Instant Pot Strawberry Chia Jam
A delicious spread made with just four ingredients; Strawberry Chia Jam is free from added pectin, preservatives and flavoring agents. Made in the instant pot; this one has a cook time of just 3 minutes. Super delicious, spreadable and perfectly thick without excess sugar!
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time3 minutes mins
Resting time40 minutes mins
Total Time8 minutes mins
Course: Condiments
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 10
Calories: 36kcal
- 3 cups strawberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1-2 tablespoon sugar (adjust based on sweetness of the berries)
- 3 tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup water
Wash and dice the strawberries. In the base of the Instant Pot add the berries and sprinkle sugar over it. 3 cups strawberries, 1-2 tablespoon sugar
Let the sugar rest for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes add water. Close the lid of the Instant pot and set the mode to pressure cook, time to 3 minutes and pressure to high. Set the vent to sealing.
¼ cup water
Let the berries cook till the end of the cooking time. Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes and then do a quick release.
Open the lid and add in lemon juice and chia seeds. Mix well and let the jam cool to room temperature. As it cools, it will become thick as well. Transfer to and airtight jar and refrigerate. Use as required for up to a week. ½ teaspoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoon chia seeds
You can freeze the jam for months! I like to divide it into silicone molds and freeze in single serve portions. Just pop one and use as you like!
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- Sealing Ring: Often times the sealing ring of the instant pot has the smell from the previous cooking. Before making the jam, make sure the sealing ring is clean and free from any strong smells. It helps to use two different rings; one for sweets and one for savory dishes.
- Frozen berries: We can easily use frozen strawberries for the recipe. Both store bought frozen berries or fresh strawberries that are frozen in peak season work. The method remains the same for both. Plus, so not thaw the berries before using in the recipe.
- Replacing Strawberries: Any juicy fruit like berries, kiwi, pineapple, peach etc. will work with chia seeds to make this jam. Mix them up or use them just one at a time, the option is yours!
- Sugar substitutes: The sugar in the recipe contributes to the thickness along with the sweetness. While it is easy to replace with honey or sugar substitute, the consistency does change a little. Be aware of that.
- Skipping the Chia seeds: While chia seeds are quite amazing in the recipe, we can make the jam without these too. Simply cook the berries and place the instant pot on 'sauté' mode. Then add some corn starch slurry and cook will the slurry thickens the jam.
- Making a smooth jam: If you like the jam to be smooth, blend it with an immersion blender after it is made. it does help getting a super smooth jam!
- Storage: Store the jam in a clean jar and use a clean spatula or spoon to transfer it. The jam keeps well for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator. As it is not canned and does not use preservatives, it will have to be frozen to keep it longer.
Instant Pot: Remember to always account for the time needed for the Instant Pot to come to pressure. The cook time listed does not account for this.
Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates using an automated calculator. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
Calories: 36kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 7IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 0.5mg