Tips for Making Smoothies
As versatile and easy to make as smoothies are, there are still a few things to do to make sure they turn out perfectly! The most important tip is to add the softest ingredients including liquid closest to the blade of your bender. This helps the blender get going and will allow everything to blend together easily. You may have to stop blending to scrape down the sides of your blender or add more liquid. The longer you blend, the smoother (and thinner) your smoothie will be.
How to Make A smoothie Thick
If you like your smoothies really thick or want to use it as the base of a smoothie bowl, make sure to use frozen fruit.If you don’t have all frozen fruit or your smoothie still seems a little too thin, add some ice to thicken it. It’s also smart to start with a small amount of liquid and add more as needed. It’s easier to thin a smoothie than it is to thicken it.
Smoothie Add-Ins
If you want to fancy up your smoothie a little bit, try some of the following add-ins. They also make great toppings for smoothie bowls!
Seeds or Grains: Try chia seeds, hemp seeds, or flax seeds. Oats are also great in smoothies and will add nice thickness. Protein: If you want to amp up the protein content of your smoothie, you might consider adding a scoop of protein powder or collagen powder. Another way to add protein to a smoothie is by adding cottage cheese or a nut or seed butter. Sweetener: If you’re looking to sweeten your smoothie, try adding maple syrup, honey, agave, coconut sugar, simple syrup, granulated sugar, confectioners’ sugar, or brown sugar. A pitted date can also sweeten your smoothie naturally. Spices: A pinch of a spice can add a lot of depth to your smoothie. Cinnamon is a natural choice, but think of ginger, turmeric, and nutmeg too. Extracts: Like spices, extracts can add extra flavor. Vanilla is always a great choice, but maple and almond are delicious too. Start with just a little, they’re very concentrated. Veggies: Everyone thinks of spinach, but any leafy green will work. Try kale or swiss chard. You might also want to try cauliflower or avocado in your smoothies.
Juice and Smoothie Recipes
More Smoothies
If you want more, I have a ton of smoothies (and other breakfast beverages) over on Pancake Recipes.
