Spice Roasted Kabocha with Matcha Avo Puree

RIVSTANG
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NIKO NEKO

@rivstang is an instagram that promotes the importance of physical and mental wellbeing by sharing her wellness journey through yoga, meditation and food. In early 2020, Rivs underwent a yoga teacher training course in India. As a graduate in Culinary Arts Management, her interest in food and nutrition plays an important role in her life and she shares not only delicious, healthy recipes but educates on the nutritional value of each ingredient.

“Wellness and healthy living is a personal journey, there’s neither timeline nor comparison.”

Rivs / @rivstang

Instagram: rivstang

INTERVIEW WITH @RIVSTANG

What motivates you to live a wellness-centered lifestyle?

I find happiness in giving back, helping people and sharing knowledge that could make a positive impact in other’s life. It wasn’t super easy for me to find fun and easy-to-digest wellness & lifestyle information that’s relatable in Malaysia when I first started my wellness journey. That’s one of the reasons that keeps me fueled to keep learning, take good care of my personal wellbeing and live a wellness-centered lifestyle, so that I could keep sharing and help people that needed help, as I understand how it feels. “The world doesn’t change by your words, it changes by your actions” I believe that if I’m not at my best, I can’t give my best.

What motivates you to live a wellness-centered lifestyle?

I find happiness in giving back, helping people and sharing knowledge that could make a positive impact in other people’s lives. It wasn’t super easy for me to find fun and easy-to-digest wellness & lifestyle information that’s relatable in Malaysia when I first started my wellness journey. That’s one of the reasons that keeps me fueled to keep learning, take good care of my personal wellbeing and live a wellness-centered lifestyle, so that I could keep sharing and help people that needed help, as I understand how it feels. “The world doesn’t change by your words, it changes by your actions”. I believe that if I’m not at my best, I can’t give my best.

You often share your home-yoga journey and about self-meditation on your IG. How does this change your lifestyle, state-of-mind or perspective in life?

Yoga is an important part of my wellness practice and lifestyle. I love how it works on balancing the mind and body at the same time. It has helped me to improve both my physical and mental health. I learned to be more self-aware and self-conscious in my daily life — that includes being more mindful in the words I speak towards others and myself, the food I eat, the things I consume emotionally, the way I make decisions and the mindset when I handle challenging situations. Practicing yoga asana and meditation definitely has helped me to be more grounded, grateful and self-content, which I think is one of the most beautiful parts of my wellness journey.

Any tips for viewers who are inspired and like to explore into a healthy lifestyle as you do?

I think it’s very important to first look into what works best for you. You can start by practicing awareness and being conscious about what you consume physically, mentally and emotionally. It could of course start with your personal diet, work with your food sensitivities and gut imbalances. It could also be finding out what type of physical movement that works better in your daily routines. Explore what makes you feel most connected to your highest-self. We are all bio-individuals, what works for others might not work for you. As you keep exploring and learning about your own body, listening to your physical and emotional needs, you will find what makes you feel and perform at your best. Wellness and healthy living is a personal journey, there’s neither timeline nor comparison. I hope you’ll cultivate compassion and happiness along your way.

How did you come up with this recipe? Why did you choose Matcha for this recipe?

Whether or not spooky season, squash/pumpkin is one of the tastiest and nutritious, starchy veggies that you can include in a day-to-day meal. Especially this Vitamin-A and beta-carotene rich Kabocha Squash, it’s fibrous, sweet and has a unique texture that tastes like in between pumpkin and sweet potato. I thought that Kabocha and Matcha can be a good match(a) to make an amazing nutrient dense, sweet and savoury dish with an appealing vibrant visual plating and, guess I’m not wrong. I was thinking to make a savoury matcha condiment, but I didn’t want any ingredient to overpower the delicacy of matcha, hence avocado came into my mind, because it is mild, creamy with no cooking/heat needed to create this puree.

What do you like about working with YURI / Matcha powder when creating your recipes?

The sweet and nutty flavor of Kabocha squash are really in contrast with the fresh and vegetal taste from YURI / Matcha. Like all of my recipes, I love playing with balancing, from taste, texture to visual color. And I think Niko Neko Matcha is always fun to work with to achieve an outstanding visual and all sensory experiences.

