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Ohlone Chia Pudding A Decolonial twist to a modern favorite

Chia Pudding is a popular snack made with the simple ingredients of almond milk, chia seeds, and your choice of sweetener.

With the contemporary craze over chia seeds' health benefits, chia pudding has become a popular option as a breakfast or dessert alternative

This recipe is inspired by Sean Sherman, a renowned Native American chef, who has chosen to adapt the recipe to include flavors from the Ohlone tribe.

The Ohlone people live in California's Bay Area

Ingredients

  1. 1 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk, plus more if needed
  2. ½ cup chia seeds
  3. ¼ cup light agave nectar
  4. ¼ cup amaranth
  5. 1 to 2 cups fresh mixed berries (any combination of blackberries, blueberries and raspberries)
  6. ¼ cup crushed manzanita berries (optional)
  7. Small fresh mint sprigs, for garnish

STEP 1

Whisk 1 1/2 cups of almond milk, chia seeds, and agave. Let mixture soak in fridge for at least one hour or, if possible, overnight. This allows the snack to have a rich, creamy texture.

Step 2

As the pudding soaks, cook the amaranth using a heated skillet. It takes about 2 minutes for the seeds to cook and pop. Once ready, allow the amaranth to sit in a room temperature container.

Step 3

Serve the dish by whisking the pudding and breaking up the chia seeds. Top with your choice of berries and manzanita berries (for a tangy kick), popped amaranth, and mint springs

This dish is based on many ingredients native to the Ohlone region -- such as manzanita berries and chia seeds -- as well as ingredients native to Latin America -- such as agave and amaranth.

Sean Sherman's recipe adaptation is a decolonial move that chooses to include flavors native to American indigenous populations. His work is done to reclaim culinary expertise in a community that is often silenced and overlooked. By making indigenous adaptations to popular food, Sherman is breaking barriers in food culture.

Credits:

Created with images by Ana Tavares - "Matcha Green Tea Pudding" • Kaffee Meister - "untitled image" • Toa Heftiba - "Chia Pudding"