Description
A refreshing and creamy tropical smoothie bursting with flavors of mango, banana, pineapple, and coconut, perfect for busy mornings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup frozen mango chunks
- 1 medium frozen banana, cut into chunks
- ½ cup pineapple chunks
- ½ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup coconut milk
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup coconut kefir
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (juice of 1 lime)
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 cups spinach leaves
- 4 ice cubes
Instructions
- Let the frozen banana and mango sit at room temperature for 5 minutes to ensure smooth blending, avoiding any excessive strain on your blender and ensuring a creamy texture.
- Pour the orange juice, coconut milk, coconut kefir, and lime juice into the blender first. This order prevents dry pockets and helps achieve an even blend. A quick pulse for around 5 seconds will get the liquids swirling together.
- Next, incorporate the banana, mango, pineapple, and Greek yogurt. Blend on medium speed for about 30 seconds until the mixture appears creamy and uniform.
- Add the spinach leaves and chia seeds to the blender. Run the blender on high speed for 40 seconds, ensuring that the greens are fully incorporated and that the chia seeds expand for a smooth texture.
- Finally, toss in 4 ice cubes and blend until velvety. If the smoothie is too thin, consider adding more ice or frozen fruit; if it’s too thick, a splash of extra orange juice will help.
Notes
- For optimal taste, select firm, unsweetened mango cubes with no frost spots. Fresh mango can work if frozen beforehand.
- Use ripe bananas. Peel and freeze the chunks on a tray overnight to enhance creaminess and binding. Alternatively, fresh banana with ice cubes can serve.
- Opt for bright yellow, unsweetened frozen pineapple without browning. Fresh pineapple can replace frozen if chopped and frozen ahead.
- Choose pulp-free, ideally fresh-squeezed juice for a vibrant flavor. Tangerine juice serves as a suitable substitute.
- Select full-fat canned coconut milk and shake to combine cream and liquid. Avoid light coconut milk as it may dilute the texture.
- Plain, low-fat Greek yogurt adds tang and protein. Give it a stir before scooping to ensure consistency. Dairy-free coconut yogurt can work as a substitute.
- Select unflavored coconut kefir for probiotics without unwanted sweetness; plain dairy kefir is an alternative if unavailable.
- Fresh lime juice is preferred—bottled varieties may lack the needed brightness. Lemon juice can stand in nicely.
- Black chia seeds are perfect as they absorb liquid and thicken the smoothie. If not available, ground flaxseed is an acceptable alternative.
- Use a mild, runny honey to balance out the fruit’s natural sweetness; maple syrup can be a vegan alternative.
- Fresh baby spinach with no woody stems blends well and provides extra iron without altering taste. Kale is a good substitute if you prefer a stronger flavor.
- Use fresh, odor-free ice cubes to chill the smoothie without diluting its taste. Avoid using older ice that may affect flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 smoothie
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 5mg