Dirty Chai Protein Pudding

About

Make this recipe for your next breakfast or a mid-day treat! Chia seed pudding is a very Keto and nutritious meal to start your morning. Chia seeds are high in fat, offer some protein, and include only fiber instead of net carbohydrates. This dirty chai version is made with real chai tea steeped in almond milk. A splash of coffee mixed in completes the “dirty” flavor and adds a little caffeine boost to your day. By mixing in a little protein powder at the very end, you’ve made a great breakfast that is perfect for the Keto diet. When you eat a majority of your carbs and protein at the beginning of the day or before a workout, your body is guaranteed to use up that fuel. Now, you can focus on high-fat meals throughout the day to regulate your metabolism and energy.

Other Types Of Coffee To Use

It might be a little annoying to brew a cup of coffee and then wait for it to cool to use in this recipe. If you want to cut out a little extra hassle, substitute the coffee with an already prepared brand of unsweetened cold brew or black coffee. Even better, when you brew your next cup of coffee in the morning, set aside a few spoonfuls in a smaller glass or dish to save for the recipe. Just make sure the coffee you use isn’t any hotter than room temperature.

What Protein Powders Are Keto?

There are brands of protein powders made specifically for the Keto diet, but they aren’t the only ones that are Keto-friendly. Common protein powders you see on grocery store shelves are made with whey protein, which is fine for the Keto diet. It’s the other added ingredients you need to check for! Check the nutrition label to ensure your protein powder has no more than 2-3 grams of carbs per scoop. Avoid any unique flavors outside of vanilla and chocolate that imply artificial flavors or added sugar.

Ingredients

1 cup almond milk
1 bag spiced chai tea bags
1 tablespoon coffee
4 tablespoon chia seeds
⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
10 drops liquid stevia
¼ scoop protein powder

Instructions

First, you need to prepare your almond milk in advance of preparing the chia seeds. Pour the almond milk into a small pot and heat it over medium heat on the stove. When the almond milk reaches a simmer, take it off the stove and place a chai teabag on the milk. Place a lid over the pot to let the tea steep in the almond milk for 5 minutes. Discard the teabag and allow the milk to cool until it is no longer steaming.
Additionally, you’ll need to prepare coffee to use later in the recipe. While you will only need a spoonful or so of coffee, brew enough that makes sense. It’s recommended you brew a full cup of coffee to ensure you get an adequate coffee flavor and have enough liquid to work with. After the coffee has finished brewing, let it cool down to at least room temperature or colder. Leave the coffee aside for when it’s needed.
Pour chia seeds into a mixing bowl or jar – whatever vessel you have chosen for the chia pudding to be stored in. Pour the chai almond milk over the chia seeds, and stir in vanilla extract and liquid stevia. At your discretion, you can include more or less of the liquid stevia to sweeten the pudding to your liking. Let the chia seeds soak up the milk for 2-3 minutes. Then, give the chia seeds a second stir to fluff up the mixture a little.
Leave your container of chia seeds sitting out until the mixture has cooled. If you put the chia seeds in your refrigerator while they’re still warm, excess moisture will build up and separate your pudding. This may take up to 30 minutes to cool at room temperature. Then, cover and store your chia seed pudding and the coffee in your refrigerator to thicken and chill overnight or for a minimum of 2 hours. Let the pudding thicken longer if it’s still milky.
Now that the components of the pudding are prepared, you can make the final dish. Pour the set chia seed pudding in a mixing bowl or dish. Stir the appropriate amount of cold coffee (listed in ingredients) and vanilla protein powder into the chia seeds to make the dirty chai protein pudding. Serve ¼ cup pudding with a topping at your discretion. You can add unsweetened cocoa powder, pumpkin seeds, or another Keto-friendly topping to your pudding.