BUTTERFLY PEA POWDER: PAINT YOUR PLATE BLUE
Colour and functionality go together when it comes to butterfly pea powder, which adds an enchanting gentle blue hue to any dish or concoction A natural blue cake is
We eat with our eyes first and something that looks appealing to the eye, ignites the appetite. Exemplifying it is butterfly pea powder, which was the key ingredient for concoction that was among the top beverage trends of 2019, and has been ruling the internet since then, with its distinctive blue hue. It comes from a deep blue flowering plant called butterfly pea plant or clitoria ternatea. This magical flower not only looks amazing but also has anti-cancer, anti-tumour and antiasthmatic properties. It is also beneficial for hair loss, depression and hypertension.
Initially used to prepare tea, cocktails and lemonade, butterfly pea powder gradually diversified in its usage and is now part of desserts, rice, smoothie, pasta and noodle recipes. Though it’s still not a common ingredient in the Indian kitchen, many food connoisseurs have started to experiment with it and chefs too love the magic that it creates. “My romance with it has been a recent one, and I fell head over heels. My food philosophy is collaborative and butterfly pea flower is a perfect fit with my style of cooking. Primarily used as special tea rich with oxidants, butterfly pea flower is slowly entering the kitchen of professional chefs. Butterfly pea flower is used for its pretty blue colour and for dyeing food items,” says chef Tarun Sibal.
Butterfly pea powder allows chefs to add a distinct deep blue shade to their plate of delicious dishes, without compromising on nutrition. “People love good looking dishes but they are also conscious of what they eat. Butterfly pea powder is a natural ingredient and has gained popularity in the last two years as it’s naturally blue and retains colour when treated well,” says chef Nishant Choubey, who terms his experience of using it as ‘outstanding!’
Moreover, when used with specific products it can change colour, as the pH level gets altered. “A drop of lime in blue tea can change its colour from blue to purple. Add any acidic elements such as lime or vinegar and see the magic unfolds,” says Choubey.
The powder gives a fancy, aesthetic and rich look to the food item and can totally be used in the Indian kitchen. “From making momos, to having a pretty looking kebab or a floral biryani, butterfly pea flower could be used across the board. I use it for making jam, jelly with coconut milk, steam rice, or just a simple tempura. I’ve also started using this behind the bar for infusing cocktails,” says Sibal.
Chef Juhi Pahwa, who is very conscious of the ingredients she uses in her kitchen, loves it too. She says, “I was smitten by it when I tried a cocktail made with butterfly pea at a bar in Phuket some years back. I had to try it out in my desserts. I use butterfly pea powder to colour my cakes naturally as I don’t use colouring agents.”
Butterfly pea chocolate cake and milk infused with the powder of the dry flower, not only looks heavenly but tastes delicious too possible to bake by using the butterfly pea powder
Coconut cake with butterfly pea topping can be incredibly creamy and delicious