy and delicious basil seed pudding, a nice alternative to chia seed pudding!
The health benefits of basil seeds
Go for the chia seeds! Basil seeds are the new magic ingredient you can use to make a healthy and delicious pudding. Basil seeds react just like chia seeds when combined with liquid, but have twice the fiber and nutrients. Best of all, basil seeds do not contain lectins, making them a gut-friendly food.
Basil seeds are packed with nutrients. They are a great source of quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, minerals, flavonoids and polyphenols.
The exceptionally high fiber content helps aid digestion, regulate blood sugar levels and keep you fuller for longer. Basil seeds are also rich in phenolic compounds such as romanic acid and antioxidants, which help protect the body from free radical damage.
In addition, they contain essential minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron, which are vital for maintaining strong bones, healthy muscles and optimal blood flow.
Basil seeds are traditionally included in certain foods and meals in the East, in countries such as India and Iran; however, in other regions, such as Europe and America, seeds and their by-products are only beginning to be considered as a functional food. (SOURCE)
Basil seeds are a versatile ingredient that can easily be incorporated into your diet, providing several health benefits that can support your overall well-being.
Basil seeds are the seeds of the sweet basil plant and are also known as:
- Sabja seeds
- Falooda seeds
- Tukmaria
Where to find basil seeds
In the US, basil seeds can be found in some specialty or health stores or ordered online.
How to prepare basil seeds
Basil seeds are not usually eaten dry, as they are chewy and tasteless, although you can sprinkle them on salads. To hydrate basil seeds, mix 2 tablespoons of basil seeds with 1 cup of water or another liquid, such as milk (plant milk). They can also be mixed with yogurt, added to smoothies or salad dressings.
Pistachios and cherries for a melatonin boost
Pistachios and cherries are the foods with some of the highest melatonin content. According to Dr. Steven Gundry, author of The Plant Paradox and Unlocking the Keto Code, melatonin-rich foods help support mitochondrial uncoupling, optimizing our body’s mitochondrial health and helping with weight loss, vitality, and improvement of general well-being.
For this recipe, you can use fresh or frozen cherries, and you can use sweet cherries or cherries. The latter are an amazing addition to your diet because they are richer in melatonin and are great for lowering uric acid levels.
Ingredients to make this basil seed pudding with cherries and pistachios
If using fresh cherries, skip cooking and adding agar-agar.
For this pudding, you need skimmed milk, not something like coconut milk in a can. Use the plant-based milk of your choice. You can buy hemp milk, or coconut milk in a cartoon, or you can make it at home: hemp milk and jufa milk.
Alternatively, you can use unsweetened almond milk.
- 1 cup frozen cherries (tart or sweet)
- 1/2 teaspoon of agar-agar
- 1 cup plant-based milk (hemp or chufa milk is great)
- 1 teaspoon yacó syrup or local raw honey or sweetener of choice)
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
- zest of an organic orange
- 2 tablespoons of basil seeds
- 1/4 cup ground pistachios (chopped or crushed)
- 2 tablespoons of grated dark chocolate (or dark chocolate chips)
How to make a basil seed pudding recipe
You can make this pudding in two glasses, cups or mason jars. If you plan to leave it in the fridge overnight, use jars with lids.
- If using frozen cherries, make the cherry jam ahead of time as it needs to be cold when ready to use. Bring the frozen cherries to the boil, simmer for about 10 minutes, add the agar-agar powder and simmer for another 5 minutes. Let it cool (it will thicken).
- Combine the vegetable milk with the yacon syrup (or honey), vanilla, orange peel and basil seeds. Stir well and let the mixture sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes. The basil seeds will absorb the liquid.
- Meanwhile, grind the pistachios and grate the chocolate.
- To put the pudding in jars or cups, add cherries to the bottom, continue with pistachios, chocolate and pudding and repeat. Finish with a layer of crushed pistachios, cherry jam (or fresh cherries) and grated chocolate. Let the pudding rest in the fridge for a few hours before eating. You can let it sit overnight and serve it in the morning.
You can serve this pudding immediately or store it in the refrigerator. It can be an excellent item for preparing a meal. Make it the night before for a breakfast snack or the next day’s packed lunch.
I hope you enjoy this delicious basil seed pudding with cherries and pistachios!
*This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you decide to purchase something through one of my links, at no extra cost to you.
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen cherries (tart or sweet)
- 1/2 teaspoon of agar-agar
- 1 cup plant-based milk (hemp milk, guava milk, or almond milk are great)
- 1 teaspoon of yacón syrup or local raw honey
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
- zest of an organic orange
- 2 tablespoons of basil seeds
- 1/4 cup ground pistachios (chopped or crushed)
- 2 tablespoons of grated dark chocolate (or dark chocolate chips)
Instructions
If using frozen cherries, make cherry jam. Bring the frozen cherries to the boil, simmer for about 10 minutes, add the agar-agar powder and simmer for another 5 minutes. Let it cool.
Combine the vegetable milk with the yacon syrup (or honey), vanilla, orange zest and basil seeds. Stir well and let the mixture sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes. The basil seeds will absorb the liquid.
Meanwhile, grind the pistachios and grate the chocolate.
To put the pudding in jars or cups, add cherries to the bottom, continue with pistachios, chocolate and pudding and repeat. Finish with a layer of crushed pistachios, cherry jam (or fresh cherries) and grated chocolate. Let the pudding rest in the fridge for a few hours before eating. You can let it sit overnight and serve it in the morning.
notes
Fresh cherries can also be used; in this case, thicken them and use them fresh, and skip the cooking and the agar-agar. If you want a larger serving, you can double the basil seed pudding (use 4 tablespoons of seeds and 2 cups of liquid for 2 servings).