With St. Patrick's Day upon us, it makes sense for a diet to consist of all things green. Instead of your typical green eggs and ham or shamrock cookies, here's a recipe that doesn't require green food coloring to make your food festive.
Cue my Green Matcha (“MA-cha”) Chia Seed Pudding recipe. I'm hooked to chia seed pudding. I have it for breakfast, a snack or dessert. Chia seeds are packed with protein, so I know I can always get some much-needed energy from it while also enjoying something a little sweet with a fun texture.
Better yet, chia seed pudding is naturally gluten free and is dairy free as well if you decide to make it with a non-dairy milk like almond milk or coconut milk, which is what this recipe calls for.
Another reason why I love chia seed pudding is that it's extremely versatile. You can use different milk bases, sweeteners and, of course, different toppings to make it something new and interesting each time. Our personal chef clients can’t get enough of this stuff, so we have learned to make quite a variety of these tasty treats.
The “lucky” ingredient in this recipe is the matcha powder, which is what gives this pudding its vibrant St. Patty's color.
So what exactly is matcha? It's a powdered green tea that is made from ground whole green tea leaves, which means it contains more potent vitamins and minerals. Matcha is also a great source of antioxidants, which we all need more of. The antioxidants that are found in matcha are believed to help regulate blood sugar levels, help reduce blood pressure and also help reduce the risk of heart disease.
While matcha contains many properties that are beneficial to your body, it also contains about as much caffeine as a cup of brewed coffee, so moderation is key. That is one reason why matcha is not recommended for children, so this treat is probably best left for adults (in other words, you can hog this all to yourself).
Matcha Chia Seed Pudding:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of kale and spinach (two cups total, mix the greens)
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 2 1/2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons honey, more to taste
- 1 banana
- 1 teaspoon matcha powder
Directions:
- In your blender, combine the kale and spinach, coconut milk, chia seeds, vanilla, lemon juice, honey, banana and matcha powder and blend until smooth.
- Place the pudding in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes for best results, giving the chia seeds time to thicken.
- Top with shredded coconut, chia seeds, almond slivers or fresh fruit like kiwi or strawberries. Serve within the hour for the freshest flavor!
