Matcha, the amazing healthy green tea that’s the colour of a field of fresh spring grass, and kind of tastes like one, too! It’s wonderful stuff, and has skyrocketed into global popularity, not just as a delicious hot or cold drink, but as a flavouring in everything from ice cream to doughnuts!
While it’s great to enjoy a nice, steaming hot cup of Matcha brewed in the traditional Japanese style all on its own, did you know that it actually pairs well with a wide selection of really interesting foods? The bright green tea has a strong umami flavour that goes great with neutral and sweet flavours, which is why its so popular in confectioneries like cakes, cookies, and candies. Matcha is a traditional ingredient in sweet Japanese treats like mochi, as well. The thing to bear in mind is that matcha’s unique taste isn’t limited to sweets, it also complements a lot of other umami flavours.
The following are some of the matcha flavour pairings we enjoy for you to check out!
Meat Dishes – Meats are naturally rich in their own umami because of their high amino acid content, which is called glutamate. Try infusing matcha into your marinades and sauces to give your roast leg of lamb, London broil beef, or slow-cooked pulled pork an extra level of deliciousness! Your dinner guests will be asking “What’s in this stuff?” as they dive in for thirds! It can be our little secret.
Tahini – A staple of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, savoury tahini paste is made from ground up sesame seeds that also contain rich umami flavours. Mix matcha and tahini into a salad dressing, or use it as a scrumptious dip for crisps and sliced vegetables!
Veggies – Many of our favourite veggies just so happen to be rich with umami flavours. Tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, and spinach all taste fantastic when sautéed in a flavourful matcha sauce! It will really bring out the zest!
Fish & Shellfish – The savoury umami flavour and smooth texture of matcha make it a perfect paring for any kind of seafood dish. Mix matcha with melted butter to smother fresh steamed clams, prawns, and crab in, or fold it into some mayonnaise for a fish dipping sauce that goes swimmingly with halibut, cod, tilapia, or any other white fish!
Bananas – You will probably think we’ve gone bananas, but there is something magical about them when paired with matcha, they have a kind of serendipity as if they were meant to be! Try a banana split with matcha ice cream, or pour a sweet matcha sauce over Thai style crispy fried bananas, or add matcha to your banana bread recipe. Mix in some crushed pistachio nuts to keep it green!
Yogurt – The natural tang of yoghurt mixed with matcha’s slightly bitter, earthy flavours makes it another match made in taste bud heaven. Mix them together into a cool smoothie, or pour them over your muesli breakfast cereal for a refreshing morning treat!
Matcha tastes amazing, and it can be paired well with much more than just the foods we have listed here! Experiment with your own recipes, it’s hard to go wrong with matcha!
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