No bananas today: Make rich and flavorful smoothies without them
It’s tough being a banana-hating smoothie-lover.
Bananas add creaminess, giving smoothies an almost milkshake-like quality. And they’re tucked into most smoothie recipes or smoothies at juice bars.
But other ingredients could work, too – avocado, mango, apple, frozen fruits and berries, Greek yogurt, silken tofu, nut butter, or soaked cashews or almonds, oats or chia seeds or a combination.
Start with a liquid base – about 1 cup – of fruit juice, cold tea, coconut water, milk or nut milk, even plain water. Toss in a couple of fruits and veggies: spinach, kale, pear, pineapple, peach. Then thicken it up, and – if you’d like – use honey, maple syrup, agave or dates to sweeten it up.
For added brightness or flavor, consider lemon or lime, vanilla or almond extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, mint, parsley or cilantro.
Almond Avocado Matcha
From greenblender.com
This nutty green smoothie is said to help reduce inflammation.
1 cup vanilla almond milk
1 cup ice
1 1/2 ounces red lettuce
1 pear, chopped
1/2 avocado, pitted
1 tablespoon almond butter
1 teaspoon matcha
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Yield: 1 serving
Easy Strawberry Smoothie
From popsugar.com
If your berries are on the tart side, you may need to amp up the sweetener.
3/4 cup vanilla almond milk, plus more if needed
8 fresh or frozen strawberries
1/4 cup Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla)
Honey, to taste
Ice, optional
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Adjust with more almond milk and honey if needed.
Yield: 1 serving
Lavender Blueberry Smoothie
From sayyes.com
2 cups blueberries
1 apple, chopped
1 teaspoon dried lavender buds
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar (for vegan option)
1 cup ice
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses, drizzle some honey on top.
Yield: 2 servings
Chia Berry Smoothie
From popsugar.com
1 cup frozen mixed berries
1/2 cup unsweetened pomegranate juice
1/2 cup water
1/2 tablespoon chia seeds
Combine all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth. Top with an extra sprinkle of chia seeds if you wish.
Yield: 1 serving
Berry Mango Kale Smoothie
From goodlifeeats.com
2/3 cup orange juice
1 cup fresh kale leaves
1 1/2 cups frozen mixed berries
1 cup frozen mango chunks
1/2 -1 cup water, as desired
1 1/2 tablespoons chia seeds
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Divide mixture into 3 glasses and serve immediately.
Yield: 3 servings