Matcha-Lime Overnight Oatmeal with Strawberries

I’ve recently realized that matcha tastes better in overnight recipes. I don’t know what it is about sitting in the fridge for a few hours, but it does wonders to the unusual flavor of matcha. It subdues the bitterness and leaves you with a sweet oatmeal with a pleasant matcha flavor.

What you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup milk of choice (coconut recommended)*
• 1/4 cup quick cook steel cut oats*
• 1/3 cup pureed or grated zucchini or yellow squash (optional**)
• 2-3 tsp matcha green tea powder
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• juice of one lime
• 1-3 tsp chia seeds
• pinch of salt
• 2-5 fresh strawberries, for topping

How to make it:

1. Combine all ingredients except strawberries in a container with a lid (such as a mason jar or Tupperware) and stir, or cover with lid and shake vigorously.
2. Store overnight or for at least two hours in a fridge.
3. In the morning, serve cold or heat up on stove or in microwave (1 min and 30 seconds is perfect). Top with strawberries; I diced mine into a relish.

Just an FYI:

I am becoming more comfortable with matcha as I learn how to combine it with other flavors. I’m learning it’s far more cooperative and versatile than I once thought. As matcha becomes more popular here in the USA, I think we will see it incorporated into increasingly unexpected products. Are Matcha Skittles in our future??

Here’s my contribution to this new matcha trend. Lime brightens up the matcha flavor to transform it from earthy and bitter to sweet and summery. And strawberries, because why not? I decided to dice my strawberries relish-style, but you could serve yours whole or halved or quartered or cut into little intricate dolphin shapes–whatever pleases you.