Green Tea Pistachio Soda Bread
January 25th, 2008 by chuck
Pistachio’s have to be one of my favorite nuts.
When I was growing up my sister and I used to beg our mother for a bag of them when we went grocery shopping. It was only on a very rare occasion that she would get a bag for us to share. We just loved to dig into them after school, as a snack while watching Bewitched or the Beverly Hillbillies (boy I’m really dating myself! ) Our mom would always get after us to watch where we placed our hands – at that time red dye was used to cover any blemishes on the pistachio’s and that dye would get all over everything. From our fingers to our pants and the arms of the sofa. You know what kids are like.
Nowdays they no longer have to put the red dye on the pistachio’s anymore. That’s because they use machines to pick the pistachio’s and there are far less blemishes. That makes them a lot easier to work with.
I thought pistachio’s would be perfect with the bright green color of the matcha (green tea). I found this matcha at the Vancouver food exhibition and wanted to use it in a bread. Matcha is a green tea made exclusively from the tips of the youngest tea plants, which has been ground into a very fine emerald green powder. It can be used for tea or for baking. Matcha has 10 times the antioxidants of orange juice, 10 times the nutrients of regular green tea and 8 times the beta-carotene of spinach. Sounds healthy right?
With these two ingredients I made a quick and easy soda bread with a wonderful texture that works well with the pistachio’s and matcha. Perfect for the Chinese New Year celebrations!
For a step by step class of this great tasting Green Tea Pistachio Soda Bread click here.
For a printable recipe card of this Green Tea Pistachio Soda Bread click here.
For more free bread recipes go to our parent website at Cookingbread.com.
Thought I’d check out your website – I am floored! Wow.. beautiful, professional photography and delicious food on every page. It’s times like this I wish we didn’t eat gluten free
Thanks for your website, recipes and information. What camera are you using?
Jon
Jon,
thanks for the comment, we work very hard to create the best photos that we can. I have to give the credit to my sister, she does all the photos. She uses a Nikon D200 which is a digital camera. You can use a less one like a D70 or D50. But, to be perfectly honest it is all about the lighting. That is what makes these photos so beautiful. Glad you liked them.
Gorgeous, especially that 2nd photo! I’m going to have to look out for the matcha tea, I’ve not seen it here (UK).
Chuck, thats for leaving a comment on my site. I have the same question about the green tea you put in your soda bread. Is the flavor very strong?
In regards to the Saffron, I have to think that you wouldnt bother putting such an expensive herb into the mix if it didnt impart something special. That said, I do not think the flavor is overpowering, but you can definitely tell that Saffron is a contributing flavor.
Sarah, your very welcome I enjoyed your blog. Good to know about the saffron. As for the Green Tea there is a slight flavor of the Green Tea. But, you do have to be careful because it can become bitter. I do think this bread is well balanced. Green Tea (matcha) is used a lot in Asian baking.
Hello Chuck,
So pleased that you found my blog so that I, in turn, could discovery yours! What a gorgeous selection of interesting breads – this pistachio one looks sensational. And your photography is great too – I love that picture of the kiwi fruit.
I’ve never had much luck with baking bread but your blog will surely inspire me to have another go.
Pistachios are one of my favorite nuts and green tea is one of my favorite flavours. This bread sound good!
Yesterday I bought green tea in a japonese market in paris. When I’ll come back to Rome I have to try this green bread
Slimming tea…
Hi – just wanted to say good design and blog – cu Frank…