A tropical coconut chia pudding bowl with mango, pineapple, papaya, dragon fruit, and passion fruit – a refreshing, nourishing start to the day.

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- 🌿 My story behind this recipe
- 🥣 What is Coconut Chia Pudding?
- 🥭Why it's good for you
- 🛒 Ingredients you will need
- 🥥 How to make coconut chia pudding
- 👨🍳 Chef’s Top Tips for making the best Coconut Chia Pudding
- 🥝 Chia Bowl recipe variations
- 🧊 Storage
- 🍏 FAQ
- 🍍 More chia seed recipes to explore
- 🍊 Break your fast in style
- 📋 Recipe
- Sub Recipes
🌿 My story behind this recipe
I first started making this coconut chia pudding while working on retreat in Thailand, circa 2017. It became a go-to breakfast at our wellness kitchen, especially during the hot season when guests were craving something light, cold, and energising.
This dish was also a favourite at Thanyapura Sports Resort, Phuket, where I worked as a performance chef. It’s still on their breakfast menu today – loved by athletes and gym guests alike for its light, clean ingredients and long-lasting fuel.

🥣 What is Coconut Chia Pudding?
This is my take on a healthy chia pudding recipe, made with creamy coconut milk, citrus, and soaked chia seeds. Once set, it becomes a silky base for building your perfect chia bowl - topped with fresh tropical fruits, sugar-free mango jam, toasted coconut granola, and a drizzle of fresh passion fruit.
It’s simple to prepare and ideal for meal prep – just stir it all together the night before and enjoy it chilled the next morning.
🥭Why it's good for you
This tropical chia seed pudding is packed with:
- Omega-3 fats and fiber from chia seeds.
- Vitamin C and digestive enzymes from tropical fruit.
- Healthy fats from coconut support energy.
It’s hydrating, gut-friendly, and naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar–free.
🛒 Ingredients you will need
For the coconut chia pudding base:
- 50g chia seeds.
- 100ml coconut milk.
- 150ml plant milk (use whatever you prefer).
- 50ml fresh orange juice.
- Dash of vanilla (optional).
Morning mix-in:
- 100g coconut yogurt.
- Splash more plant milk to loosen.
- Zest of lime or orange.
To garnish:
- Diced mango, pineapple, papaya, and dragon fruit.
- Half a passion fruit.
Optional extras:
- Passion & Mango Jam: See notes below
- Coconut Granola: See notes below
🥥 How to make coconut chia pudding
Here is our step-by-step guide to help you make your own chia bowl at home
Make the Chia Seed Pudding Base
Prepare the Morning Mix-In
To Garnish & Serve
👨🍳 Chef’s Top Tips for making the best Coconut Chia Pudding
Making a good coconut chia pudding is simple, but a few small tweaks can take it from good to great:
- Whisk slowly and thoroughly: The key to avoiding clumps is to whisk the chia seeds into the coconut milk slowly and evenly. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes, then whisk again before chilling.
- Stir more than once: Chia seeds start absorbing liquid straight away, so give the pudding another good stir after the first 10 minutes. If you remember, stir it once or twice more in the first hour before leaving it to set overnight. This helps distribute the seeds evenly for a smooth, consistent texture.
- Chill for a few hours (or overnight): You’ll get the best pudding texture by letting it sit in the fridge overnight. This allows the chia seeds to fully hydrate and gel.
- Not into the seedy texture?
No problem. Blend it! If you prefer a smoother, creamier consistency, more like classic pudding, just blitz the finished mix in a high-speed blender. It becomes silky and spoonable, without the tapioca-like crunch.
🥝 Chia Bowl recipe variations
Coconut chia seed pudding is super versatile - you can change the flavor and toppings depending on what you’ve got on hand or what’s in season.
Swap the fruit
The tropical fruit topping is just a suggestion. You can use:
- Fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries).
- Sliced banana or kiwi.
- Stewed apples or pears.
- Pomegranate seeds.
Flavour ideas to add to the base
Mix any of these into your chia pudding base before setting:
- Julienne mint
- Julienne kaffir lime leaf
- Vanilla paste
- Ground cinnamon
- A pinch of cardamom
Topping ideas
Get creative with textures and layers:
- Crunchy: Sprinkle with toasted coconut granola or puffed quinoa.
- Zesty: Add a hit of lime, lemon, or orange zest just before serving.
- Fruity: Top with berry compote or homemade chia jam.
- Nutty: Toasted almonds, cashews, or pistachios.
- Mineral-rich: Sprinkle over toasted pumpkin, sunflower, or hemp seeds.
- Coconut lovers: Add extra toasted coconut flakes on top.
Fun ways to Serve
- Serve in a hollowed-out coconut shell for a tropical retreat vibe
- Spoon your chia pudding into a papaya boat for a showstopper breakfast
🧊 Storage
The pudding base keeps well in the fridge for 3–4 days. Add toppings fresh each time and loosen up with a little plant milk if it sets up too much. It's great for batch-prep breakfasts or retreat menus.
🍏 FAQ
Yes – kiwi, banana, dragonfruit, or berries all work well. There are no fruits that do not go with this! Utilise local and seasonal fruits to your area as much as possible.
Definitely - we served this regularly at Thanyapura. It’s light, easy to digest, and gives long-lasting energy.
Add a little maple syrup, honey, or a few chopped dates to the base if you like it sweeter.
6 parts milk or liquid to 1 part chia seeds. 600 ml of liquid to 100g of chia seeds is a good ratio for 2 portions of chia seed pudding.
You did not use the correct ratio or mix the chia seeds well enough after adding the liquids.
Yes, chia seeds can absorb up to 20 times their dry weight in water and possibly get stuck going down. You must not eat chia seeds without soaking them first. This recipe is safe, there is no chance of the chia seeds getting stuck on the way down, as they have been soaked in plenty of liquid overnight!
Chia seeds are a carbohydrate-rich grain that swells up once soaked in liquid. One of the best benefits of chia seeds is that they have a lot of fiber content, which is essential for body functioning and regulating fat. The good fiber content helps regulate digestion and eliminate toxins from the body. Chia seeds can also keep you feeling fuller for longer, therefore reducing your desire for snacking and overeating.
🍍 More chia seed recipes to explore
🍊 Break your fast in style
We hope you enjoy this delicious recipe. If you give it a try, let us know in the comments below - we love hearing your feedback and seeing your recreations.
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