A Note on Thickening Smoothies:
I’m of the general smoothie philosophy that a thick smoothie is a happy, satisfying smoothie; if it’s not thick, instead of feeling like I’m enjoying a substantial breakfast or snack, I feel like I’m drinking juice. It’s not the same.This is why all of my healthy smoothie recipes involve some kind of thickening agent. If you’d like to make a smoothie thicker, here are a few tricks:
Use Frozen Fruit: This is the easiest way to ensure your smoothie is nice and thick. Frozen fruit yields a thicker smoothie than fresh fruit. If your smoothie is thinner than you would like after blending, drop in a few extra pieces of frozen fruit and blend again.
Choose Fruits that Blend Up Thick and Creamy: Mango and banana are two of the best fruits for making thick smoothies. When blended, these fruits are creamy, not icy. Berries tend to be more icy when blended, which is why I like pairing them with a creamier fruit, as in today’s strawberry mango smoothie.
Add Greek Yogurt: You do not need yogurt for smoothies, even thick ones. Yogurt is a nice addition because it provides protein, creaminess, and body, but it also affects the flavor and might not be the right choice for someone who needs a dairy free or vegan smoothie. Personally, I enjoy the taste of smoothies with yogurt, but if you have other thickening ingredients, you can leave it out.
Ice Cubes: If you’ve blended your smoothie and it’s thinner than you would like, add a few ice cubes until it reaches your desired thickness.
To Store: Blended strawberry mango smoothies can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.
Use Frozen Fruit: This is the easiest way to ensure your smoothie is nice and thick. Frozen fruit yields a thicker smoothie than fresh fruit. If your smoothie is thinner than you would like after blending, drop in a few extra pieces of frozen fruit and blend again.
Choose Fruits that Blend Up Thick and Creamy: Mango and banana are two of the best fruits for making thick smoothies. When blended, these fruits are creamy, not icy. Berries tend to be more icy when blended, which is why I like pairing them with a creamier fruit, as in today’s strawberry mango smoothie.
Add Greek Yogurt: You do not need yogurt for smoothies, even thick ones. Yogurt is a nice addition because it provides protein, creaminess, and body, but it also affects the flavor and might not be the right choice for someone who needs a dairy free or vegan smoothie. Personally, I enjoy the taste of smoothies with yogurt, but if you have other thickening ingredients, you can leave it out.
Oatmeal: A tablespoon or two provides extra fiber and can thicken up a smoothie. Oatmeal also tastes yummy and creamy in smoothies.
Ice Cubes: If you’ve blended your smoothie and it’s thinner than you would like, add a few ice cubes until it reaches your desired thickness.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups frozen sliced strawberries
- 1½ cups frozen mango pieces
- ½ cup chopped carrots or baby carrots
- 1½ cups unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice plus additional as needed
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions:
- Place all of the ingredients in your blender: strawberries, mango, carrots, almond milk, and lemon juice.
- Blend until smooth. Enjoy!
Notes:
To Make Ahead: Prepare the smoothie as directed, and pour it into an airtight freezer- safe glass jar. Store the jar in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let the smoothie thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.To Store: Blended strawberry mango smoothies can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.
Nutrition Serving Per 1 glass:
- Calories: 161kcal
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Potassium: 531mg
- Fiber: 6g
- Sugar: 26g
- Vitamin A: 6685IU
- Vitamin C: 135mg
- Calcium: 272mg
- Iron: 1mg