Healthy living proponents have been gushing about the benefits of matcha and all the good that it does to our system. Loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that aid improved brain function, and with researches showing that matcha increases metabolism and lowers the risk of cancer, it’s hailed as a miracle drink. Multiple studies also point out that Matcha tea can reduce hair loss.
And I agree; the taste can be too strong for a novice. But after a few cups most people start to love the sweet kick and strong flavor.
I improvised on a regular smoothie by adding matcha to the mix. The recipe does not require milk or any other milk product making it a tasty vegan delight. The mix of fruits, nuts, and berries makes it an extremely healthy option. In terms of ingredients, if you want to save money, you can buy in bulk. For example, when finding wholesale cashews, you can check online. Just make sure to store them properly to keep them fresh.
So here goes my recipe for the Tropical Banana Berry Matcha Smoothie Cake.
Prep time: 10 mins
Serves: 1 big smoothie and 1 small cake
Ingredients
For the smoothie:
- A cupful of fresh/frozen mix berries
- 2 bananas, sliced
- 1 small piece of ripe papaya, cubed
- 1 cup cashew milk (or another nut milk of your choice)
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 tsp matcha powder
- 1 tbsp sweetener of your choice (I prefer honey or maple syrup)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- A pinch of lemon rind (optional)
- A few drops of vanilla (optional)
For the base of the cake:
- 1/2 cup crushed almonds/pistachio/walnuts
- 3-4 dates de-seeded
- 2-3 apricots, boiled and mashed
For the filling of the cake:
- 1 cup of the smoothie
- 2/3 tsp agar agar /gelatin + 1/2 cup water
To serve: macadamia shavings and fresh berries
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients for the smoothie in a blender and let it blend until you get a smooth concoction. Pour out one cup of the smoothie mixture into a glass.
- Keep aside the rest of the smoothie mix in the bowl.
- To make the base of the cake, simply mix the dates and apricot with the crushed nuts. Now arrange this in a cake pan. A springform pan is even better.
- For the filling, first mix the water with the agar agar/gelatin in a pot and let it dissolve. Put it on a very low heat. Stir with a whisk until it begins to thicken. It doesn’t need to get to a boil.
- Once that’s done remove from heat and continue to stir for a minute more.
- Add the agar or gelatin mix to the smoothie in the bowl and swiftly mix it through with a whisk.
- Pour the cake filling to the base and put it in the fridge to set.
- The cake should be ready in as less as ten minutes but the longer you leave it, the better it gets.
- Serve chilled.
- Garnish with some fresh berries and macadamia shavings on top. Dust with a bit of matcha (I get really generous with this).
I’m sure I don’t really need to jot down any benefits of the recipe. It has all the goodness of fresh fruits and nuts. So essentially it is loaded with vitamins and minerals.
About the author:
Catalin is the founder of Inspired Mag, and his current obsessions are Sun Ra and matcha tea.