Matcha tea lends itself to some very healthy and tasty vegan recipes. A single cup of matcha reportedly has antioxidants equivalent to what you’ll find in 10 cups of green tea. The antioxidant EGCG brings about a sense of calm alertness, and there have been studies that show that show its ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Greens like matcha are also recommended as a natural ingredient in hair fall remedies.
 
Here are some very vegan but delicious recipes you can prepare with matcha:  

Matcha Vegan Yogurt Breakfast Bowl
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Probiotic vegan yogurt is a really healthy and tasty proposition. Probiotics in yogurt strengthen the immune system and are great for maintaining healthy intestines. Probiotic vegan yogurt is high in protein content too. Add matcha, some blood orange slices, maple syrup and walnuts and the health and taste quotients shoot up. 

Ingredients

• Two-thirds to three-fourths of a cup of any vegan yogurt, (preferably Greek yogurt) 
• A teaspoon of matcha
• A bit of maple syrup for taste
• An orange peeled and sliced (blood orange gives that stark color contrast with the green yogurt which makes it more appealing)
• Some walnuts or almonds

Preparation

• Pour the vegan yogurt into a bowl or mixing jug 
• Then sprinkle the matcha on it and just pour the maple syrup for taste 
• Whisk well and pour into a serving bowl
• Then garnish it with the orange slices and chopped walnuts

Health Benefits

Oranges are rich in A, B and C vitamins. They also contain copper, calcium, potassium and dietary fiber. 

Maple syrup is rich in iron, calcium, magnesium and other important minerals. It also contains vitamins including B6, riboflavin, thiamin and niacin. Walnuts contain vitamin E, melatonin, folate and omega-3 fats that protect the nerves.  

Green Tea Protein Pancakes
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If you've forgotten pancakes since you’ve become vegan, this one will light you up. You can make vegan pancakes with matcha. With a topping of vegan yogurt, nuts, and some chocolate syrup, here is one delicious recipe. Plus, it’s gluten-free. Here are the ingredients:

Ingredients

For the pancake batter you need:

• 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder 
• 1 ½ cups of almond milk
• 2 tablespoons of matcha green tea powder
• flax seed to be used instead of egg (a tablespoon of ground flax seeds with 3 tablespoons of water)
• 2 cups of brown rice flour, 2 tablespoons of hemp protein powder
• 3 tablespoons of unrefined sugar
• 2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil
• You also need vegan butter (there are a few brands out there that make butter out of vegetable oils)- at least three tablespoons of it    

For the topping, you need:

• A cup of Greek vegan yogurt
• A quarter cup each of raw almonds
• Aaw walnuts
• Golden raisins
• Dried cranberries
• Banana chips

For the chocolate syrup, you need:

• A quarter cup of cocoa powder 
• A quarter cup of maple syrup
• Three tablespoons of coconut oil

Preparation

• Mix all the ingredients for the toppings and set aside
• Mix the almond milk, sugar, flax seed and coconut oil in a mixing bowl with a wire whisk till these ingredients combine
• Add the matcha green tea powder, brown rice flour, baking powder and hemp powder and mix till they combine and form a uniform mixture
• Then melt the vegan butter in a frying pan over medium heat
• Scoop out a third of the batter that you made earlier into the pan
• At a time you can pour the batter needed for 1 to 2 pancakes
• Keep cooking for around 2 to 3 minutes till you see bubbles on the pancake surface, and the sides become golden brown
• Flip the pancake and cook the other side for 1 to 2 minutes
• Transfer the pancakes to a plate and cover them with foil to keep them warm

For the chocolate syrup: 

• Add the ingredients to a bowl and microwave them for 30 seconds or up to a minute till the mixture gets warm and the coconut oil melts
• Arrange the pancakes and add a spoonful of Greek vegan yogurt to each of them and then 1 to 2 tablespoons of nut mixture
• Then sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup such it flows over the nuts and pancakes

Health Benefits

Almond milk is rich in vitamin B6, vitamin C, and E, thiamine, riboflavin, iron, calcium, potassium, zinc, sodium and phosphorus. 
Hemp is a plant-based protein that contains essential amino acids. Brown rice powder contains the husk, which makes it more nutritious, containing vitamins, calcium, zinc and fiber.

Creamy Greens Matcha Soup 

All this while, we’ve been talking about sweet matcha recipes to be had as snacks. But here’s a recipe that you can serve as the perfect lunch starter. 

Ingredients

• 5 cups of fresh and chopped kale
• 2 teaspoons of matcha powder
• 4 cups of vegetable broth with low sodium content
• a chopped medium onion
• a peeled and chopped medium potato
• 3 minced garlic cloves, a teaspoon of minced fresh garlic
• a pinch of ground black pepper
• a pinch of cayenne pepper
• 400 ml of light coconut milk
• a cup of fresh cilantro

Preparation

• Sauté the potato and onion in the vegetable broth in a pot, and cook for 8 minutes 
• Stir occasionally and add broth when required so that the vegetables don’t stick
• Then add the ginger, garlic, black pepper, and cayenne and sauté for a minute or more
• Add the kale and cook for a few minutes, after which you add the remaining vegetable broth
• Get the soup to boil and then turn down the heat to a gentle simmer
• Cook for around 30 minutes
• Add the matcha and cilantro
• Blend the contents and then add coconut milk to the mixture
• You're done. Pour the soup into bowls.   

Health Benefits

Kale is fiber-rich and also contains protein, the B vitamin folate, vitamins A, C and K, and one of the omega-3 fatty acids called alpha-linolenic acid.

Coconut milk contains a host of minerals as well as vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, C, and E. It’s also full of fiber and being lactose-free it is a great substitute for cow’s milk for lactose intolerant people (and in our case vegans).   

Potatoes have phytonutrients that function like antioxidants. A great source of vitamin B6, they also contain vitamin C and dietary fiber as well as potassium and other minerals and nutrients. 

Cayenne pepper helps in digestion, prevents clotting of blood, and boosts the body’s metabolism. Black pepper has many of these qualities along with antibacterial qualities and helps in neurological health.  

Happy cooking!

Looking for more matcha goodness? Here's a list of 101 matcha recipes.

By Catalin Zorzini

Catalin is the founder of Ecommerce Platforms and Web App Meister. He blogs about matcha, Japanese lifestyle, and mindfulness at matcha-tea.com. He's a design enthusiast and loves matcha, and is uber passionate about blockchain technology and travel.

Complement these healthy recipes with yoga for detoxification and clarity!