• It’s a Cookbook
    It’s a Philosophy
    It’s a Resource
logologologologo
  • FoodTrients 101
  • News
      • Age Gracefully with Grace O
      • Ginger Hultin, Nutrition
      • Mark Rosenberg, MD
      • Robert Tostado, MD
      • Anti-Aging
      • Beauty
      • Food
      • Health
      • Exercise
      • Celiac
      • Life Extension
      • Books We Love
      • FoodTrients Guides
      • Newsletter
      • woman doing yogaSecrets of the Lymphatic System
      • Fresh-RosemaryRosemary Improves Memory and Cognition
      • fish on slateAnti-Inflammatory Foods: the Top 10
      • capsule full of good foodAre Supplements Safe for You?
  • Recipes
    • SEARCH BY:

      • Category:

      • Starters
      • Soups
      • Salads
      • Main Dishes
      • Sides
      • Desserts
      • Drinks
      • Extras
      • Spice Mixes
      • All Recipes
      • Or Search By:

      • Anti-inflammatory
      • Antioxidant
      • Beauty
      • Detox
      • Disease Prevention
      • Gut Health
      • Immunity Booster
      • Mind
      • Strength
      • exotic fruit and granolaExotic Fruit Salad with Granola
      • buffalo meat slidersTry Buffalo Sliders with Sweetened Cranberries
      • chocolate mousseIt’s a Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chocolate Mousse 
      • Green Tea NoodlesHeart-Healthy Green Tea Noodles Ramp Up the Flavor
  • Resources
  • About
  • Shop
  • Media
  • Home Page
  • News
    • Age Gracefully
    • Anti-Aging
    • Beauty
    • Food
    • Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
    • Health
    • Newsletter
  • Recipes
    • Starters
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Extras
    • Spice Mixes
  • Resources
    • Anti-Aging Resources
    • Health
    • Eating Well
    • Books We Love
  • About
    • About Grace O
    • Experts and Advisors
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Pinterest
  • Shop
  • Media
    • In the Media
    • Press Releases
    • Videos
            No results See all results
            ✕
                      No results See all results

                      Chia Seed Southwestern Fettuccine

                      Published by Grace O

                      Most Americans are probably familiar with chia pets—clay pots shaped like animals that you fill with chia seeds and water.  The chia seeds sprout and grow green “fur” on the clay pot.  Few people who own those chia pets, however, realize that chia seeds are not only edible—sprouted or not—but they’re also wonderful for your health.

                      The ancient Aztecs of Mexico began eating unsprouted chia seeds over 500 years ago. In the Mayan language, “chia” means “strength.” The tiny seeds come in white or black varieties and are native to Mexico and Guatemala.

                      Today, Mexicans drink chia frescas: chia seeds stirred into water or fruit juice. When soaked in liquid for an hour or so, chia seeds grow to many times their normal size and develop a jelly-like coating. It’s this ability to absorb liquid that makes chia seeds a filling snack. Because of their smooth coating post-soaking, the seeds are easy to drink. They are slightly similar to boba—small pearls of tapioca—which Asians drink in a milky cold tea, except that chia seeds have a slightly nutty flavor while boba are almost flavorless. Chia seeds are healthier, too. They are also great to add to rice and pasta dishes (see my Chia Fettuccine recipe below).

                      TS-475097869 Chia Seeds in bowl

                      I had read that chia seeds were nutritionally similar to flax seeds in that they were high in fiber, high in omega-3 oils, and good at lowering cholesterol, but I had put off experimenting with them until a friend of mine gave me a good reason to look more closely at these tiny seeds.

                      My Director of Nursing at one of my skilled nursing facilities has high cholesterol so she decided to stir chia seeds into her beverages every day for three months. Because chia seeds are full of fiber and omega-3 oils, they actually helped reduce her bad cholesterol levels. And she enjoyed drinking them. (See Dr. Mark Rosenberg’s articles about the pros and cons of chia seeds before you incorporate them into your diet on any regular basis).

                      After researching chia seeds for myself, I found a chia fan in Dr. Nicholas Perricone, M.D., who says in his book Forever Young, “The seeds of the chia plant (salvia hispanica L.) are a concentrated source of high-quality macronutrients required by the body: omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, high-quality complete protein without gluten, and low-glycemic carbohydrates.” It turns out that chia seeds are also very rich in antioxidants, calcium, omega-6 oil, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, and zinc. It may be that chia seeds help to slow the absorption of sugar by the body, which is good news for those with high blood sugar.

                      chia seed drinks317So I decided I should try drinking chia seeds just like my Director of Nursing. She inspired me to come up with a chia-seed beverage recipe that I call Chia Frescas, which is featured in my AGE GRACEFULLY Cookbook. Chia seeds can absorb up to ten times their weight in water. It’s fun to watch them swell up and produce their characteristic jelly coating.

