Making smoothie recipes is not at all difficult, but there are a few things you should know to help make the process easier! Of course, one thing to keep in mind is that the beauty of smoothies is that anything goes! So, even when following a smoothie recipe you should always feel free to experiment. Now, before we get started with the specifics of how to make a smoothie, here are some things to keep in mind.
The Ninja Blender - A Lot of Bang for Your Buck!
Get the Best Smoothie Maker You Can
I’m always looking for a good deal, but one thing I’ve learned with smoothie makers is that you get what you pay for. There is no doubt that the Vitamix Blender
That being said, there are many times in your life when a $400+ smoothie maker just isn’t in the cards. If that is the case, examine your needs and get the best smoothie maker you can afford. Personally, I have a Viking Mixer with a Blender attachment that is extremely powerful. When making smoothies, however, I most often use my Ninja Blender
Start with a Stocked Kitchen
While you may not think of making smoothies as cooking, many of the same rules apply. Just like with cooking, it is always best to start with everything you might need at close hand. It encourages your creativity and ensures you are never disappointed with your results. Stock your freezer with fruit and if you will be making green smoothies, keep your refrigerator loaded with fresh greens. You should also keep yogurt, milk, and kefir on hand if you enjoy these in your smoothies. Experiment with sweeteners and keep your favorite at close hand. Almond butter, raw nuts and protein powder are excellent additions to your pantry.
Tips for How to Make a Smoothie
One thing that you need to remember is that it is important to add the ingredients in the proper order. By starting with the liquid then adding soft solids, you minimize the wear and tear on your blender. Once everything else is well blended then you can add frozen fruit and ice. When making green smoothie recipes, it is always best to blend the water and greens first. Give it ample time to blend so that you don’t end up with big chunks of greens in your smoothie.
Simply the Best Protein Powder
Now, let’s take a closer look at the key parts of your smoothie!
- Liquid: Generally, you will want some sort of liquid in your smoothie. Options are milk (almond milk and coconut milk are good options for vegan smoothie recipes), water, coconut water and juice.
- Protein: There are a lot of different ways to add protein if you are looking to make high protein smoothie recipes. Of course, there is always protein power, which is certainly an excellent option. Other options include: cooked quinoa, quinoa flakes, raw nuts, natural nut butters and non Fat Greek yogurt.
- Sweeteners: If you are someone who really needs your smoothies to be sweet, there are several options that can keep you away from refined sugar. I like Organic Coconut Palm Sugar,
, stevia, agave nectar, dates and honey. Another favorite, especially when making smoothie recipes for kids is low sugar jams.
- Fruits– The key reason that most people drink smoothies is to enjoy the many benefits that seasonal fruit offers without having to spend all day in the kitchen cooking. One thing to keep in mind is that while fresh fruit is great, adding frozen fruit is also a good alternative. When possible, buy fruit when it is in season and then freeze it yourself. To do this, wash and dry the fruit and then chop if appropriate. Place it on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer and then place in the freezer for 30 minutes. This is typically long enough to prevent sticking together. Then, place the fruit in a freezer safe bag. As far as what fruits to try, anything goes! I like the creaminess that bananas add, (like in this strawberry banana smoothie) and berries are also wonderful. The key is to experiment and find out what you enjoy!
- Vegetables – Green Smoothies are really catching on these days, thanks to the impressive health benefits they offer. As long as you add a bit of fruit to your smoothies, I can assure you that they taste very good! Get creative! Some greens to try are kale, chard, spinach, arugula, napa cabbage, endive, romaine, mixed greens, celery and collard greens. Recently, I’ve also experimented with adding sprouts to my smoothie recipes with good results. Some sprouts to try include quinoa sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli sprouts and bean sprouts.
- Herbs – You may not think about adding herbs to your smoothies, but they are actually a nice addition. Mint and lemon grass add wonderful flavor. In the right recipe, cilantro, basil and chives are also nice.
