The perfect accompaniment for a busy morning, a lazy afternoon, or a post-workout recovery, making a great fruit smoothie is one of the best ways to perk up your day. Once you learn how to make a smoothie with a texture you love, the sky’s the limit for the number of substitutions and different flavors you can learn how to incorporate. Great as a snack or, when made correctly, fruit smoothies are your ticket to a refreshing and relaxing summer as a full meal replacement.
Best Blender for Smoothies
Besides your ingredients, the only thing you need to make the perfect smoothie is a good blender. It doesn’t have to be big, although you will want one that holds around 48 ounces of liquid if you’re making multiple servings at once. Otherwise, you may consider smaller blenders, like the Magic Bullet or the BlendJet. For extra power, it’s helpful to choose a multi-speed blender, especially one that mentions “ice-crushing” in the description, like this classic KitchenAid option. Blenders vary in price, power, size, and material, but as long as you have a fairly reliable blender, you will be able to make most smoothies without too much difficulty.
How To Make Smoothies: 5 Delicious Recipes
There are pre-made smoothie options you can buy, like a Simply Smoothie bottle, but by making your own smoothies at home, you can save money, reduce waste, and customize your flavors to create precisely what you’re craving. Read on to find your new favorite healthy snack out of these five delicious fruit smoothie recipes.
Strawberry Smoothie Recipe
There are dozens of strawberry smoothie recipes, and all of them are fully customizable to suit your own taste buds. But as a start, this Healthy Strawberry Smoothie recipe makes approximately two servings, with only 199 calories per smoothie.
Ingredients
- 1 cup low-fat milk (of your choice) or juice
- ½ cup strawberry or vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1 banana, fresh or frozen
- 1 ½ cups frozen strawberries
Start by adding the liquid to the bottom of the blender, then the yogurt. Add the frozen fruit last so that it sits on top of the other ingredients. Blend until smooth, adding a little more liquid if the smoothie gets stuck. Taste, and add a spoonful of honey to sweeten if desired.
Berry Smoothie
Wondering whether to make a frozen fruit smoothie or a fresh one? This Mixed Berry recipe recommends freezing your fruit before adding it to the blender. While you can use fresh fruit, you will have to increase the amount of ice in this recipe from 1 ½ to 2 cups, which will reduce the berry flavor. For best results, freeze your berries ahead of time for maximum taste and density.
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach
- ½ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup frozen banana slices
- 2 cups frozen mixed berries
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 1 cup almond milk, or milk of your choice
Add everything to the blender, with the ice on top. While the spinach is optional, it gives this recipe a major nutritional boost without adding any vegetable flavor. You can also add a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup for a sweeter taste, depending on the ripeness of the berries.
Mango Carrot Ginger Smoothie
Mangos are one of the best fruits to add to a smoothie since they blend easily and add a rich consistency. While they’re most often paired with peaches or pineapple, this Mango Carrot Ginger blend is packed with extra Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and fiber, making it an excellent choice for breakfast or after a hard workout.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh or frozen mango chunks
- ½ cup carrots, sliced
- 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt, plain
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- ½ cup coconut water
Blend everything together until smooth, adding a little more coconut water if necessary. The smoothie will be naturally sweet from the mango, with a slight spicy kick from the fresh ginger.
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Milkshake lovers, rejoice – this thick, creamy, easy smoothie recipe is made for anyone who’s ever wanted dessert for breakfast. For a heartier meal replacement option, try adding a scoop of protein powder (chocolate or vanilla both work with this recipe). You can also add a scoop of sweetened cocoa or even a teaspoon of instant coffee for a sweet tooth to make a mocha flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 overripe bananas (they should be at least partially brown)
- 4-6 tbsps peanut butter, or an allergy-friendly substitute
- 1 ½ to 2 cups of milk (depending on desired thickness)
- Pinch of salt
- Optional ⅓ cup quick oats or rolled oats
If using oats, blend them alone until they become a fine powder, then add the other ingredients and blend until smooth. Next, add an optional scoop of protein powder, cocoa, or anything else desired. For a thicker smoothie, add an extra banana, or reduce the amount of milk.
Green Smoothie
A fruit smoothie recipe that also helps you eat your vegetables is a win-win situation. This Best Green Smoothie recipe can be made in just minutes and is bursting with flavor and nutrients to fuel your day. Avoid using ice, which will dilute this smoothie too much, by peeling and freezing bananas ahead of time.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup nut milk, or dairy milk
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 apple
- ¼ avocado (or half an avocado, for a thicker smoothie)
Blend everything together until smooth (usually about 30 seconds). To keep the rest of the avocado from browning, squeeze lemon juice on top and store covered.
Takeaway
Once you learn the basics, you can begin to explore many easy smoothie recipes. One of the best parts about smoothies is that they’re fully customizable to your own dietary needs and favorite flavors. Try out different juices, milk, and yogurts for your base, and experiment by adding fresh combinations of fruits, vegetables, protein powders, and more to create a smoothie that’s perfect for you. Always serve chilled, and enjoy!