                      In my new book, The AGE BEAUTIFULLY Cookbook, I created a delicious new recipe for fettuccine with chia seeds. I think you’ll love it!

                      Chia Fettuccine with Southwestern Pork and Vegetables

                      Serves 4

                      Pasta infused with ground chia seeds is a bit chewier than traditional pasta but packs an extra nutritional punch. Pork, chiles, and Southwestern spices perfectly complement the taste and texture of this nutritionally dense fettuccine, but I have provided substitutions for ingredients that may be more available or familiar.

                      Ingredients

                      1 lb. sliced pork loin
                      1 tsp. salt or salt substitute
                      1 tsp. minced garlic
                      ¼ tsp. black pepper
                      ½ tsp. dry mustard
                      ½ tsp. ground cumin
                      ¼ tsp. chili powder
                      1 tsp. piment d’Espelette (or regular paprika or crushed red peppers)
                      4 Tbs. olive oil, divided in half
                      ½ cup chopped red onion
                      1 cup chopped red bell pepper
                      ¼ cup sliced jalapeños
                      1 cup chopped pasilla chile (or 4 oz. canned green chiles or 15 oz. canned corn)
                      1½ cups fresh corn kernels
                      1 package (10 oz.) BonaChia Fettuccine (or regular pasta or brown rice)

                      Garnish

                      ¼ cup chopped scallions
                      2-4 Tbs. black or white chia seeds
                      4 Tbs. Parmesan cheese (optional)

                      Procedure

                      1. Mix the pork and the spices until evenly incorporated.
                      2. In a cast-iron or heavy-bottomed pan, cook the meat in 2 Tbs. of the oil over medium heat for about

                      5 minutes, stirring often.

                      1. Add the vegetables and remaining oil to the pan. Cook another 5 minutes.
                      2. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Toss with the meat and vegetables.
                      3. Garnish with the chopped scallions, Parmesan cheese (if using), and chia seeds.

                       

                      Navitas Naturals sells organic chia seeds and chia powder online.

                      (Recipe reprinted from The Age Gracefully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World by Grace O)

                       

                      Share
                      Grace O
                      Grace O
                      GRACE O is the creator of FoodTrients, a unique program for optimizing wellness and longevity. She is the author of three award-winning cookbooks – The Age Gracefully Cookbook, The Age Beautifully Cookbook, and Anti-Aging Dishes From Around the World. She is a fusion chef with a mission to deliver delicious recipes built on a foundation of anti-aging science and her 30 years in the healthcare industry.

                      Sign Up to get our
                      NEWSLETTER FREE


                      By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

                      Age Gracefully

                      • Cauliflower steaks
                        Why Cauliflower Deserves a Spot on Your Plate
                        June 1, 2025
                      • Mint: It Does the Mind & Body Good!
                        May 30, 2025
                      • Zing Up the Flavor with Lovely Lemongrass
                        May 15, 2025
                      • Nuts About Nutrition! Nuts are Full of Valuable FoodTrients
                        May 15, 2025
                      • 0
                        One-Bowl Wonders: Power Meals for Any Time of Day
                        May 12, 2025

                      SEE MORE ARTICLES

                      ABOUT

                      • Grace O
                      • Our Experts
                      • FoodTrients
                      • Board of Advisors
                      • FAQs

                      EXPLORE

                      • Age Gracefully by Grace O
                      • News
                      • Recipes
                      • Our Guides
                      • Resources
                      • Shop
                      • Media

                      CONNECT

                      • Contact Us
                      • Subscribe
                      • Facebook
                      • Pinterest
                      • Instagram
                      • Twitter
                      • YouTube

                      SIGN UP for our NEWSLETTER

                      Nourish your week! Get the latest wellness news and delicious recipes to help you age better.


                      By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

                      FoodTrients Trademark™ and copyright © 2011-2024 Triple G Enterprises. I Terms and Conditions I Privacy

                      This website is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. FoodTrients – A Recipe for Aging Beautifully Grace O, author and creator of FoodTrients® -- a philosophy, a cookbook and a resource -- has a new cookbook dedicated to age-defying and delicious recipes, The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World, which provides one hundred-plus recipes that promote health and well-being. The recipes are built on foundations of modern scientific research and ancient knowledge of medicinal herbs and natural ingredients from around the world. Since the publication of her first anti-aging book, The Age GRACEfully Cookbook, Grace O has identified eight categories of FoodTrients benefits (Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Immune Booster, Disease Prevention, Beauty, Strength, Mind, and Weight Loss) that are essential to fighting aging, which show how specific foods, herbs, and spices in the recipes help keep skin looking younger, prevent the diseases of aging, and increase energy and vitality. Grace O combines more exotic ingredients that add age-fighting benefits to familiar recipe favorites.

                                No results See all results