I’ve talked about my rhubarb obsession before. It’s the first garden plant to start producing properly in spring, apart from some early edible flowers like violets, and has such a unique flavour. My rhubarb plant is a couple of years old now and this is the first year we can harvest from it properly.
You get a really nice contrast in this rhubarb chia pudding – the compote is tart and fruity, while the pudding is ultra creamy and a bit sweet. It’s a great combination.
I’m not generally a big fan of chia pudding, unless it’s blended like a chia mousse, but this is an exception. Using coconut milk makes such a difference, especially with a hint of vanilla and lemon. Dessert for breakfast!
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Rhubarb: I’m using plain garden rhubarb from my garden. If you can get forced rhubarb, it may be pink enough to skip the beet for the compote.
- Red beet: this creates the strong red/pink colour for the rhubarb compote if your rhubarb is green. See below for more on that.
- Coconut milk: light is best, either bought specifically or mixed with more water. You can use the type that comes in a carton if preferred.
- Vanilla: I typically use vanilla powder (extract is more expensive here) but paste or extract work too. My homemade vanilla extract is steeping away but won’t be ready for a while yet.
Step by Step
Step 1: place the compote ingredient in a small saucepan.
Step 2: cook until the rhubarb has broken down – don’t forget to remove the beetroot after cooking.
Step 3: make the chia pudding by combining all the ingredients in a dish and refrigerating until set.
Step 4: assemble in lidded containers and keep refrigerated.
Recipe Notes
As you can see in the pictures, my garden rhubarb is (as yet) almost fully green. Instead of using berries, I often add a piece of peeled red beet to rhubarb compote. This doesn’t change the flavour but makes for a much more appealing colour.
If you prefer, or don’t have beets, you can add some fresh or frozen raspberries to the compote instead. Just a small handful will give enough colour and the flavour combination is nice.
The compote can be doubled or tripled if you want to make enough to last for a full week of breakfasts. It’s good for several days, while the chia pudding needs to be made every 2-3 days.
Newsletter
More Spring Rhubarb Recipes
Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler
Vegan Rhubarb Streusel Cake
Honey Rhubarb Lemonade
Lemon Rhubarb Cake
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Rhubarb Chia Pudding
Ingredients
Coconut chia pudding
- 250 ml light coconut milk*
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- Zest of a lemon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla powder or 1 teaspoon extract
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds
Rhubarb compote
- 3 stalks rhubarb 150 grams (~1 cup), roughly chopped
- 1 small beet peeled and quartered
- Juice of a lemon
- 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup to taste
Instructions
Coconut Chia Pudding
- Add the coconut milk, honey, lemon zest, and vanilla to a container or jar. Whisk to combine.250 ml light coconut milk*, 1 teaspoon honey, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder, Zest of a lemon
- Add the chia seeds and mix again, then cover and refrigerate for at least an hour, or until the seeds have gelled and the pudding is thick.3 tablespoons chia seeds
Rhubarb Compote
- Place the rhubarb, beet, lemon juice, and honey into a small saucepan.3 stalks rhubarb, 1 small beet, Juice of a lemon, 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- Heat over medium, covered, to bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer until the rhubarb is soft, about 10 minutes.
- Set aside to cool fully. If the compote is not particularly pink, don’t worry – it will colour further as it sits with the beet.
- Remove the beet pieces before adding to the pudding and serving.
- Both the chia pudding and the compote will keep for up to five days in sealed containers in the refrigerator.
Notes
* For American cup measurements, please click the pink link text above the ingredient list that says ‘American’.
Nutrition
Nutrition is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate. If this information is important to you, please have it verified independently.
This post was originally published in June 2017. It has been updated most recently as of May 2021.
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Traci says
I’ve been paroosing your beautiful website, what a feast for the eyes! I’d love to try making this recipe – can I use pure vanilla extract in place of vanilla powder?
Nicole Fraser says
What a perfect way to jazz up chia pudding! This looks incredibly satisfying.
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli says
The red color of the rhubarb is amazing! If I was in Italy I would have to buy rhubarb as well, and it wouldn't be an easy task, but here, these days, we have rhubarb growing in my in-law's backyard, plenty in the farmers markets, grocery stores, and friends that hand you some because they have too much. Love your recipe, and how it turns a "boring" chia pudding to something very delectable!
Alex says
Pretty! Love the combo of red and white colors.
I usually eat chia pudding as a vegan sub for yogurt and top it with granola 🙂