Soothing Green Tea Soup with Rice and Tofu

Here in the full depths of winter’s cold, who couldn’t use a simple soother? When we’re feeling under the weather, a little rundown from a full day, or just ready for a chance to put our feet up, there’s no need to push off rest for complicated cooking. Bolster your body’s defenses and soothe your soul with this easy, healing recipe using our ORGANIC INDIA Tulsi Green Tea.

Ochazuke, rice submerged in tea, is enjoyed in Japan as a light meal, snack, and as the perfect comfort food for soothing the body. Quick, healthy, and versatile, it’s also delicious. Our ORGANIC INDIA Tulsi Green Tea provides a lovely swap for or pairing with traditional broth. Not only does it offer beautiful flavor, it’s literally steeped with goodness.

Loaded with antioxidants and polyphenols, green tea is often touted to be one of the healthiest beverages we can consume. Associated wellness benefits include cognitive support, immune wellness, cardiovascular health, and more. Our ORGANIC INDIA Tulsi Green Tea adds the potency of Tulsi, “queen of herbs”, also packed with active plant compounds proven to support the body’s defenses, promote healthy energy, and nourish the digestive, immune, and metabolic systems.

Here, we’ve opted for the utmost in simplicity, pouring pure tea over steamed brown rice and marinated, baked, air-fried, or pan-fried tofu and garnishing with green onions and sesame seeds. Feel free to play with this to taste–brew your tea with a little grated ginger, top with toasted, seasoned nori, or sneak in a little heat with a dab of chili garlic sauce. However you choose to prepare it, this dish is an invitation to give your body a restorative break and boost.

Soothing Green Tea Soup with Rice and Tofu

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 16-ounce package extra firm tofu, pressed and drained
• ¼ Cup low-sodium tamari sauce (additional for serving)
• 1 Tablespoon plus 2 Teaspoons sesame oil, divided
• 4 Cups water
• 4 ORGANIC INDIA Tulsi Green Tea Bags
• 2 Cups cooked short grain brown rice (approximately ¾ cup dry)
• 3  spring onions, white and light green parts thinly sliced
• White or black sesame seeds to serve (optional)

Method:

1. In a shallow container use a fork to combine the ¼ Cup tamari and 1 Tablespoon sesame oil.
2. Cut the pressed, drained tofu into 8 slabs crosswise and place in the dish, turning to coat. Let sit for 30 minutes.
3. While the tofu is marinating, boil the water and steep the ORGANIC INDIA Tulsi Green Tea bags, about 5 minutes. Keep warm, or re-warm when ready to use
4. Prepare the tofu: To pan-fry, bring a non-stick pan to medium heat and add 1-2 Teaspoons of the remaining sesame oil to lightly coat. Pan fry the tofu until becoming just brown and crisp,about 3 minutes per side flipping with a spatula as needed. *See tips for baking and air-frying, below.
5. Divide the rice into serving bowls and top with 2 slabs of tofu each. Pour approximately 1 Cup of the hot tea over each, then top with spring onions and sesame seeds as desired.

Notes:

*To bake tofu: spread in an even layer on a rimmed baking tray lined with silpat or parchment. Bake at 400 F for approximately 20 minutes, turning midway.

*To air-fry tofu: Place in your air fryer in a single layer, allowing for a little space between each piece if possible. Set your air fryer to 400 F and cook for 10 minutes, turning with a spatula midway.

Continue to soup it up and nurture the body with this Tom Yum Soup, Miso Moringa Noodle Soup or Green Tea Miso Noodle Bowl.