3 Clean, Japanese Recipes To Help You Feel Better

The same way you care for your skin, you can care for your body with natural, wholesome ingredients. Not only will you feel better, but it will also have a positive impact on your skin, since your skin is an expression of what is going on under the surface. So when you regularly feed your body healthy food, you’ll be rewarded with a healthy glow. Below, we’ve put together three easy recipes to help you incorporate these simple yet transformative ingredients into your meals.

RICE
Chirashi-style Green Tea Rice
Makes 5 servings

From Vicky: I adore this recipe because you get two superfoods in one dish—and now you have a fantastic reason to clean out your refrigerator. (My daughter loves to rummage through our fresh veggie drawer and hand me ingredients.) The green tea rice makes a beautiful and flavorful base for whatever you sprinkle on top.

1 tablespoon green tea leaves
3 cups uncooked Japanese short-grain white rice
Anything in your fridge (eggs, mushrooms, carrots, snow peas, green beans, baby corn, tofu)
Pinch of salt, to taste

1. Mix the green tea leaves with the dry rice in a bowl and then cook the rice as usual. The green tea will soften on the stove and add flavor.
2. While the rice is cooking, prepare your add-in items as needed. Scramble eggs over heat and sauté vegetables like mushrooms, julienned carrots, and snow peas.
3. Once the rice is cooked, let it cool for about 10 minutes and mix in the other ingredients. For a crunchier version, add vegetables raw and let the heated rice cook them slightly.

ALGAE
Seaweed Pesto
Makes about 2 cups

From Vicky: Reimagine traditional Italian pesto as a savory Japanese topping with this easy-to-prepare recipe. I sometimes add it to my Chirashi Sushi so I manage to enjoy all three superfoods at once.

5 sheets roasted seaweed (such as wakame), torn
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup olive oil
2 cups mixed greens (parsley, spinach, or basil)
2 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons lemon juice

1. In a food processor, combine the seaweed, pine nuts, and olive oil. Pulse until blended and then add greens, garlic, and lemon juice. Finally, blend and stir.
2. Serve over rice or atop crackers, or add a dollop to poached salmon, grilled tofu, or any other protein.

GREEN TEA
Homemade Oat Milk + Matcha Latte
Makes 1 serving

A finely ground powder of young green tea leaves, matcha retains more nutrients than traditional green tea brewing methods, making it our preferred beverage for a quick pick-me-up. Oat milk gives this energizing beverage a soothing touch that you can feel even after you’re finished sipping—the leftover pulp can be used as a gentle body scrub. This is delicious both hot and iced, so you can enjoy it year-round.

For the Oat Milk
½ cup whole rolled oats
3 cups filtered water
3 dates (optional for sweetness)
Pinch of salt (optional for taste)

1. Add the oats, water, dates, and salt to a blender and blend for 30 seconds.
2. Place a mesh strainer over a container to store the milk. Then place a nut milk bag within the strainer, and slowly pour the contents of the blender into the bag. Let strain.

For the Matcha
¼ teaspoon matcha powder
2 ounces hot water

1. Pour the matcha into a small bowl and sift with a matcha whisk or regular whisk, whatever you have works!
2. Slowly add the 2 ounces of the hot water, whisking briskly in an “M” or “W” shape until the matcha is fully dispersed and there is a foamy layer on top.

Combine your preferred amount of oat milk with matcha in a glass and enjoy!