HEALTHY DRY FRUIT MILK CHIA PUDDING

There’s something incredibly comforting about a dessert that not only satisfies your sweet tooth but also nourishes your body, and that’s exactly what this Healthy Dry Fruit Milk Chia Pudding does. Inspired by the rich, indulgent flavors of traditional Indian sweets, this pudding brings together the best of wholesome ingredients like almonds, cashews, pistachios, and dates. Each spoonful is a celebration of flavors and textures—creamy, nutty, subtly spiced with saffron and cardamom, and naturally sweetened with dates.

What makes this dessert particularly special is its blend of classic Indian elements with a modern, health-conscious twist. Instead of the heavy sugar syrups or deep frying that you often find in festive treats, this pudding is light, dairy-based, and rich in nutrients, making it perfect for those looking to indulge without the guilt. It’s a great way to serve something festive and elegant while ensuring that the richness comes from good-for-you ingredients.

At the heart of this recipe is the simplicity of its preparation. With minimal cooking and no refined sugars, it’s a breeze to put together yet feels luxurious enough to serve at a family gathering or Diwali celebration. The infusion of saffron adds a golden hue and a fragrance that immediately takes you back to traditional festive kitchens, while the use of chia seeds brings a modern twist, adding texture and a touch of wellness to the dish.

This Dry Fruit Chia Pudding isn’t just a dessert—it’s a reflection of how we can balance indulgence with health, tradition with innovation. It’s perfect for those moments when you want something quick to prepare but impressive enough to wow your guests. And of course, it’s a beautiful addition to any festive table, adorned with delicate rose petals and silver leaf, making it as visually stunning as it is delicious.

So, whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just looking to elevate your everyday dessert game, this pudding offers the perfect blend of tradition, health, and indulgence.

WHAT YOU’LL LOVE ABOUT THIS RECIPE

• No bake
• Healthy
• Festive
• No refined sugar
• Eggless

INGREDIENTS USED IN HEALTHY DRY FRUIT MILK CHIA PUDDING

• Mixed Nuts

When blended with milk, the nuts add a natural creaminess and richness to the pudding. This helps to create a smooth, luxurious texture that complements the chia seeds, elevating the dessert’s mouthfeel. Mixed nuts are packed with essential nutrients like healthy fats, proteins, vitamins (especially E and B), and minerals (like magnesium, zinc, and iron). These contribute to the pudding’s overall nutritional value, making it a wholesome, energy-rich dessert.

Each nut contributes its unique flavor:

• Almonds bring a slightly sweet and mild nutty flavor.
• Cashews provide a creamy, buttery flavor.
• Pistachios add a hint of earthiness and slight sweetness.

Together, they enhance the taste of the pudding, making it more complex and indulgent. In Indian desserts, nuts are often used to enhance richness and festive appeal. In this recipe, the mixed nuts carry that traditional element forward, giving the dish a familiar, celebratory vibe.

• Milk

Milk is the base for any chia pudding. It helps blend the flavors of the nuts, dates, saffron, and cardamom, creating a smooth and cohesive mixture. Milk acts as a carrier for the saffron and cardamom flavors. The warmth of the milk helps release the aromas and flavors of these spices, allowing them to infuse deeply into the mixture, giving the pudding a fragrant, aromatic essence.

Milk adds essential nutrients to the dish, including calcium, proteins, and vitamins like A, D, and B12. I have used Nestle milk but you can use any of your choice. You can alternate with vegan options as well.

• Saffron

Saffron is often associated with luxury, celebration, and tradition in Indian cuisine. By incorporating saffron, this chia pudding feels more festive and culturally significant, making it perfect for special occasions like Diwali or other celebrations. It gives a warm yellow colour and fragrance to the chia pudding elevating the whole dessert and making it festive.

Saffron is also known for its antioxidant properties and potential health benefits, including improving mood, aiding digestion, and promoting overall wellness. While used in small quantities, saffron still adds a subtle health boost to the dish.