You often share your home-yoga journey and about self-meditation on your IG. How does this change your lifestyle, state-of-mind or perspective in life?

Yoga is an important part of my wellness practice and lifestyle. I love how it works on balancing the mind and body at the same time. It has helped me to improve both my physical and mental health. I learned to be more self-aware and self-conscious in my daily life — that includes being more mindful in the words I speak towards others and myself, the food I eat, the things I consume emotionally, the way I make decisions and the mindset when I handle challenging situations. Practicing yoga asana and meditation definitely has helped me to be more grounded, grateful and self-content, which I think is one of the most beautiful parts of my wellness journey.

Any tips for viewers who are inspired and like to explore into a healthy lifestyle as you do?

I think it’s very important to first look into what works best for you. You can start by practicing awareness and being conscious about what you consume physically, mentally and emotionally. It could of course start with your personal diet, work with your food sensitivities and gut imbalances. It could also be finding out what type of physical movement that works better in your daily routines. Explore what makes you feel most connected to your highest-self. We are all bio-individuals, what works for others might not work for you. As you keep exploring and learning about your own body, listening to your physical and emotional needs, you will find what makes you feel and perform at your best. Wellness and healthy living is a personal journey, there’s neither timeline nor comparison. I hope you’ll cultivate compassion and happiness along your way.

How did you come up with this recipe? Why did you choose Matcha for this recipe?

Whether or not spooky season, squash/pumpkin is one of the tastiest and nutritious, starchy veggies that you can include in a day-to-day meal. Especially this Vitamin-A and beta-carotene rich Kabocha Squash, it’s fibrous, sweet and has a unique texture that tastes like in between pumpkin and sweet potato. I thought that Kabocha and Matcha can be a good match(a) to make an amazing nutrient dense, sweet and savoury dish with an appealing vibrant visual plating and, guess I’m not wrong. I was thinking to make a savoury matcha condiment, but I didn’t want any ingredient to overpower the delicacy of matcha, hence avocado came into my mind, because it is mild, creamy with no cooking/heat needed to create this puree.

What do you like about working with YURI / Matcha powder when creating your recipes?

The sweet and nutty flavor of Kabocha squash are really in contrast with the fresh and vegetal taste from YURI / Matcha. Like all of my recipes, I love playing with balancing, from taste, texture to visual color. And I think Niko Neko Matcha is always fun to work with to achieve an outstanding visual and all sensory experiences.

RECIPE

Spice Roasted Kabocha with Matcha Avo Puree

by @rivstang

Yield: 2 servings
Preparation time: 10 min
Roasting time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min

Ingredients

Roasted Kabocha:
480g Kabocha Squash (or any pumpkin of choice)
2 cloves Garlic
1-2 Shallots
1/4tsp Salt
1/4tsp Pepper
3-4tbsp Coconut cooking oil

Spices: (You can skip this and use 1 tbsp pumpkin spice mix if you prefer)
2 slices Ginger
2 Cinnamon sticks
5 Cloves
2 Mace Flower (or 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder)
6 Allspice

Scallion Herb Oil:
35g Scallion (only the green part)
5g Coriander (optional)
90g Avocado oil (or olive oil)

Matcha Avo Puree:
2 Ripe Avocados
3 tbsp Scallion Herb Oil (or more if you like)
50ml Milk of choice (adjust to consistency)
2 tsp YURI / Matcha powder
Salt & Pepper to taste

Method To Assemble

Preheat the oven to 220°C / 428°F. Slice Kabocha Squash to about 2 - 3cm thickness, place all Roasted Kabocha ingredients and spices in a baking tray, drizzle over coconut cooking oil, roast in preheated oven for about 20 - 25 mins.
While roasting squash. Blend all Herb Oil ingredients in a blender and strain it with a coffee filter or filter bag.
Cut, pit and peel avocados, use the same blender, blend all puree ingredients together till smooth and no lumps.
Serve Spice Roasted Kabocha with Matcha Avo Puree and Scallion Herb Oil. Garnish with other veggies or edible flowers if you like. You can save the left-over scallion herb and use it as pesto in other dishes like roasted veggies, fried rice or pasta.

Recipe Video

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Start Baking Your Spice Roasted Kabocha with Matcha Avo Puree Today With YURI / Matcha Powder.

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