Green Green: 5 Easy and Fresh Matcha Recipes

People have been cooking with tea for centuries, but there has been a huge resurgence of interest in this ancient practice in just the last decade. Matcha tea is an incredible addition to any kitchen. It is not only an extremely healthy food, in and of itself, but brings a delicious look and taste to hundreds of foods and specialty drinks.

Besides the overall health benefits of matcha tea, people who cook with it love its unique taste and naturally green hue.

Matcha delivers even more antioxidants than regular green tea, as well as high levels of L-theanine and chlorophyll. Technically considered a food because the entire tea leaf is pulverized to make matcha tea powder, the amazing versatility of this ancient ingredient allows for nearly endless uses.

Cooks should keep in mind that there are two main types of matcha tea, food grade and ceremonial. While it’s okay to use the ceremonial in cooking, it is not necessary. Food grade matcha is intended for cooking, tastes great in any recipe, and costs much less than ceremonial. So, if you intend to stock the shelves, get some food grade matcha to go alongside the ceremonial stuff you use for making tea.
Here are some time-tested, tried-and-true matcha recipes:

Magic Mug Cake

The mean lady who famously said, “Let them eat cake,” was obviously not talking about green matcha mug cake. This one is easy, fun and colorful. Oh, it tastes great too.
Use a large mug that is microwave safe. Place the following ingredients into the mug:
One-quarter teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon food-grade matcha powder, 1 tablespoon (or more) white sugar, one-half tablespoon vegetable oil, 3 tablespoons non-fat milk, and 4 tablespoons of flour.
Use a whisk or spoon to mix the batter until its color and consistency is uniform. Place it in the microwave for one minute, and then let it cool for 2 or 3 minutes. Eat. Repeat.

White Hot Chocolate (the matcha way)

Remember hot chocolate? Everyone seems to have a dreamy childhood memory that includes a warm, frothy cup of the stuff. Take a trip back in time with this basic recipe that includes matcha for new-age mega mug of memories.
To make one, 12-ounce serving, you will need:
4 ounces of hot water, 1 teaspoon of food-grade matcha tea, 1 cup of almond milk (unsweetened), one-eighth cup white chocolate chips.
Whisk the hot water and matcha together thoroughly in a bowl and set it aside. Melt the chocolate chips by heating them with a little bit of the almond milk, in another bowl, and stirring the two together. Add the rest of the almond milk to the bowl. Now combine everything in a large mug and drink.

Meal-in-itself Broccoli Matcha Pesto

Fire up the food processor for this incredibly healthy main dish that joins two of the world’s greatest green foods, matcha and broccoli, for a power-packed, nutrition-rich dinner.
One-quarter cup olive oil, two cloves of garlic, one-half teaspoon matcha powder, one tablespoon lemon juice, one-quarter (or less) teaspoon salt, 2.5 cups of broccoli florets.
After steaming the broccoli for a few minutes, toss everything into a food processor and blend it until it is completely smooth. This makes great sandwich filler or can be used as a topping for pasta.

Banzai Breakfast: Matcha Yogurt

It’s always a good idea to bring two super-healthy foods together, as we did with the pesto, above. Here’s another entry in that same genre, except this one is a breakfast dish. Note that you can use any kind of yogurt you enjoy, even vegan probiotic brands if that is your cup of tea. Add matcha tea to the mix and you have a colorful, doubly-healthful breakfast option that goes down easy and smooth. Line up the ingredients and get ready to wake up to this cool recipe.
One cup of your favorite yogurt, one teaspoon of food-grade matcha tea, one orange, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 tablespoon chopped almonds.
Slice the orange and set it aside with the chopped almonds. Mix everything else thoroughly in a large bowl. It’s best to use a whisk and really do a good job of mixing. Pour into your serving bowl and top with the orange slices. Sprinkle the chopped almonds onto your green creation and enjoy.

Mucho Matcha Green Guacamole

For a spicy snack, try this amazing matcha guacamole recipe. It’s a little bit of work but well worth all the mixing and mashing. You’ll need to assemble all the ingredients first because your hands will be too busy once you get started. Here we go:
One-half, diced white onion, 1 large, diced tomato, 2 avocados, 1 juiced lemon, one-half teaspoon pepper, one-half teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon matcha tea.
Most of your effort will be in the preparation of the avocado. Slice it, pop it open, scrape the inside, and then throw away the pit (or compost it). Now, use a sturdy potato masher and combine everything in a large bowl except for the tomato and onions. After blending it all together, add the tomato and onions and mix them in as well. Your guacamole matcha dip is now ready for service. Chips or celery sticks make perfect dippers for this unique concoction. Hasta la vista baby!

There you have it: a parade of matcha recipes with a little bit of everything. The above choices include a dessert, a main dist, a breakfast item, a snack, and a drink. When it comes to cooking with matcha tea, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are scads of specialty recipes that use matcha as a key ingredient. Plus, you can always be creative and simply add matcha tea powder to your personal favorites. It works well in most soups, cold drinks, baked items, and salad dressings.

Why not make matcha tea a staple on your shelf? This versatile food makes great tea and much, much more. Do you have a favorite matcha recipe? Feel free to share in the comment box below. We’d love to hear about more ways to use this healthy ingredient.

Filed under Lifestyle, Matcha
Author

Yuki thinks simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. His most significant accomplishment is learning how to sit with a good cup of tea and listen. When not online, Yuki talks with all things wild and free. He is a blogger and a matcha lover.

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