How Do I Make Smoothies If I Dont Like Bananas
Lucky for you, we have an entire post of recipes to make a smoothie without banana. Try those recipes, or tweak any of the recipes below by:
- Subbing in 1/2 cup additional plain Greek yogurt , plus 1 tablespoon additional sweetener and a handful of ice cubes in place of the frozen banana in these recipes.
- Other options: canned pineapple, sweetened yogurt, canned pears. Adding half a ripe avocado can really help make up for the creaminess that bananas usually add, too.
How To Make A Smoothie + 27 Simple Smoothie Recipes To Try
Im a believer that smoothies are the perfect meal or snack no matter what the weather. It is never too cold to have an awesome smoothie! Since smoothies are such a tasty way to pack in a meal on the go, I put on a big sweater and happily drink them even when the temps are frigid.
We originally published our first guide on smoothie making way back in 2015, and since then, millions of folks have visited this post and used our recipes to make the best ever smoothies! I consider these smoothies simple classics because they have great flavor, all the ingredients are easy to source , and they pack a nutritional punch that can nourish you nicely. These are the kinds of smoothies that I think everyone should know how to make, and chances are, youll find a favorite combo among these recipes. There really is no wrong way to make a smoothie, but I think these recipes are a great jumping-off point if the blender intimidates you.
How To Freeze Fruit For Smoothies
To make smoothies even easier, freeze fresh fruit into portions. You can even prepare smoothie packs and freeze them for a grab and blend smoothie option.
To freeze fruit for smoothies, rinse and chop fresh fruit into small pieces. Pat them dry then arrange, in one layer, on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Slide the baking sheet into the freezer and freeze until hard . For bananas, peel them, slice and then arrange on the baking sheet.
When the fruit is hard, divide it between freezer-safe bags and keep in the freezer for your next smoothie.
Read Also: Smoothie And Protein Shake Diet
S To Make A Perfect Fruit Smoothie
No matter what kind of fruit smoothie recipe you are making, you can follow these steps.
Now that you have a great idea of making any fruit smoothie let’s look at how to make some of the most popular fruit smoothies.
How To Make The Best Blueberry Smoothie
Our basic smoothie recipe calls for four simple ingredients:
Frozen blueberries For the best blueberry smoothie, use frozen blueberries! Frozen berries make the smoothie extra creamy. I especially love the frozen wild blueberries found in the freezer section of most grocery stores.
Can I use fresh blueberries? Yes, of course. Frozen blueberries blend into a creamier smoothie, but fresh berries will still work. You might find that the smoothie thickens as it sits a bit more than usual with fresh berries since they naturally have pectin, which is a thickener. Freezing can reduce the natural jelling effect of pectin, which is why this does not happen as often when the smoothie is made with frozen blueberries.
Banana I use one banana to make one large or two smaller smoothies. For the best tasting smoothie, use a ripe banana. For the creamiest smoothie, use frozen banana slices .
Half an orange When I have oranges in the house, I love adding them to my morning smoothie. It adds extra vitamin C and tropical flavor. If you dont have oranges on hand, dont worry, you can substitute other fruits like mango, pineapple or more berries.
Milk To help the ingredients blend, I like adding some liquid to the blender. For a smoothie without milk, use water. It still tastes amazing. For more creaminess use milk .
To make the smoothie, I add everything into a blender, and then blend until smooth. For an icy cold smoothie, throw in a handful of ice or use frozen fruits.
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Be Patient And Diligent While Blending Resting And Storing
Start with a high quality blender. We proudly use Vitamix blenders, so our drinks always come outgreat! Even though fancy smoothie shops use the professional Vitamix andBlendtec models, any decent blender will work . Even a good foodprocessor may handle ice better than a really cheap blender.
Start blending at a low speed. Work up momentum to move the larger chunks offruit to the blades so that they get chopped finely. Gradually increase speedto high. This is especially true when using frozen fruits or nuts the sloweryou go, the more blending power you have at the start.
If you start too fast or speed up too quickly, you risk making an airbubble. That makes for a chunky smoothie you’ll have to dig out with aspatulanot bad if you like something like a thick strawberrybanana smoothie, but that’s not always what you want.
What To Put In A Smoothie
Any number of great things can be put into a smoothie! Thats why they are so popular! The trick is creating the right ratio of vegetables & fruit so your creation is not only good for you, but tasty too !
The best thing about a smoothie is that its really easy to make your own!
- Milk: Cows milk, almond, rice, hemp, coconut the skys the limit!
- Juice: Lots of juices like apple, orange or grape can add a little sweetness and change up the flavor of this strawberry banana smoothie recipe.
- Yogurt: Greek yogurt or regular work. If youre using unsweetened yogurt, you might like to add a squeeze of honey to sweeten it.
