Tag: Smoothie

Rhubarb & peanut butter smoothie

I love Rhubarb and thankfully it’s growing like a Triffid on the plot again this year. I’ve eaten crumble for breakfast, made muffins and mixed it stewed through yogurt and overnight oats. But today, it became my new favourite smoothie ingredient.  Be warned this is a very creamy smoothie but rhubarb and peanut butter is a fabulous combo and deserves to be decadent.

Method (makes one smoothie)

  • Cold stewed rhubarb – I used about 3 tablespoons
  • 200ml of soya milk (coconut milk works great with this, in fact any milk. You might want to add more than 200ml to make it less creamy, I like mine almost mousse texture! Or thin it down with some water to make it slightly less creamy.
  • 1 tablespoon peanut butter OR 1 tablespoon peanut butter powder (or both, why not)
  • 2-3 dates

Optional – Protein powder for an extra hit of protein works well.

So go and stew up some Rhubarb, make a crumble and save some for your morning smoothie.

 

Tropical Courgette Smoothie

I will admit it was with quiet desperation that I first added some courgette to a smoothie – my supply of this veg is fast outweighing my ability to eat them.  However I was surprised to find that it tasted ok, in fact the courgette added a little creaminess without too much taste (in a good way).

So after a few more experiments I think that this courgette smoothie is pretty good.

I’m still using my crop of yellow courgettes, but they taste the same as green so either goes.

courgette smoothie

Tropical Courgette Smoothie (serves one)

  • 150g fresh pineapple
  • 100g courgette (skin on)
  • 150ml coconut milk (from a carton not a tin)
  • A handful of mint leaves
  • 1 tablespoon of Tahini
  • 1 medjool date

Blend it all together.

 

Turmeric & Orange Smoothie

Turmeric is one of those wonder spices that I would like to use more often yet, because I’m not a great curry fan, I never quite know how to get my fix.

I’ve come across a few smoothie recipes in my quest and have played around and found a combination that I really love. This smoothie has a real nutritional punch with carrot, mango, coconut water and turmeric, so a great way to start the day.

I recently discovered these Rude Health ginger and turmeric oatcakes, which are the perfect accompaniment. I could happily eat them all without the need for any toppings – but I did find some peanut butter worked rather well.

turmeric orange smoothie

Turmeric & Orange Smoothie (makes one large smoothie)

  • 330ml coconut water
  • 1 medium carrot – peeled and cut into thick chunks
  • 1 orange – peeled and cut into chunks
  • A cube of ginger
  • Handful of frozen mango (around 50g-60g)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

Blend it all together.

Minty green banana smoothie

I love mint and am growing a few different varieties at the moment.  This year I’m growing a banana mint which really does have a hint of minty bananas!  So with the sun making a rare appearance this morning I felt the need for a light summer smoothie and of course it has to have mint.  I’ve used banana mint but any mint will do.

Banana mint melon

Minty green banana smoothie (serves one)

  • 100g fresh melon (I used cantaloupe)
  • 1/2 banana or one small one
  • 250ml coconut water
  • large bunch of mint – I used about 15 leaves of banana mint – if using normal garden mint then probably 10 leaves as the banana mint has smaller leaves.
  • 2 blocks of frozen spinach (or a handful of fresh)

Blend it all together.

 

Magic Mango Smoothie

I call this magic because it’s a great re-fuel smoothie incorporating lots of vitamin C and a small hit of carbs.  It makes a lovely thick smoothie and is perfect when you want something filling but without the use of milk.  I’ve had a very high carb diet over the past few days due to a marathon yesterday and today I feel the need to de-carb without starving my rather achy body. This smoothie ensures I get a good start with some natural goodness to help the immune system.

Magic Mango Smoothie

Magic mango

  • 1/2 fresh mango (approx. 100g)
  • 1/2 a banana – or one small one
  • 3 dates (if you use medjool then just use one or two)
  • 200ml fresh orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons oats
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 cube fresh ginger (about 1-2cm)

Blend it all together.

Vass Smoothie

I’ve just returned from a holiday in Vasiliki in Greece and this smoothie was the smoothie of the day at my hotel.  I had it on my first day and then asked what the smoothie was the following day – it was the same smoothie every day because this was the one everyone liked best!  I’ve tried to recreate it at home to bring back some sunshine to a rather damp and dull morning.  It’s simple, fresh and sunny.

Vass Smoothie

  • 200ml fresh orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon goji berries
  • large chunk of fresh ginger
  • 1 banana

Blend it all together.

 

Coco Beet Smoothie

I love the deep purple beetroot colour of this smoothie, it’s a great hydrating healthy smoothie with a bit of zing. I drank this after a short morning run and felt quite virtuous until at least lunchtime.

I used frozen pear which helps to cool the drink as well – I think beetroot smoothies taste better when very cold.  If you use fresh then add a couple of ice cubes to chill it down.

Coco Beet Smoothie (serves one)

Beet smoothie 2

  • 250ml Coconut water
  • Raw fresh beetroot – peeled. Approx. 80g
  • Handful of spinach
  • 1 pear (frozen slices or fresh)
  • Fresh ginger – about 1cm square

Blend it all together.

Kiwi Kale Smoothie

Sunday morning after a few chips and cocktails last night means a healthy brekkie was required. No long run this morning but the prospect of a lovely lunch.  So I’m back on the green smoothies to make room for more lunch later.  Coconut water is great after exercise (or drinking) – definitely a top rehydration fluid.

Kiwi is another fruit that mixes brilliantly with coconut flavours and the hint of sesame from the tahini works well. The kale and the pear take second stage in this smoothie but do add to the texture and colour so don’t miss them out.

Kiwi Kale Smoothie (serves one)

kale tahini smoothie

  • 200ml Coconut water
  • Kale – a handful
  • Kiwi – one peeled and chopped
  • Pear – one cored and chopped
  • Tahini – 2 teaspoons

Blend it all together

 

P & T Smoothie

I still had some papaya to use up this morning so I opted for another smoothie. I find that papaya makes quite a bulky smoothie because it’s such a fleshy fruit so I think it works best with a mix of milk and water to get a thinner consistency.  Getting the right combination has taken me a while but I think this P&T mix works and it’s great to find another use for Tahini other than hummus.

P&T Smoothie (serves one)

P&T smoothie

  • 1/2 a Papaya – deseeded and peeled
  • 2 teaspoons of Tahini
  • 100ml Coconut milk
  • 200ml water
  • Some fresh mint leaves (around 6 big ones)
  • A small handful of fresh spinach (I put in a little less than I would normally do)
  • 2 ice cubes

Blend it all together.

Super refuel smoothie

Yesterday I completed the endurance race that I’ve been training and carb loading for. This meant my post race breakfast this morning needed to be filling and kick-start the restoration of my battered muscles.

I don’t often use protein powder, but I think it does help with recovery after particularly long or difficult sessions.  I use unflavoured whey protein which I find bland enough not to add any significant flavour – in fact I’ve had this smoothie minus the protein powder and it doesn’t taste much different.

It may be a while before I’m walking normally but hopefully this is a good way to start.

Super refuel smoothie (serves one)

post build smoothie

  • 100ml coconut milk
  • 200ml almond milk
  • 100ml water
  • 2 fresh figs
  • 1 banana
  • 1 handful of spinach
  • 1 teaspoon almond butter
  • 1 dessert spoon of whey protein powder (unflavoured)
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla essence
  • A good sprinkle of cinnamon

Blend everything together.

You could add a bit more water if you wanted a thinner consistency – but this should slide up a straw nicely.