As I mentioned in my last post, spring and summer mean lots of smoothies and even more salads. What I didn’t mention, but was probably obvious from the links in the roundup, is that citrus is basically everywhere during this time of year as well. I’m not complaining though because I never seem to get tired of citrus. Which is why I’m sharing 5 citrus-packed vegan recipes today, including these Orange Grapefruit Chia Seed Marmalade.
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I’m not a huge fan of chia seeds because their slimy texture usually makes me want to gag. So I generally try to avoid them as much as possible. But there are a few exceptions to my no chia seeds rule:
- chia seed coconut milk ‘yogurt’
- vegan french toast and
- chia seed jam, or in this case, orange grapefruit chia seed marmalade.
I’ve made chia seed jam a couple times before and loved it. It’s so simple, only requires a handful of ingredients and is easily customizable. I usually make it with strawberries or mixed berries but this week I decided to branch out and try citrus. And I’m so glad I did.
I usually have a love/hate relationship with marmalade. I love citrus, as I said before, so that’s a plus. But I find most store-bought marmalades to be way too sweet. I get that citrus can be a bit tangy (read: sour AF) but the amount of sugar most manufacturers put into their marmalades is insane.
Orange Grapefruit Chia Seed Marmalade
Luckily, it’s easy to control the level of sweetness in this homemade chia seed marmalade. I went with 3 tablespoons of coconut sugar for about 1/2 a litre of marmalade, but you can easily adjust to suit your tastes.
I also used a mixture of ground and whole chia seeds to keep the chances of seeds getting stuck in my teeth to a minimum, but either is fine. Just note that the ground chia seeds will give the marmalade a darker tint and whole chia seeds will be visible throughout.
Finally, I tossed in a few whole spices while warming the fruit but that part is totally optional.
And that’s it. In just 30 minutes (+ cooling time) you’ve got a sweet and tangy orange grapefruit chia seed marmalade that’s easy to make, customizable and perfect for all your marmalade needs. I can’t wait for breakfast tomorrow.
Oh, and f you try this chia seed marmalade, I’d love to know what you think! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a picture #ExSlothEats on Instagram.
- 3 pink grapefruits
- 2 oranges
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
- 4 cardamom pods
- 3 tbsp coconut sugar
- 4 tbsp chia seeds, ground, whole or a mixture of both
- Peel the fruit, remove the pith (the white part under the peel) and cut the citrus into quarters
- Discard the peel of 2 grapefruits and roughly dice the peel of one orange, leaving the rest whole
- Add the quarters to a medium saucepan, along with the spices and the peel of both oranges and one grapefruit
- Heat over medium-high heat until the peel softens and the citrus begins to break down and become syrupy, about 20-25 minutes
- Remove the spices, the peel of one orange and all the grapefruit peel
- Stir in the coconut sugar and chia seeds
- Optional: At this point, you can blend the marmalade until the desired consistency is reached or leave it as is
- Transfer the marmalade to a clean glass jar and refrigerate for a few hours
- The chia seed marmalade will thicken up as it cools and the chia seeds absorb any leftover liquid

Now that I’ve talked the chia seed marmalade to death, here are 4 other citrus packed vegan recipes from a few of my favourite blogger friends.
Blood Orange Quinoa Salad from Emilie Eats
Chewy Lemon Cookies with Coconut Icing and Pistachios from Fooduzzi
Rosemary Orange Galette with Chamomile Maple Syrup from Love Me, Feed Me
Vegan Key Lime Pie Cookies from The Coconut Diaries
What about you?
- Are you a citrus lover during spring and summer?
- What’s your favourite thing to make/eat around this time of year?
- Have you ever made chia seed marmalade before?
Join the conversation in the comments below!
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This just sounds wonderful! I’m not a huge grapefruit fan (too tart for me), but mixing it in with the orange (which I love) is just brilliant! I could definitely see this on some toast for breakfast!
love that you used both grapefruit and orange! I have been on a grapefruit quick lately and this looks delish 🙂
rachel @ athleticavocado.com recently posted…Roasted Grapefruit Baklava Breakfast Bowl
I’ve never even thought to try making chia marmalade, but now I need to!! I want this all over toast or on top of some overnight oats <3
Yum this looks and sounds amazing. I love orange jam so this is like a super upgrade! Gorgeous!
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It’s so “fall-esque” too with those spices! I love it!
Chia jams are made during the summer for sure for me!
But I still feel more into citrus in the winter/spring than summer!
Ohhh this marmalade looks so lovely! I like that you used both orange and grapefruit- yummy!
Mel @ The Refreshanista recently posted…Loaded Sweet Potatoes
I’ve made a chia seed orange marmalade before, but never thought to add grapefruit to the mix! I love all the citrus, especially the sour little kumquats. There’s something about citrus that just screams SPRING IS HERE!
omgoodness this looks incredible!! i’ve made a couple chia seed jams already, but not a marmalade. that brings me back to when i lived at home, i would eat it all the time! great photos girl
Awwwww yeah! Loving this my dear! How long do you reckon it would keep in the fridge?
Brb going slather this on any and all things. Also I couldn’t stop singing “Lady Marmalade” the whole time I read this.
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