- Just for Fun: Add in your favorites like chocolate syrup, almonds or peanut butter!
- Ice: If you use fruit that is not frozen, youll want to add some ice to give it a frosty chill.
You May Like: Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Also Check: Are Daily Harvest Smoothies Gluten Free
Basic Steps For How To Make A Fruit Smoothie
1. Add your frozen fruit of choice
In this case, we used blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries. However, any type of frozen fruit will work great!
2. Add a yogurt or banana base to thicken
Plain greek yogurt and/or bananas are great for thickening smoothies.
3. Add protein powder
Adding protein powder helps sweeten the smoothie and, of course, adds protein. This is always an optional step!
4. Add your milk of choice
Our favorite is unsweetened almond milk, but cashew milk, coconut milk, oat milk, and regular dairy milk are all great options as well.
To make the smoothie: Simply blend everything in a single serving blender and enjoy! Another option is to pour the smoothie into mason jars and freeze for quick smoothies throughout the week. Simply thaw in the refrigerator a few hours before youre ready to drink it !
Does Your Fruit Have To Be Frozen To Make A Smoothie
To achieve the perfect creaminess of your smoothies, you should use at least 10 frozen bananas. You wont see enough ice so youll end up with more slushey consistency and more of a liquid. In fact, it could be possible for you to freeze some freshly cut fresh fruit that you have frozen in your kitchen as little as 2 inches long or as much as 10 inches long.
Recommended Reading: Bahama Mama Tropical Smoothie Recipe
Whats The Best Liquid For Making Smoothies
We like to use milk of choice. If youre a fan of coconut milk, use it. Like cows milk? Go for it. A fan of almond milk? Cool. Use whatever milk you like in your smoothiesyou cant go wrong. I just recommend you stick to unsweetened and unflavored versions. That gives you the most control over the smoothie.
Should You Rest Your Smoothies
Letting a smoothie sit tends to make it less frothy, but some smoothies willseparate quickly. For example, almost every green smoothie separates into a layer of green juice atop a chunky greenmixture after a few minutes.
Others fare better from resting. Anything with a lot of light or frothyingredients, or a lot of air whipped up into them, applies.
If you’re in a rush, prepare the ingredients beforehand by chopping andmeasuring them. Start only when you’re ready to eat! You can store ingredientsor even storesmoothies overnight in the fridge, if you’re preparing for an earlymorning!
A thick smoothie can last in the fridge up to 24 hours while retaining itsflavor and texture. Thinner smoothies may separate before then. We prefer todrink immediately, though grabbing a drink prepared the night before is almostas good. To store a smoothie in the fridge, pour it into a tightly sealedcontainer such as a Mason jar. Unless you have a tight, screw-on lid for yourblender bottle, don’t botheryou’ll get better flavor and have an easiertime cleaning up if you store it in something else.
In a pinch, you can put plastic wrap over the top of a glass.
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The Ingredients Needed To Make Summer Fruits Smoothie Bowl:
These fresh fruit smoothie bowls make the perfect summer breakfast or lunch idea. I used fresh strawberries, pineapple, and blueberries, but you can use whatever fresh fruit you would like to make these easy fresh fruit smoothie bowls. Pour this into the halved coconut. Mix the fresh fruit salad mix and chopped cashews together, then spoon this onto the yoghurt in the halved coconut.
Are Smoothies Healthy For You
Before we dive into the quest of how to make a fruit smoothie, lets dive into the why. Our philosophy here at Wholefully is that smoothies can be an incredibly nourishing part of your diet. Just like with our juicing recipes, we say its always better to eat whole fruits and veggies where possible. But its not always possible! Smoothies do make it easy to pack in all the nutrients of your favorite produce into one drinkable cupwhich is great when youre on the go or short on time.
And lets be honest, smoothies are just freaking delicious! We are big believers that you also need to nourish your soul with your food, and if drinking a perfectly tangy and sweet smoothie brings a smile to your face, then thats healthy as healthy can be.
Also Check: Danimals Yogurt Smoothies Nutrition Facts
Sweeten A Smoothie With Natural Sweeteners
Natural sweeteners should be our topmost priority if we wish to choose a healthier lifestyle and still satisfy our sweet tooth. All the natural sweeteners contain some amounts of added nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and different enzymes. Natural sweeteners are generally safer than that of refined sugar. However, when used excessively, they can prove to be equally as harmful as refined sugar, so as with most things, moderation is key.
Natural sweeteners tend to be sweeter than refined sugars, so a little goes a long way. When making smoothie recipes using natural sweeteners, it is always better to add little, try it, and increase only if necessary. You can always adjust the quantity to your taste. Below, you will find a list of some of our favorite natural sweeteners, all natural staples you need stocked in your pantry.
