As the weather starts to warm up, try these delicious smoothie recipes full of colourful, surprising ingredients.
Most breakfast blends rely heavily on warm-weather staples like berries or tropical fruits. But pears, figs, sweet potatoes and even veggies like cauliflower and beets all work well in smoothie recipes.
Now's the time to hit up the farmers' market and try these five tasty recipes—before they are out of season!
Photograph courtesy of A Beautiful Plate
Pear Smoothie with Vanilla, Honey and Lime Zest
Just like summer’s berries, pears add natural sweetness to smoothies (along with an antioxidant punch and nearly a quarter of your daily fibre). Laura from A Beautiful Plate brings out their fresh floral flavour with vanilla and honey, along with an unexpected ingredient: grated lime zest. Plain low-fat kefir adds a shot of protein, while hemp seeds deliver a dose of healthy fats like omega-3s. (Did you know hemp seeds pack 10 grams of protein per serving?)
Photograph courtesy of The Healthy Maven
Almond Chai Green Smoothie
Fall means a return to all things spiced—including cozy chai. Davida from The Healthy Maven loads up this banana- and almond butter-based smoothie with warm flavours like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and nutmeg. Got some cool-weather greens like kale or collards hanging out in the fridge? Try swapping them in for the baby spinach.
Photograph courtesy of The Roasted Root
Fig and Beet Protein Smoothie
Sure, beets might seem like a strange choice for a smoothie. But one taste of this drink from Julia of The Roasted Root, and you’ll probably be hooked: The earthy beets are sweetened up with fresh figs and banana, while a generous scoop of almond butter adds nutty richness. The original recipe calls for unsweetened almond milk, but using full-fat coconut milk makes the texture even more decadent, she says.
Photograph courtesy of Healthy Nibbles And Bits
Sweet Potato Mango Smoothie
Not ready to say goodbye to summer quite yet? Try this smoothie by Lisa of Healthy Nibbles and Bits. It combines sunny mangos with hearty baked sweet potatoes and a drizzle of maple syrup for a seriously delicious seasonal mashup. A spoonful of chia seeds delivers healthy fat along with a little bit of protein. But for even more staying power, consider adding a spoonful of cashew butter or a scoop of vanilla protein powder.
Photograph courtesy of Eating Bird Food
Malted Chocolate Cauliflower Smoothie
How can you make cauliflower taste like a frothy milkshake? Blend up frozen, riced florets with almond milk, chocolate protein powder, maca powder and cacao nibs, says Brittany of Eating Bird Food. Yes, it sounds weird, but the cauliflower will give your drink a surprisingly rich, creamy texture. And since the flavour is pretty neutral, all you’ll taste is sweet, chocolate-y goodness. C’mon, you know you want to see what it’s like.
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