• Chia Seeds

Chia seeds have a remarkable ability to absorb liquid and expand, creating a gel-like consistency. This property turns the mixture into a thick, pudding-like texture without the need for cooking or additional thickeners. Chia seeds are a nutritional powerhouse, packed with fibre, protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. This makes chia pudding a nutrient-rich option. Chia seeds have a mild, nutty flavour that blends well with various ingredients, allowing them to take on the flavours of other components in the pudding.

• Dates

Dates provide a natural sweetness to the pudding, eliminating the need for refined sugar. Their rich, caramel-like flavor adds depth and complexity, giving the dessert a subtle yet indulgent sweetness that pairs well with the creamy and nutty elements of the recipe.

Dates are nutrient-dense, packed with fiber, vitamins (especially B6), minerals (like potassium and magnesium), and antioxidants. They add a healthy boost to the dessert, making it not only delicious but also nourishing. The fiber content in dates also aids digestion, making the dessert lighter and easier on the stomach.

Dates act as a natural binder, helping to hold the ingredients together, especially when blended with the milk and nuts. Dates bring a rich, earthy sweetness with subtle hints of caramel and toffee. This complexity adds an extra layer of flavor to the pudding, balancing the nutty richness of the almonds, cashews, and pistachios with their natural, fruity undertones.

EQUIPMENTS USED IN MAKING HEALTHY DRY FRUIT MILK CHIA PUDDING

It’s an easy recipe and doesn’t require a lot of equipment. My set of Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoons always come in handy and are the most important part of any recipe.

Apart from this, a good mixer grinder to combine everything is necessary. And you need your favourite bowl to set the chia pudding in.

RELATED RECIPES FROM THE BLOG

1. CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIE CHIA PUDDING

2. TIRAMISU CHIA PUDDING

3. MANGO CHIA SEED PUDDING

TIPS TO MAKE THIS HEALTHY DRY FRUIT MILK CHIA PUDDING

1. Make sure the milk is hot, but not boiling, when adding saffron, as high heat can degrade its delicate flavor and aroma.
2. Lightly roasting the almonds, cashews, and pistachios (without oil) for a few minutes can enhance their natural flavor and add a slight nuttiness to the pudding.
3. For maximum flavor and color, crush the saffron threads slightly before adding them to the hot milk. This helps release their flavor more effectively.
4. If the pudding is too thick, you can add a little extra milk or yogurt. If it’s too thin, add more chia seeds and let it sit for a bit longer.
5. If you prefer a sweeter pudding, you can add more dates to the mixture. Alternatively, a drizzle of honey or maple syrup can add sweetness without overpowering the natural nutty flavors.
6. A few drops of rose water can add an extra layer of aromatic flavor, complementing the cardamom and saffron beautifully.

HEALTHY DRY FRUIT MILK CHIA PUDDING

 

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Ingredients

• 10 almonds
• 10 cashews
• 10 pistachios
• 5 dates, deseeded
• 1+½ cups milk
• Pinch of saffron
• ¼ tsp cardamom powder
• 3 tbsp chia seeds
• For the garnish
• Silver leaf
• Dried rose petals

Instructions

1. Add a pinch of saffron to hot milk and let it infuse nicely for about 10-15 mins.
2. Take all the nuts and dates in a bowl and pour the hot milk over them. Add cardamom powder at this stage and cover everything for 15 mins so that the nuts and dates become soft.
3. Blend everything till a smooth mixture is achieved. Transfer this dry fruit milk into a bowl and add chia seeds to it. Mix everything well.
4. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours till the chia seeds swell up and the mixture thickens.
5. Transfer the chia pudding in your favourite serving dishes and garnish with silver leaf and dried rose petals.

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If you like my Healthy Dry Fruit Milk Chia Pudding recipe and happen to make them in your kitchen, do tag me on Instagram and share pictures with me using #Bakewithshivesh. Happy Baking!