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Basil Seed Pudding with Cherries and Pistachios (Lectin-Free)

March 23, 2023 (Last Updated: January 10, 2024)

Looking for a healthy and delicious breakfast, high-fiber snack, or light dinner option? Look no further than this basil seed pudding with cherries and pistachios recipe!

Not only is this pudding lectin-free, but it’s also packed with nutrient-rich ingredients that will leave you feeling satisfied and energized throughout the day.

Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy breakfast option, a healthy snack to keep you going between meals, or a light and refreshing dinner, this recipe has got you covered. So why wait? Let’s dive in and learn how to make this healthy and delicious basil seed pudding, a gut-friendly alternative to chia seed pudding!

Do Chia Seeds Have Lectins? Discover Why Basil Seeds Are the Superior, Gut-Friendly Alternative

Move over, chia seeds! Basil seeds are the new magic ingredient you can use to make a healthy and delicious pudding.

While both chia and basil seeds swell and form a gel-like consistency when soaked, basil seeds stand out for their superior nutritional profile. They contain double the amount of fiber and nutrients compared to chia seeds.

Moreover, unlike chia seeds, which contain lectins, a protein part of the plant’s natural defense, basil seeds are completely lectin-free. This makes them an excellent gut-friendly food choice.

The health benefits of basil seeds

Basil seeds are packed with nutrients. They are a great source of quality proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, minerals, flavonoids, and polyphenols.

The exceptionally high fiber content helps to promote digestion, regulate blood sugar levels, and keep you feeling full for longer. Basil seeds are also rich in phenolic compounds like romarinic acid and antioxidants, which help to protect the body against damage from free radicals.

Additionally, they contain essential minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron, which are vital for maintaining strong bones, healthy muscles, and optimal blood flow.

Traditionally, basil seeds are included in certain foods and meals in the East, in countries like India and Iran; however, in other regions, such as Europe and America, the seeds and their by-products are only beginning to be considered as a functional food. (SOURCE)

Basil seeds are a versatile ingredient that can be easily incorporated into your diet, providing various health benefits that can support your overall well-being.

Basil seeds are the seeds of the sweet basil plant and are also known as:

  • Sabja seeds
  • Falooda seeds
  • Tukmaria
Basil seed pudding in a glass bowl and a spoon

Where to find basil seeds

In the US, basil seeds can be found in some specialty or health grocery stores or can be ordered online.

How to prepare basil seeds

Basil seeds are usually not eaten in their dry form, as they are chewy and tasteless, although you can sprinkle them on salads.

To hydrate basil seeds, you need to mix 2 tablespoons of basil seeds with 1 cup of water, or another liquid, like milk (plant-based milk). They can also be mixed with yogurt, added to smoothies, or salad dressings.

Pistachios and cherries for a boost of melatonin

Pistachios and cherries are the foods with some of the highest melatonin content.

According to Dr. Steven Gundry, author of The Plant Paradox and Unlocking the Keto Code, melatonin-rich foods help support mitochondrial uncoupling, optimizing our body’s mitochondrial health and helping with weight loss, vitality, and improving overall well-being.

For this recipe, you can use fresh or frozen cherries, and you can use sweet cherries or sour cherries. The latter are an incredible addition to your diet because they are richer in melatonin and great at lowering uric acid levels.

Ingredients to make this basil seed pudding with cherries and pistachios

If you are using fresh cherries, skip the cooking and the adding of agar-agar.

For this pudding, you need thin milk, not something like coconut milk in a can. Use the plant-based milk of choice. You can buy hemp milk, or coconut milk in a cartoon, or you can make it at home: hemp milk & tiger nut milk.

Alternatively, you could use unsweetened almond milk.

  • 1 cup frozen cherries (tart or sweet)
  • 1/2 teaspoon agar-agar
  • 1 cup plant-based milk (hemp or tigernut milk are great)
  • 1 teaspoon yacon syrup or local raw honey or sweetener of choice)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • zest from one organic orange
  • 2 tablespoons basil seeds
  • 1/4 cup roughly ground pistachios (chopped or crushed)
  • 2 tablespoons grated dark chocolate (or dark chocolate chips)

How to make basil seed pudding

You can make this pudding in two glasses, cups, or mason jars. If you plan to leave it in the fridge overnight, use mason jars with lids.

  • If using frozen cherries, make the cherry jam in advance as it has to be cold when using. Bring the frozen cherries to a boil, simmer for about 10 minutes, add the agar-agar powder, and simmer for 5 more minutes. Let it cool (it will thicken).
  • Combine the plant-based milk with the yacon syrup (or honey), vanilla, orange zest, and basil seeds. Stir well and let the mixture sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes. The basil seeds will absorb the liquid.
  • In the meantime, grind the pistachios and grate the chocolate.
  • To layer the pudding in jars or cups, add cherries on the bottom, continue with pistachios, chocolate, and pudding, and repeat. Finish with a layer of crushed pistachios, cherry jam (or fresh cherries) and grated chocolate. Let the pudding settle in the fridge for a few hours before consuming it. You can let it settle overnight and serve it in the morning.

A great meal prep item

You can serve this pudding immediately or store it in the fridge. It can be a great meal prep item. Prepare it at night for the next morning’s breakfast snack or takeaway lunch.

Basil seed pudding in a glass bowl

I hope you like this delicious basil seed pudding with cherries and pistachios!

*This post contains affiliated links, which means I get a small commission if you choose to purchase something via one of my links, at no extra cost to you.

Basil Seed Pudding with Cherries and Pistachios

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By Claudia Curici, Health Coach Serves: 2
Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Looking for a healthy and delicious breakfast, high-fiber snack, or light dinner option? Look no further than this basil seed pudding with cherries and pistachios recipe! Not only is this pudding lectin-free, but it's also packed with nutrient-rich ingredients that will leave you feeling satisfied and energized throughout the day. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy breakfast option, a healthy snack to keep you going between meals, or a light and refreshing dinner, this recipe has got you covered. So why wait? Let's dive in and learn how to make this healthy and delicious basil seed pudding, a gut-friendly alternative to chia pudding.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup frozen cherries (tart or sweet)
  • 1/2 teaspoon agar-agar
  • 1 cup plant-based milk (hemp milk, tigernut milk, or almond milk are great)
  • 1 teaspoon yacon syrup or local raw honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • zest from one organic orange
  • 2 tablespoons basil seeds
  • 1/4 cup roughly ground pistachios (chopped or crushed)
  • 2 tablespoons grated dark chocolate (or dark chocolate chips)

Instructions

1

If using frozen cherries, make the cherry jam. Bring the frozen cherries to a boil, simmer for about 10 minutes, add the agar-agar powder, and simmer for 5 more minutes. Let it cool.

2

Combine the plant-based milk with the yacon syrup (or honey), vanilla, orange zest, and basil seeds. Stir well and let the mixture sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes. The basil seeds will absorb the liquid.

3

In the meantime, grind the pistachios and grate the chocolate.

4

To layer the pudding in jars or cups, add cherries on the bottom, continue with pistachios, chocolate, and pudding, and repeat. Finish with a layer of crushed pistachios, cherry jam (or fresh cherries) and grated chocolate. Let the pudding settle in the fridge for a few hours before consuming it. You can let it settle overnight and serve it in the morning.

Notes

Fresh cherries can also be used; in this case, pit and use them fresh, and skip the cooking and the agar-agar. If you want a bigger portion, you can double the basil seed pudding (use 4 tablespoons of seeds and 2 cups of liquid for 2 servings).

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