[Sometimes, you just want a dish that’s quick and easy–no fuss. I’ve decided to offer a mini-post every once in a while, for a dish that comes together incredibly quickly or else is so simple to make that no recipe is required. Here’s today’s “Flash in the Pan.” (For other FitP recipes, see “Categories” at right).]
[Get a load of that color! Okay, maybe it’s just a tad less intense in real life. . . I haven’t quite mastered the new photo software yet. 😉 ]
Although I’ve been loving our 30+C (100+ F) days, it’s been really hard on the The Girls. I’ve limited their walks to 10 minutes at a time, and usually hose them down before we leave the yard, to ensure they don’t suffer heat stroke from being in the sun too much.
(“Mum, I appreciate that. It’s tough wearing a full-body fur coat in this weather. Especially a black fur coat–even though black is always stylish, of course.“).
When we got back from our ten-minute sauna jaunt yesterday, I was craving my usual morning matcha tea, but seriously not in the mood for a hot drink. Then it hit me: why not whip up something frosty with that same matcha?
I combined the tropical sweetness of frozen pineapple with some of the overabundant herbs growning in my garden and came up with this remarkably refreshing sipper. It’s brimming with antioxidants from the matcha and goes down easy with built-in digestive enzymes in the pineapple. And a bonus: it takes all of 30 seconds to make.
A perfect way to love this record-breaking heat. Happy sipping!
This is my second entry to the Chillin’ and Grillin’ Event I’m co-hosting with Amie, and my submission to Slightly Indulgent Tuesday. Link up your own grilled or chilled dishes–the event continues until Sunday at midnight! 🙂
Pineapple-Matcha Cooler
A perfect little pick-me-up in the afternoon, or great alongside your breakfast. The sweetness of the pineapple and rice milk complement the slight bitter undertones of the matcha perfectly. You can omit the herbs if you like, but I’d urge you to try them–they are the perfect foil for the other ingredients in this drink.
1 cup (240 ml) frozen pineapple chunks
3/4 cup (180 ml) unsweetened plain or vanilla rice milk
1/3 cup (80 ml) plain or pineapple flavored coconut water
2 leaves fresh mint or fresh basil (I prefer the mint, but the basil is lovely, too)
1 tsp (5 ml) unsweetened matcha tea powder
1/16 tsp (.25 ml) pure stevia powder, or 10-12 drops plain or vanilla stevia liquid, to your taste
Place all ingredients in a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. Sip and enjoy! Makes one large or two small servings.
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Hi! I'm Ricki, cookbook author, professional recipe developer, holistic nutritionist and anti-candida crusader. Let me show you how easy it is to eat plant-based, sugar-free, gluten free food that tastes great! 
That looks so refreshing, Ricki! What kind of Matcha Powder do you use? Your link in the recipe isn’t working.
And, yes, Elsie, black is always stylish!
Thanks, Heather! It’s called DO (which unfortunately always makes me think of Homer Simpson’s “D’Oh!”). 😉 I’ve fixed the link–should work now. Thanks for letting me know. (D’oh!!).
YUM! That sounds so delicious. It’s been in the 100s here too, and while I LOVE the heat, it can be a little much. A refreshing drink like this would certainly help!
loving the gorgeous green!! haven’t had pineapple in my juices or smoothies yet… must get on that! I’ve been in love with mango these days 🙂
lovely! we got some 70s last week and this week we are back in the 60s with predicted 80s on the weekend! finally!. my pom is super furry, and i am feeding him all his food in the form of frozen things:)
Love this recipe, Ricki. I don’t use frozen pineapple nearly as much as I should. I LOVE it. And I can imagine this is so refreshing and delicious. Yum.
It’s so hot here in the summer, well over 100 for consecutive days and during these times all I want to do is drink smoothies and eat coconut ice cream. 🙂
Stay cool!
-Amber
Ricki
Unlike you I am NOT enjoying our 100+ degree temps here…you can have them! Isn’t it kind of ironic that we both are having such warm temps when usually people think of our locations and picture Siberia, lol? Anyway, this awful heat and humidity will certainly inspire me to give your delicious looking drink a try soon!
Courtney
This sounds like a superfood combination with the coconut water, pineapple, and matcha. And its such a vibrant color! And I feel so bad for dogs in this heatwave–I don’t know how they can stand it with a full coat. Once, my dog (a boxer) got heat stroke. We put cold water on her belly and it helped immediately–perhaps that would help your pups cool down?
Thanks, Lauren! I do put water on their bellies as well (and all over their fur) before we go outside, and bring extra water for them to drink. Even with a 10-minute limit, they still seem to overheat. Elsie did get heat stroke a few weeks ago (at least, we think that’s what it was), so I am being extra-careful from now on!
That drink looks super cool!
Your dog is so sweet. Heat and heavy coat of fur…what torture. My German baby is always looking for coldest spot in the house, even when the AC is running full blast.
pineapple flavours coconut water sounds fancy – and just right for this heat – love the colour of the drink – even if your new photo software is helping out
Thanks, Johanna! The shade of green really is the same, it’s just a bit darker in the photo than real life. The flavor, though, was still perfect either way!
Hmm, pineapple and green tea isn’t a combo I would have thought of, but sounds tasty.
Why yes, they are always stylish in black 🙂
It’s sooo refreshing in the heat! And the coconut water is a great way to replace all the lost electrolytes (that we lose when we sweat). 😉
Totally delicious! Those photos are awesome, too.
We’ve been limiting Sonny’s walking time, too. He hates getting wet so we don’t wet him down, but that’s a great idea for dogs who tolerate it. Obviously, yours love water. 😉
Shirley
Yes, both of the Girls have Lab in them, so made for water (though Elise is definitely the bigger fan–Chaser prefers to try to eat the hose so she can DRINK the water!!). 😉
sounds so refreshing!
It really was! I need to get more pineapple so I can make it again. . .! 🙂
This sounds so wonderful and refreshing!
Thanks so much! Yes, totally refreshing on a hot day (or any day, really). 🙂
Looks yummy, must be really refreshing!
Thanks so much! Yes, it was. 🙂
This looks so good! I love pineapple in a smoothie. And thank you for the matcha recommendation. I need to get some powder, and it’s so hard to tell which ones are good just looking online.
Agree, Becky! I’ve been trying all the different matchas I can get my hands on–thinking of doing a comparison post one of these days!! 🙂