Butterfly pea flower is a common plant used in southeast Asia for its medicinal purposes and brilliant colour. For making recipes, both fresh flowers as well as dried flowers can be used. Here are some of the recipes to try with this beautiful royal blue flower 

 

1. Butterfly pea flower rice

This flower can also be used while cooking rice to give it a magnificent blue colour.

Ingredients

• 12 Butterfly pea flowers sangu poo/ Aparajita flower
• 2 stalks Lemon grass crushed – Optional
• ½ cup Basmati rice
• 1 lemon
• Salt as needed

For tempering

• 2 teaspoon Oil
• ½ teaspoon Mustard
• 1 teaspoon urad dal
• 1 teaspoon chana dal
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 2 green chilli
• 1 sprig curry leaves

Method

• Take a sauce pan. Add 1 cup water and bring to boil. In goes the
  butterfly pea flower. You can add some crushed lemon grass but it is
• Switch off stove and close with a lid. Let it steep for 15 minutes. In between you can give it a stir.
• Now, wash rice well 2-3 times or until the washed water drains clear. Soak in hot water for 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes, fish out the flowers and lemon grass. You can eventually filter too. Start heating and bring to boil.
• Now, drain water from rice completely. Add it to the boiling blue
• Sprinkle required salt. Bring to boil again.
• Put the flame to low and cook covered for 12-14 minutes or until all the water is absorbed. Do not cook in higher heat.
• Check the bottom of pan for water. Switch off stove and fluff gently. Keep covered.
• Do not worry even if some rice is stuck to the pan. The standing time
  will loosen up the rice making it soft.
• After 10 minutes, the rice will be softer and fluffier.
• Now heat a small pan with oil. Splutter mustard firstly, then add urad dal, chana dal followed by ginger, green chillies and curry leaves.
• Transfer to the rice. Drizzle lemon juice and quickly give it a mix.
• The color will apparently change to purple as lemon reacts with the rice it touches. Yet the blue hue will be there. It's done.

 

2. Butterfly pea popsicle
An easy and healthy dessert for hot summers is butterfly pea popsicle. Amazing blue colour is imparted by butterfly pea flowers and mint leaves give a refreshing flavour.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dried butterfly pea flower
• 4 sprigs fresh mint leaves
• 5 cups water
• Honey to taste

Method

• Boil water (3.5 cups).
• Pour in a bowl and add in the washed Dried Butterfly Pea Flower (1/2 cup). Let it cool for 30 minutes or until lukewarm.
• Drain and add the Fresh Mint Leaves (4 sprigs) and Honey (to taste)
• Pour into moulds and freeze overnight.
• Serve your Snorkel Blue Butterfly Pea Flower Popsicles and enjoy!

 

3. Blue butterfly pea flower tea dalgona coffee

This recipe uses blue flower tea infused milk, topped with dalgona whipped coffee and dusted with blue flower powder. This delicious drink can be made hot or cold.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp instant coffee
• 1 tbsp sugar (optional)
• 2 tbsp water
• 50-100 ml non-dairy milk or low-fat dairy milk
• Ice
• Blue butterfly pea flower powder for topping and garnishing

Method

• To make the blue butterfly pea flower tea milk bottom layer (infused milk)
• In a small saucepan on the stovetop, over low-medium heat, add the milk - low fat dairy milk or non-dairy milk such as nut milk, oat milk or rice milk. Sugar in this step is optional as the whipped coffee layer will have sugar and if on weight loss, excess sugar is not advised.
• Add the blue butterfly pea flowers. Bring the milk up to a low simmer/boil. Turn off the heat, cover, and let it sit for 5 minutes.
• Whisk the milk mixture and then strain into the heat-safe glass or mug if having hot or another container, if having it cold. Place in the refrigerator to chill until cold.
• To make the blue butterfly pea flower tea milk bottom layer
  (‘ombré effect’ method)
• Heat water in a tea kettle over high heat.
• Add 1 tablespoon Blue Butterfly Pea Flower Tea flowers into a mesh tea ball and add to a large mug. Cover and allow to steep for 5 minutes. When it's done remove the mesh tea ball. Use hot or chill it in the
• To make whipped coffee topping and assemble the drink –
• Place ice in a glass or mason jar and chill in the freezer for 5-10
• Combine the instant coffee, water, and sugar together, until you create a frothy whipped coffee topping by using a whisk or handheld electric mixer. Whip it to stiff peaks to get a glossy, meringue-like
• To assemble the drink: You can do 1 large serving or divide it into 2
• Using your prepped glass, add the prepared blue milk. Add the
  whipped coffee topping to the blue milk.
• Alternately, you can serve it hot with hot blue milk, as discussed above. If you are doing the version where you have the separately prepared, now chilled tea, add the milk to the chilled glass with ice, add the concentrated cold tea (you don't need the full amount because you don't want to water it down too much) and this creates a dramatic "ombre effect" as it slowly spreads.

 

4. Citrus magic blue Mocktail

This mocktail is very easy to prepare and is gorgeous looking.

Ingredients

• 15 butterfly pea flowers
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 cups cold water
• 2-4 tablespoons freshly squeezed citrus
• Your favourite sparkling drink

Method

• Place flowers and boiling water in a jug and seep for 30 minutes.
• Drain flowers, and freeze blue water into ice cubes.
• Freeze 2 cups regular water into ice cubes.
• Once frozen, blend blue ice cubes in a high-speed blender. Leave a few larger chunks in there for some texture.
• Repeat with the regular ice.
• Place blue ice and white ice into separate containers and store in
  the freezer until you are ready to build the drinks.
• Stack tall glasses half way with regular ice. Top with butterfly pea
• Add 1 tablespoon citrus of your choice into each glass. This
  measurement doesn’t have to be exact, you can add a little more if you
• Add a little more butterfly pea ice on top, then top with your
  favourite sparkling beverage and stir.
• Garnish and enjoy!

 

5. Butterfly blue overnight dessert oats

This is a great breakfast recipe that is sugar free, gluten free and vegan.

Ingredients

For natural blue dye

• â…“ cup Butterfly Pea Flower
• ¾ cup Boiling Water

For oats

• ¾ cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
• ½ tbs Ground Flaxseed or Chia Meal
• 1-2 Blended dates
• Pinch of Salt
• ½ cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
• â…“ cup Natural Blue Dye
• ½ tbs Roasted Almond Butter
• ½ tsp Vanilla Extract

Method

• For the natural blue dye - In a mug, add the butterfly pea flowers and pour the boiling water on Brew for 5-7 minutes.
• Strain the flowers and let cool.
• For the oats - In a bowl, whisk together the almond milk, blue dye, almond butter, and vanilla extract.
• Stir in the oats, milled chia seeds, date paste, and salt. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Enjoy in the morning!â €