At the time of year when the world is fresh and new, we love fresh and new recipe inspiration as well. We thought there’s no one better to turn to than the team at Whole Foods Market, where resident Healthy Eating Specialist Sara Fulton Koerbling can answer all of your foodie questions and even offer up some killer recipes, and she’ll be dropping in right here from time to time to do just that. Take it away, Sara!
As we move into spring here in Little Rock—or as I like to call it, the first of seven levels of summer—we’re all itching to get outside and enjoy time with friends and family. Whether it’s a picnic with your sweetie or a potluck for work, this pie combines so many things you can feel good about.
This luscious berry pie is easy to make and is packed with fiber, antioxidants and protein; you don’t have to turn the oven on and heat up the house to bake it; it’s sweetened with fruit and fruit juice, with no refined or added sugars; and it’s a great recipe for folks with special diets because it’s made without any dairy or eggs, and uses flaxseed meal and chia seeds instead of flour. Plus, it’s a show-stopping, delicious way to lighten up dessert.
Raw Berry Chia Pudding Pie
The Ingredients:
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 1 cup 365 Everyday Value® Pollinator Friendly Almonds
- 3 tablespoons flaxseed meal
- 6 cups mixed fresh berries, divided
- 1/2 cup chia seeds
- 1/2 cup unsweetened white grape juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
The Method:
To make the crust, in a food processor, combine dates, almonds and flaxseed meal and process until the mixture is finely ground and begins to clump together, 1-2 minutes, stopping several times to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Scrape the mixture into a 9-inch pie plate and press down with your fingers or the bottom of a glass to evenly cover the bottom and sides of the plate. Set aside.
Wipe out the food processor and add half of the berries, chia seeds, grape juice, honey and vanilla. Process until fairly smooth. Transfer to a bowl and stir in remaining berries. Pour into the pie plate, cover and refrigerate until chilled and chia seeds have thickened the filling, at least 4 hours.
This is a wonderful Health Starts Here recipe. You can learn more about Health Starts Here, and the Four Pillars of Healthy Eating with me, Sara, the Healthy Eating Specialist at Whole Foods Market Little Rock, or check out my blog by clicking here to catch up on our healthy eating adventures.