How To Make A Smoothie

When I’m craving an easy, nutrition-packed breakfast (and just can’t be bothered to cook or chop anything), smoothies are what I turn to. Ready in a handful of minutes, they’re the perfect quick breakfast for when you’ve gotta eat and get out the door. We’ve got plenty of smoothie recipes (looking at you, spinach smoothie and blueberry smoothie), but if you’re looking to perfect the art of the smoothie, this is the guide for you. Before I dive into this triple-berry recipe, read on to discover all my top tips for how to make the perfect smoothie, no matter your fruit of choice.

What People Are Saying:
"so delish! 5 stars! really good for an 'on the go breakfast'" - grace

"This is great! Perfect if you love raspberry sorbet. Reminds me of that a little bit!" - KLM

How To Make A Smoothie

INGREDIENTS

• Fruit: I love a mixed berry smoothie, so for this recipe, I went with a combo of strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries, plus banana for creaminess. If a tropical smoothie is more your vibe, try a mixture of pineapple, mango, and banana. Truth is the sky’s the limit. Treat this recipe as a template; it can accommodate just about any combination of fruit you can dream up so long as you aim for about 3 c. fruit in all (not counting the banana).
• Liquid: Unsweetened almond milk provides a hint of nuttiness that marries well with berry smoothies. For tropical smoothies, I opt for coconut milk, which gives a richer, creamier result. Whole milk or fruit juice also work well if you’re not feeling a plant-based milk. Whatever you choose, use 1 1/4 c. liquid to get the ideal smoothie consistency.
• Thickener: Protein-packed plain Greek yogurt is my go-to, but peanut butter, almond butter, or regular yogurt are all great options. Traditionally about 1/2 c. thickener is ideal. If you prefer a thinner smoothie, you can either lessen the amount of thickener or even skip it all together. If skipping, be sure to compensate by using less liquid.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Our smoothie journey begins by adding fruit to a blender. Any standard-size blender will do; no need to run out and buy something with the horsepower of a Camaro. For even blending, order matters: Start by adding the lighter fruit (in this case, the berries) to give the blades something to grip, then move on to the heavier stuff (the bananas).

Next stop: the liquid. Unsweetened almond milk beautifully complements the flavors of the berries, but feel free to swap in your fave milk, plant-based or otherwise, if you like. You could even use fruit juice. For optimal smoothie texture, I like to make sure the liquid is fridge-cold.

And now for the thickener. Whole-milk Greek yogurt is excellent at thickening and lends satisfying richness and a welcome tang.

Rev up your engines and blend! High speed is our friend here. The idea is to arrive at thick and smooth as quickly as possible, since the longer you blender, the more you heat up (and thin out) the smoothie. See that vortex pictured below? That’s what we’re after—it’s a sign our smoothie is blending evenly. If needed, turn off the blender and stir to get the mixture moving. If the mixture is too thick to form a smoothie vortex, add a splash of almond milk (or your liquid of choice) to help it along.

Pour the smoothie into glasses and garnish with a berry if you like. Our journey is ended, now drink up!

Full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.

Recipe Tips

• Frozen is best: Nothing against fresh fruit, but when it comes to smoothies, frozen can’t be beat. It blends up thicker and allows you avoid using ice cubes, which only water things down. If you don't have frozen fruit, freeze fresh fruit for 30 minutes before blending or add about 1 c. ice and blend until smooth!
• Portion out fruit ahead of time: The morning rush is not the ideal time to be playing with measuring cups. Instead, freeze fruit in individual portions so all that’s left to do is blend and enjoy.
• Go crazy with the add-ins: Add some spinach or kale for additional nutrition (it’s our favorite way to get in greens) or flax seeds for omega-3s. Flavors like fresh mint, vanilla extract, cinnamon, or honey will take any smoothie to the next level.

Make Ahead

Smoothies are best consumed fresh; they begin to thaw and separate soon after they are made. But you can get ahead of the game by freezing and portioning your fruit up to 3 months in advance.