If you don’t know what matcha is, well now you do – It’s a dark green powder made from the dried tea leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant. It is considered to be the most nutritious green tea available, as it is packed with antioxidants and amino acids which can be very beneficial for your health. As well as drinking it as a tea, Matcha makes a great addition to both sweet and savory dishes. Try making my Banana Matcha Cookies, and enjoy a tasty, nutritious snack.
Matcha Powder
Pure Matcha powder has a dark green color and a deep aroma. It has a slightly sweet flavor which makes it the perfect addition to baking recipes and has the added benefit of delivering more antioxidants than spinach, broccoli, and wheatgrass.
It’s becoming more and more popular all over the world, as people are discovering the many ways that Matcha powder can boost your health. Studies show it can improve your skin’s condition making it smooth and supple, help your body get rid of toxins, aid with constipation and bloating issues, and stabilize your energy levels.
Spelt Flour
Spelt flour has a very similar nutritional profile to whole wheat flour, but it has fewer calories and a slightly higher protein content. It’s becoming a very popular cereal grain, as it can substitute wheat flour in many recipes such as pasta, bread, cakes and wheat-free dishes.
Although it does contain gluten, it is easier to digest than the gluten found in wheat flour, and also provides healthy nutrients such as magnesium, zinc, iron and Vitamin B3.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a good substitute to vegetable oils and butter, and can be beneficial for your health. It is high in medium chain fatty acids which go straight to the liver once digested, and create a good source of energy.
It contains Vitamins E and K as well as antioxidants and lauric acid, and is said to aid with weight loss, reduce hunger pangs and fight belly fat. Make sure you choose organic, virgin coconut oil so it doesn’t suffer a nutrient loss during processing.
Banana
Bananas are a healthy source of potassium, vitamins, and fiber. As with most fruits, they are high in carbohydrates, but they’re considered to have a lower Glycemic Index than other high-carb foods.
They also contain other bioactive compounds such as dopamine and catechin, which act as powerful antioxidants.
Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar can be used to substitute regular sugar, and many view it as a healthier choice as it contains some minerals and antioxidants. It’s made by collecting the sap from coconut palm trees, which is then placed under heat so that most of the water evaporates.
Some studies show it has a lower GI than sugar, but it does contain fructose so shouldn’t be consumed in high amounts.
Pink Himalayan Salt
You might be thinking that salt is just salt, right? But actually, pink Himalayan salt has a much higher mineral content than regular table salt, and is considered to have many nutritional and therapeutic properties.
It’s over 99% pure, and doesn’t contain foreign agents which are often used to keep salt white and stop it from clumping.
How to make them the cookies!
Ingredients (makes 10 cookies):
- 2 tsp Matcha Powder
- 1 ½ cup spelt flour
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 banana
- 4 tbsp coconut sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- A pinch of pink Himalayan salt
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180ºC / 355 F, and line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper.
Sift the flour into a large bowl, and mix in all the other dry ingredients.
In a smaller bowl, mash the banana with a fork until it’s liquid.
Add the banana to the flour mixture, and then pour in the coconut oil. Beat the ingredients to create a dough, but don’t overmix as the gluten in spelt flour easily breaks down.
Once the dough feels springy, divide it out and roll into balls. If it feels too sticky to handle, you can add a little more flour.
Place the balls on the lined baking sheet, evenly spaced out, and then gently press down with a fork. If you prefer a more uniform finish, you can use a cookie cutter instead.
Place the tray in the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes. You can enjoy them once they’re cool, or keep them in an airtight container for later.
Louisa Rose is from Cologne, Germany. She runs www.BodyHealthLove.com, where she blogs about health and beauty advice for young women.