Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe
A strawberry banana smoothie is perfect when you need breakfast on the go. I whip up the drink with frozen strawberries and a banana whenever Lulu is running late. Strawberries aren't quite in season yet, so frozen is your best bet. When you can get them fresh, this drink is even more delicious.
Besides being a vegetarian, Lulu is also lactose-intolerant, so it's a challenge to make him calcium-rich food. I used almond milk and yogurt to deliver calcium without adding too much lactose. I also added a scoop of whey protein to fortify the drink with a little protein. I placed the smoothie in a cup that I sealed with a lid and added a straw.
Lulu left for work with a strawberry banana smoothie in his hand and a kiss on his cheek. I think that's a pretty good way to start the day!
Ingredients
Yields: 6 servings
4 cups frozen strawberries3 bananas
4 cups Greek yogurt
juice of a tangerine
1 cup almond milk
1 cup ice cubes (optional)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup agave nectar, depending on how sweet the fruits are
1 ounce whey protein powder (optional)
6 fresh strawberries, for garnish
Directions
Combine the frozen strawberries, bananas, yogurt, tangerine juice, almond milk and ice cubes in a blender. Blend all the ingredients for about 2 minutes. While the mixture is blending, add the agave nectar, whey protein and vanilla extract. The consistency of the smoothie should be smooth and creamy.
Pour into 6 small glasses. Finish with fresh strawberries for decoration if you like (make a small incision at the bottom of the fruit and place it on the rim of the glass)
Enjoy!
Tips
I used store-bought yogurt. We usually make our own yogurt during the summer. It's easier than you imagine; making homemade yogurt doesn't even require a yogurt maker. You can click on the link for the recipe.
I use the Vitamix blender. It's rather expensive but so worth it. I got it as a wedding gift, and it's really powerful. It crushes ice into sno-cones almost instantantly. It's perfect for smoothies. Just make sure there is some amount of liquid so that the motor does not burn. Vitamix also carries an additional container just for dry ingredients.
Agave nectar is a natural sweetener. You can find it in specialty stores such as Whole Foods and in many regular grocery stores. In France, it's called agave honey. Unlike honey, agave nectar has a long shelf life and does not crystallize over time. Agave nectar is made out of the purified sap of cactus-like desert plants. If you can't find it, you could use palm sugar (you can buy this in Asian stores, at Costco or Trader Joe's), honey or granulated sugar.
You can find whey protein powder in health food stores like GNC, or many supermarkets like Whole Foods. I like using protein powder as a supplement for my husband, who's a vegetarian! Just make sure the protein source is clearly labeled. You should get either whey or soy protein. If the source is unclear, it is possible that the protein is derived from remnant animal parts.
For a vegan version, you can also soy, potato or rice milk and soy yogurt.
Check out other drink recipes by clicking on the link.
Published By: on April 24, 2010.Comments
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