Chia Spirulina Breakfast Pudding

Find out how to make a chia seed breakfast pudding with a green & healthy twist, courtesy of Chef Jerome at The Dreamcatcher !

A while back, I showed you guys around The Dreamcatcher, a bohemian guest house that’s nestled on the northeast coast of Puerto Rico. The grounds are covered in lush greens and tropical flora, a haven unlike any I’ve ever seen. One thing The Dreamcatcher prides itself on is being a total vegetarian retreat, so the food they plate is local, organic and produced with 100% love. Chef  Jerome is the master behind the menu, a raw, vegetarian & vegan soul chef. He infuses traditional Puerto Rican flavors into his healthy way of cooking to create dishes that are one-of-kind and unique to the surrounding area. I enjoyed a delicious 3-course vegetarian brunch during my stay, and got to watch  Chef  Jerome do his thing in the kitchen. Find out how he adapted to his vegan lifestyle below, and learn how to make one of his specialties, Chia Spirulina Breakfast Pudding!

pud13

How did your journey with cooking begin? 
It all started in 2005, first as a need of learning how to cook vegan for myself and so I started selling fruit shakes in a place that used to have reggae parties every Saturday. Feeling and seeing people’s feedback makes me keep on exploring my passion for cooking.

pud7

Why/when did you decide to go vegan?

I began in early 2000. It was a process and a transition in which I started learning and getting educated in what to eat, and how to cook these certain types of food. By 2003, I was fully vegan.

In what ways has this diet changed your life/health? 

It has change my life in so many ways, and it continues to do so. First it’s a slow process of adaptation so you have to be patient to see results. Physically, I have always felt super healthy, but I started to see how my body was reacting to wholesome and substantial food. I felt more light and energetic every time I ate, and I noticed my immune system started working better. I also noticed improvements in my skin and hair. But for me, the most important part is seeing how it’s brought my mental, physical and spiritual being to a higher conciseness. It changed how I treat myself, how I treat others , and specifically how I treat mother nature.

pud15

What are some key ingredients that are important for living a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle ? 

For me the most important ingredients are the ones that are in season and that are local and organic. I always keep around some super greens, such as kale or spinach, some lentils, cashews, avocados, bananas, papaya and some fermented foods, like sauerkraut or Kombucha.

pud11

What’s the relationship like between your cooking and your location? Does the local food inspire your dishes? 

I think that, at the beginning of my cooking, my background was in local criollo food. It was very present in my dishes, especially the super tasty seasoning that we normally use. But then I started expanding and learned how to combine ingredients to create my own style. In Puerto Rico, people eat lot of meat with lots of rice, beans and root vegetables. I think many people make the mistake of taking out the meat and then eating lots of starchy food that causes an imbalance in nutrition. So you just have to explore and start incorporating new ingredients.

pud16

If you were to give one piece of advice to anyone who’s interested in going vegan/ vegetarian, what would it be? 
I think that one very important piece of advice is to start knowing your local organic farmers. Start knowing your food and know what is available around you. Find a source for fresh food. The less processed and cooked, the better. Start a raw relationship with the natural flavors of the food, get to know the tastes and educate your palate. And most importantly, be thankful and grateful every time you eat.

Chia Spirulina Breakfast Pudding

pud4

1 quart of unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup of chia seeds
1 tsp spirulina powder
2 tbsp raw agave nectar
1 tsp extra virgin coconut oil
1/2 tsp grated lemon zest

Mix together all of the ingredients in a container except for chia seeds. Once mixed, slowly add in the chia seeds while whisking everything together. Let it rest for 15 minutes, stirring about 3 time in between. Set it in the fridge for about an hour before serving with lots of fresh fruit and fresh mint!

pud3

pud1

Voila!

Be sure to follow Chef  Jerome and The Dreamcatcher on Instagram! 

Check out more healthy recipes here.

Follow Jana on Instagram and Twitter!

 

0 0 vote
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
5 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
7 years ago

This looks yummy! I think i already have all the ingredients too!

7 years ago

I love the color of this chia seed pudding, it’s so earthy. I can’t wait to make some for myself!

Krystal | http://floradelsoul.com/

7 years ago

I tried chia pudding once but it wasn’t really my thing, maybe I should try this version!
https://www.makeandmess.com/

7 years ago

Stunning photos. Definitely the perfect weekend breakfast. Healthy and delicious!

NW
7 years ago

Thanks for this, it looks so good. Can’t wait to make it myself!