Green tea muffins with sweet adzuki beans

We have served these muffins at Cibi every weekend since we opened. Two classic Japanese sweet ingredients — matcha (green tea) powder and sweet adzuki beans — give these muffins their distinct flavour and the unique green colour that has caught the eye of many of our customers. Over the years, they have become the finishing note of our leisurely Japanese weekend breakfast experience. They are great with both green tea and coffee.

Makes 6 50g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing 80g caster (superfine) sugar

1 egg

80ml fullcream (whole) milk

135g plain (allpurpose) flour

3 Tbsp matcha (green tea) powder

2 tsp baking powder

120g sweet adzuki bean paste*

To garnish flaked almonds

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180degC. Grease a sixcup muffin tin with butter.

2. Melt the butter in a microwave or using a hot water bath (the aim is to melt it, not cook it). Set it aside to cool slightly.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the sugar and egg and beat at high speed until the mixture is smooth and pale, about 35 minutes.

4. Add the melted butter and beat until well incorporated. Pour in the milk and beat again for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

5. Sift the flour, matcha and baking powder into the mixture, then stir with a spatula until smooth and shiny.

6. Pour the batter into the muffin tin, half filling each cup. Add 2 tablespoons of adzuki paste to the middle of each muffin. Divide the remaining batter between the cups, pouring in just enough to cover the filling.

7. Sprinkle almond flakes on top of each muffin and bake for 2025 minutes, until they are nice and fluffy and a skewer inserted in the middle of a muffin comes out clean. Aim to take them out of the oven just before they start to turn golden brown.

Allow to cool before serving.

Note: If you cannot find sweet adzuki bean paste, you can use 50g of couverture white chocolate.