How Do You Make This Thicker
The key to a great smoothie bowl is to make it thick. The best way to create a thick smoothie bowl is to start with less liquid than you would when making a drinkable smoothie. The other way to make a smoothie bowl thick is by using frozen fruit. It adds sweetness to the smoothie bowl recipe while keeping the consistency thick.
If your smoothie bowl is a bit too thin, you can always mix in some extra yogurt before serving, or toss in a few pieces of fruit to the blender.
Read Also: How Many Calories In A Homemade Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Does The Fruit Have To Be Frozen To Make A Smoothie
frozen strawberries are available for smoothies as well. The following are instructions for making a frozen fruit smoothie without adding ice. The consistency and frost of your smoothie will be lacking if you dont add frozen fruit or ice. No matter what you consider your objections to, I dont foresee it being a problem.
Are You Looking For Even More Smoothies No Worries Weve Got You Covered:
- Clementine Avocado Smoothie. If youve never added avocado to your smoothie before, you are missing out! The flavor is so mild, that you cant taste it, but the texture is dreamy, creamy smooth, and the healthy added fats help keep your fuller longer.
- Cold Buster Smoothie. When youre feeling under the weather and your throat is sore, this smoothie for colds is soothing and nourishing.
- Coffee Smoothie. Get a jolt of caffeine and your breakfast all in one cup! This is packed full of coffee flavor.
- Persimmon Smoothie. Packed full of autumnal flavor, this spiced smoothie is creamy and sweet!
- Spinach and Pear Smoothie. Bright green and fresh in flavor, this smoothie is a perfect light breakfast.
- Sweet Potato Smoothie. Sweet potato in a smoothie? YUP! It tastes like a delicious pie. Youll love it!
- Apple Smoothie. This smoothie is packed full of healthy spinach, but tastes like apple pie!
- Pumpkin Pie Smoothie. This pumpkin smoothie is perfect for the weather is still warm but your heart wants fall to show up.
- Dark Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie. This smoothie is rich and dark, and it tastes decadent enough you could sip on it for dessert!
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie. All the flavors of your favorite sandwich in a tasty smoothie! Pick your favorite jelly to add to this peanut butter smoothie.
- Tart Cherry and Spinach Smoothies. We show serving this cherry smoothie as a light breakfast in a bowl, but you could easily pour it in a glass and sip away!
Also Check: Healthy Smoothies To Start The Day
Are Smoothies Good For Kids
“Smoothies can be a nice option for kids since they’re simple to make and give parents the opportunity to incorporate foods that their child may otherwise not eat,” says Sassos. Even if your kid makes a face at even the idea of spinach, he’ll probably love a “green monster smoothie” , especially if there are a few banana chunks in there to naturally sweeten it up. Another reason smoothies are great for parents is that you can make them ahead of time , or take the along in a spill-proof cup for a healthy between-games Saturday snack.
Fresh Fruit & Veggies
Of course, you can skip the frozen produce and make a smoothie with that amazing fresh fruit you just picked up at the farmers market. Youll just need to add plenty of ice if you like it chilly, and stick with soft, ripe fruits.
For best results, dont use tougher skinned fruit, like pears and apples unless youre using a powerful blender, suggests Adler.
Some of her favorite fresh ingredients for smoothie are include fresh spinach and ripe avocado. Spinach is detoxifying and vitamin packed, but with an actually sweet taste and no bitternessthis is ideal for those that are nervous about anything green in their smoothies.
And ¼ to ½ of an avocado can turn any smoothie into a decadent meal you can eat with a spoon. The healthy fats found in an avocado will help you stay full for hours.
Read Also: What Is A Superfood Smoothie
Healthy Fruit Smoothie Faqs
What fruits are best for smoothies?
You can pretty much use any fruit you like in a smoothie. Try strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, banana, mango, peaches, cherries, pineapple, watermelon, you name it. For the best results, use frozen fruit. It makes for a creamier smoothie!
Are smoothies best with milk or water?
I definitely recommend using milk for your smoothie. It creates a creamier texture and better flavor. Dairy milk, almond milk, and coconut milk are all great options.
Do you put ice in a smoothie?
If youre using frozen fruit, no. It isnt necessary to use ice in a smoothie. Frozen fruit is the best way to get a cold and creamy smoothie without watering it down. If all you have is fresh fruit, or you like your smoothies super cold, it is fine to add ice.
One Of The Best Fruit Smoothie Recipes
We love this frozen fruit smoothie because its delicious, but there are so many things to love about it!
- High Protein This recipe has nonfat greek yogurt and protein powder, giving it 20g+ of protein per smoothie!
- Easy to Make You only need 4 simple ingredients to make this smoothie recipe, and its as easy as adding to a blender and turning it on!
- Easy to Customize There are tons of ways you can make this recipe your own with whatever fruit you have in your fridge or freezer
Read Also: Cup To Keep Smoothies Cold