Yesterday I ran a workshop, with a focus all about making sensational sides from Tropical fruit that we can grow right in our backyards, with a focus on Mango, Jackfruit and pawpaw, both ripe and unripe and both cooked or raw.

We actually made this Chia desert with Jackfruit- chopped up and added into layers, after also making a young Jackfruit Vietnamese salad and roasting Jackfruit seeds!

The combination of JAckfruit and coconut (and lime) really is lovely and balances the quite pungent rich flavour of

This great pudding, which I actually eat for breakfast, is super healthy and can use any delicious tropical fruits. I was inspired by a friend who made this camping earlier in the year with some other yummy ingredients.

This morning I made these for myself and work colleagues and layered ripe red pawpaw from my garden, ripe mango from a local (spray free) farmer in Humpty Doo, Chia and coconut and toasted coconut. If you can get fresh coconuts this is always best- then you can scrape and toast and make your own milk, but this is of course a bit more time consuming. I popped it into old cleaned jars to set. (Now I know that this is trendy- but I have been an old jar hoarder for years and it also makes many things look great and super easy to take to work/ on outings)

Chia is a pretty awesome seed, native of South America, but now grown in Australia (including Athelton tablelands)  and world wide. It is packed with nutrients, low in calories, high in fibre and protein. Check out more info here – Health Line Chia benefits

Greenies Real food (in Rapid Creek) sell these seeds in bulk – Greenies Chia 

The basic recipe to fill about 4 Jars is-

1/2 cup of Chia seeds
2 cups of coconut milk (about a tin, or use fresh!)- you can add a little water if you wish
A splash of real vanilla essence
A pinch of salt
A tablespoon of rice syrup or local honey.

Mix the above together in a bowl. Wait a few minutes until the chia starts to puff, then spoon it into a jar, layering chopped fruit in between.

You can add the toasted coconut into the layers or at the end when served.

Alternatives-

You can puree the fruit and put in layers
You can whizz up fruit with the coconut and have it as one big chia fruity thing.
You can add cocoa and make a choco dream…