Hello friends of Paulina Cocina! To cool off on a hot and active day, we suggest a drink that you will love: Smoothie. A marvel of creation, capable of combining fruits, vegetables and juices, yogurts or milks in a single drink.
The best of all is that There is not just ONE recipe the smoothiebut endless! You can make it with whatever you find at home (we’re talking about fruits and vegetables, of course), adding a little ice, and the liquid of your choice.
In this note we leave you everything you need to know about this super nutritious drink, some tips for making smoothies and achieving a good consistency and finally many super easy recipes so they can make it at home. Here we go!
About the smoothie
Smoothies have become an increasingly popular option when thinking about a fresh and fruity breakfast or snack. This delicious drink is characterized by its creamy consistency y refreshingobtained from the combination of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products or dairy substitutes, and ice.
The interesting thing about these drinks is their versatilityas they can be adapted to different tastes and needsmaking it an excellent option to take at any time and with the elements you have on hand.
Smoothies: A good way to include fruits and vegetables
Smoothies are a great way to incorporate more fruits and vegetables in the daily diet, especially for those people who find it difficult to consume this type of food or who are unable to consume the recommended amount.
Smoothies are not only delicious, but they can also be a beneficial option to include in our diet. By combining different ingredients, such as fruits and vegetables, smoothies provide us with a large amount of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
What is the difference between a shake and a smoothie?
Although the terms “batido” and “smoothie” They are often used interchangeably, there are some subtle differences between the two. Smoothies are typically made with milk, ice cream or yogurt as a base, to which fruits, flavourings and sweeteners are added. These drinks usually have a more thick and creamydue to the presence of dairy ingredients.
On the other hand, these shakes are mainly prepared with fruits, vegetables and liquidslike water or fruit juice. Its consistency is more light and refreshing when prepared without dairy, making them a more suitable option for people with lactose intolerance or who prefer a vegan option.
How to make smoothies?
Preparing a smoothie is extremely simple and does not require any special culinary skills. The first thing you need is a blender or mixer that allows you to obtain the desired consistency. From there, you can give free rein to your creativity and make endless combinations of ingredients.
- Generally, they are used fresh or frozen fruitsuch as banana, strawberry, mango, pineapple, blueberries or melon, which provide sweetness and flavor. We can also add vegetables such as spinach o kale to get extra nutrients.
The liquids for this drink can be water, milk, yogurt, or even fruit juice and you can add ice for a cooler result. All of this is placed in the blender and processed until obtaining a smooth and homogeneous mixture.
To achieve the perfect smoothie consistency
The consistency of a smoothie is one of the key aspects to achieving the right sensory experience when enjoying this drink. To achieve an ideal consistency, it is important to follow a few simple tips.
- Use ripe fruitssince these are softer, with a more intense flavor.
- For a thicker texture, can be added banana o avocado (avocado), since both ingredients provide creaminess and smoothness.
- If you are looking for a more liquid textureyou can increase the amount of milk or water in the recipe. It is important to remember that the ice It also influences the final consistency, adding greater freshness and lightness.
- By adjusting the amount of ingredients and their combination, it is possible customize consistency according to our individual preferences.
Tips for preparing smoothies
- Experiment with different combinations of fruits and vegetables to discover new flavors.
- Add seeds such as chia, spirulina or maca to enhance its nutritional value.
- Use frozen fruit previously to obtain a creamier and fresher texture.
- Add proteinssuch as Greek yogurt or protein powder, to make it a more complete and satisfying option.
- For one sweetest drinkcan be sweetened with Honeyagave syrup or dates, instead of refined sugar.
- Experimenting with different liquids as almond milkcoconut milk or coconut water, to vary the flavor and obtain different combinations.
Follow me on Instagram (here)
And on YouTube I upload new recipes every week (click here)
20 Smoothie Recipes to Make at Home
- Banana and strawberry smoothie: Blend 1 cup fresh strawberries, 1 ripe banana, 1 cup almond milk and ice. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pineapple and coconut: Combine 1 cup fresh pineapple, ½ cup coconut milk, ½ ripe banana and ice. Blend until smooth and refreshing.
- Green detox: Mix 1 cup of spinach, 1 green apple, ½ cucumber, juice of ½ lemon and water. Blend until smooth and homogeneous.
- Of red fruits: Combine 1 cup fresh or frozen mixed berries, 1 ripe banana, 1 cup Greek yogurt, and ice. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Mango and coconut smoothie: Blend 1 ripe mango, ½ cup coconut milk, juice of 1 lime and ice. Blend until smooth and tropical.
- Watermelon and mint: Combine 2 cups of seedless watermelon, a few fresh mint leaves, juice of 1 lemon and ice. Blend until you have a very refreshing smoothie.
- Banana and chocolate: Blend 1 ripe banana, 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 cup of almond milk and ice. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Of blueberries and spinach: Combine 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, 1 cup fresh spinach, 1 cup Greek yogurt and ice. Blend for a nutritious, antioxidant-packed smoothie.
- Pineapple and ginger: Blend 1 cup fresh pineapple, 1 slice grated fresh ginger, 1 cup coconut milk and ice. Blend until smooth and spicy.
- Orange and carrot: Combine the juice of 2 oranges, 1 grated carrot, ½ ripe banana and ice. Blend until you obtain a refreshing smoothie full of vitamins.
- Of red fruits and oats: Blend 1 cup fresh or frozen berries, ½ cup oats, 1 cup almond milk, and ice. Blend until smooth and filling.
- Of melon and cucumber: Combine 1 cup diced melon, ½ cucumber, juice of 1 lemon and ice. Blend until you obtain a refreshing and revitalizing smoothie.
- Of coffee and banana: Combine 1 cup cold coffee, 1 ripe banana, 1 cup almond milk and ice. Blend until smooth.
- Avocado and spinach: Combine ½ ripe avocado, 1 cup fresh spinach, juice of 1 lemon and ice. Blend until you obtain a creamy and nutritious smoothie.
- Strawberry and kiwi smoothie: Combine 2 peeled and chopped kiwis, 1 cup fresh strawberries, juice of 1 orange and ice. Blend until you obtain a fresh-tasting smoothie.
- Apple and cinnamon: Blend 1 green apple cut into pieces, ½ cup Greek yogurt, a pinch of cinnamon and ice. Blend until smooth and aromatic.
- Mango and ginger smoothie: Combine 1 ripe mango, ½ slice of grated fresh ginger, juice of 1 lime and ice. Blend until you obtain a smoothie with an exotic and refreshing touch.
- Of tropical fruits: Blend ½ cup pineapple, ½ cup mango, ½ cup papaya, 1 cup coconut milk and ice. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Red fruits and coconut: Combine 1 cup fresh or frozen mixed berries, ½ cup coconut milk, 1 tablespoon shredded coconut, and ice. Blend until smooth, creamy and antioxidant-rich.
- Pear and vanilla: Blend 1 ripe pear cut into cubes, ½ cup Greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon honey and ice. Blend until smooth.
Source: www.paulinacocina.net