Recipe: Raw Matcha Slice

If you’ve been looking for other ways to use matcha powder, that’s not tea – add matcha powder into your baking, and any other superfood powders you might have kicking round in the back of your pantry.

This matcha literally takes 15 minutes active time to prep – there are no layers and it’s all made in your food processor so it’s super simple. This version has the addition of melted chocolate, but that’s optional – if you’re planning on adding this to kids’ lunch boxes, it’s delicious as is. While for the most part, these sorts of recipes tend to be lacking in nutrients, baking with whole food ingredients – and from scratch, you can load them up with goodness.

The base ingredient of this matcha slice is almond meal – not the same as almond flour, but both are popular alternatives to traditional refined wheat flours. Almond flour, however, is not the same as almond meal, despite the fact that almond meal and flour are often used interchangeably in recipes.

Almond flour is made from blanched ground almonds – it’s fine and also slightly lacking from a nutritional perspective. Almond meal is made by grinding whole almonds, it’s more course and you’ll get all the nutrients you would from whole almonds. This difference is important in recipes where texture makes a big difference. And while both are low in carbs, almond meal has more fibre, around 6 grams per half cup, pus some 12 grams of plant protein!

Now while almonds have antioxidants, matcha powder has more! Matcha is rich in catechins, a class of plant compounds in tea that act as natural antioxidants – they help stabilize harmful free radicals, which are compounds that can damage our cells, cause chronic disease and are also responsible for ageing.

There are a bunch of scientific studies which find matcha powder has a variety of health benefits, however, these studies often use pretty high daily intakes – above that of what you would include in your diet. So, make sure your diet is loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables, use spices (they’re up there on the ORAC charts!), and use smoothies to boost your superfood intake. Variety is key!

INGREDIENTS

2 cups Organic Almond Meal

1 cup Organic Cashews, RAW Whole

1 cup Organic Coconut, Shredded

2 heaped tbsp Organic Matcha Powder

½ teaspoon vanilla paste

½ cup Organic RAW Pitted Dates (soaked in boiling water for 5 minutes and drained)

2 tablespoon Organic Brown Rice Malt Syrup

CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE

25 grams 85% dark chocolate, roughly chopped

METHOD

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and process until combined.

Transfer your mixture to a baking tin lined with greaseproof paper. Using a spatula spread the mixture evenly, pressing down firmly so your slice holds together once set. Pop in the fridge for 2 to 3 hours to set.

Once set, cut your slice into squares or bars. If you’re making the chocolate drizzle, follow the instructions further below.

Slice will keep in the fridge for up to a week.

To melt the chocolate, we use the double boiler method. This is best for ensuring the chocolate does not burn. To do this, bring 5cm of water to simmer in a small saucepan. Sit a heatproof bowl on top of the pot, it should be large enough that it sits on the rim of the saucepan, and should not touch the water.

Add your chocolate, stirring occasionally as it softens. Once you have just a few small pieces left, remove from heat and using a whisk, vigorously whisk until smooth. Drizzle over your slice, and leave to set – 10 or so minutes.

NOTE: This recipe can be made into bliss balls as well. Dividing your mixture, using a standard tablespoon at a time, roll into balls. Transfer the balls to an airtight container and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy.