Strawberry Mint Smoothie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you put ice or fruit first in a smoothie? ›

Add small amounts of water, milk, or juice. Work your machine back up to its highest speed, and process for 10-20 seconds. Tip: Load the container in the following order: liquids first, then soft fruits or vegetables, greens, and ice on top.

No ice: If you don't have ice, you can use frozen fruit, oats, chia seeds, yogurt, or nuts and nut butter to thicken your smoothie. No frozen fruit: Add a scoop of raw oats or chia seeds into the blender instead. No yogurt: You can swap yogurt with nut butter to thicken a smoothie.

Frozen ingredients are the key to creating a thick smoothie. Using fibrous, thick-fleshed fruit and vegetables can also help the texture. Adding chia seeds, avocado, yogurt, and protein powder are other thickening options.

Be it maple syrup, honey, agave, coconut sugar, or any other form of added sugar, too much sweetener is where many smoothies go astray. Other added sugars may come in the form of plant-based milks (sometimes even in original varieties) and flavored yogurts.

Use mostly whole fruit. Instead of using fruit juice, which is a concentrated source of calories. Whole fruit sweetens smoothies just as well and includes ALL the nutrients of the fruit. Rinse all your fresh produce, even if you're going to peel it and even if it's organic.

Water or fruit juice works very well, but if you want to add calcium to your flavorful health drink, milk and yogurt work. Feel free to use tea or soy –experiment and have fun! Typically you would add ice to a smoothie, but if your fruit is pre-frozen, it is unnecessary to use ice.

When making a smoothie, it's important to always add the liquid ingredients into the blending container first. This ensures the other ingredients don't get stuck under the blades. It also creates a vortex that pulls everything into the blades for a smooth blend.

There are endless ingredients that you can include in a smoothie, but the healthiest way to make one is to include a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fats. According to registered dietitian Kate Regan, this three-part formula is the key to creating a healthy smoothie.

The effect ice has on a smoothie

Once the ice melts, your smoothie tastes watered-down. Instead, Chowhound suggests using frozen fruit (try antioxidant-packed blueberries or raspberries), or frozen veggies (a great way to use up that frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and kale).

This can be milk, or a dairy-free alternative such as soya or almond milk, natural or flavoured yogurt, fruit juice, or for a tropical flavoured smoothie, low-fat coconut milk or coconut water. It's important to add the liquid to your blender before adding the fruit, as this will prevent the blade from getting damaged.

Can you put not frozen fruit in a smoothie? ›

Pros: Fresh fruit has a natural texture and flavour that can enhance your smoothies. You can also choose from a wider variety of fruits that may not be available as a frozen option. Fresh fruit can also be used for other snacks and dishes besides smoothies.

(1 serving = ½ cup of chopped fruit or berries, or 1 medium banana.) ➜ Freeze single-serving baggies of fruit to replace ice. Slice fresh fruit, or use frozen fruit. They're equally nutritious.

Simply adding a banana will instantly make your smoothie thicker, but you can also use a frozen banana for a smoothie recipe that's even more ice cream-esque and frostier. Similar to bananas, mangos are another “creamy” fruit that creates a thick, almost “fluffy” texture.

Ice adds thickness while water doesn't! - Add more liquid ingredients such as coconut water or almond milk; this will help thin out your smoothie without affecting the flavor too much. - Don't forget about fruits like berries that are known for being on the thinner side!

First, it helps create a smooth and creamy texture acting as a natural thickening agent. When blended, ice helps emulsify the ingredients, creating a well-incorporated mixture. Second, well…it keeps the smoothie cold.