Looking for a six-pack of cool, delicious summer smoothies that will satisfy the most demanding of palates? Here they are. And get this, they’re easy to make and true to the mission of my brand, The Speedy Vegan: “Delicious, Nutritious, Fresh and Fast!”
The keys to creamy, dairy-free smoothies are frozen fruit and a great high-speed blender. That’s why I keep a freezer full of frozen bananas, berries and other fruit to throw into the blender for a nutrient-rich fusion any time. Be sure to freeze bananas when they are very ripe and have freckles on the skin. That is when they are at their sweetest. I peel them, break them into thirds and pop them in a bag to freeze.
Here’s another trick to add healthy flavor. Use dates. They are a perfect whole-food sweetener, meaning nothing added and nothing taken away (except the pit)!
The slower you sip the more satisfying the smoothie, which is why I always add a garnish to the side of the glass as a reminder to “chew” your smoothie. This sip-and-nibble technique ensures that you don’t immediately get hungry after a spike in blood sugar if you drink too fast.
Great Green Smoothie
This is a great way for picky eaters to get the recommended daily intake of vitamins, minerals and heart-healthy greens. Fiber is essential for maintaining healthy digestion, and unlike a green juice, this green smoothie retains all the benefits of fiber from whole foods.
Serves 2
3 cups baby spinach, packed
2 stalks celery
2 frozen ripe bananas
1 cup frozen mango
½ cup frozen pineapple
1 tablespoon hemp seeds
1 teaspoon flaxseed
2 cups water or unsweetened soy, oat or almond milk
Garnish (optional)
2 stalks of celery with the green leaves on
Add everything except the garnish to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and garnish each glass with a stalk of celery.
Blueberry Smoothie
If there is one fruit to eat every day, then blueberries are it. These small but mighty berries pack quite a punch. They get their blue color from a flavonoid called anthocyanin. This compound may help protect the body from heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and other diseases.
Serves 2
1 cup frozen blueberries
2 frozen ripe bananas
2-3 medjool dates, pitted
1½ cups soy, oat or almond milk
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 teaspoon flax seed
4 ounces silken tofu
Garnish
1 tablespoon fresh blueberries
Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Pour into glasses and garnish with fresh blueberries floating on top.
Chunky Monkey Smoothie
This may be the most delicious smoothie ever. It is a decadent-tasting combination but full of heart-healthy fiber and antioxidants too. You can pour this mixture into popsicle molds and freeze overnight for a delicious icy treat if you prefer.
Serves 2
2 frozen ripe bananas
2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
2-3 medjool dates, pitted
2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
2 cups plant-based milk
4-5 ice cubes
Garnish (optional)
2 tablespoons date syrup
1 tablespoon raw cacao powder
¼ banana sliced thick on an angle
Add all the ingredients, except the garnish, to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Mix the date syrup and cacao powder together in a small bowl and use a teaspoon to drizzle onto the sides of two tall serving glasses. Pour the smoothie into the glasses, garnish with sliced banana and enjoy.
Tropical Passion Smoothie
The combination of these tropical fruits in a smoothie will instantly transport you to a palm-tree-lined beach. Fresh ginger and turmeric add a delicious anti-inflammatory punch.
Serves 2
2 frozen ripe bananas
frozen ripe
, ripe and frozen
½ cup passion fruit juice
1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1 cup frozen mango chunks
2 medjool dates
½-inch knob of fresh ginger or ½ teaspoon dried ginger powder
¼-inch knob of fresh turmeric or ½ teaspoon dried turmeric powder
1 cup plant-based milk or coconut water
4-5 ice cubes
Garnish (optional)
1 slice fresh pineapple, cut in half
Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Pour into two tall glasses, garnish each glass with half a slice of pineapple and enjoy.
Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
Drinking this bright smoothie will bring back childhood memories of eating the classic treat on hot summer days. This healthier version is loaded with vitamin C from the oranges and minerals, fiber and protein from the dates, bananas and hemp seeds.
Serves 2
2 oranges, peeled
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 banana, frozen
½ cup soy, oat or almond milk
1 tablespoon hemp seed
2 medjool dates, pitted
1 teaspoon vanilla powder or extract
¼ teaspoon turmeric
1 cup ice
Garnish
2 slices of orange
Pinch of orange zest
Add everything to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Garnish with a slice of orange and sprinkle of orange zest.
Strawberry, Basil, Watermelon Slushy
A perfect poolside refresher packed with antioxidants, this is an excellent source of vitamin C from the strawberries and vitamin A from the watermelon. Watermelon is also a great source of lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant with many benefits, including sun protection.
Serves 4
12 ounces frozen strawberries
3 cups fresh watermelon chunks
¼ cup fresh basil leaves
2 cups ice cubes
Garnish
2 fresh strawberries
2 sprigs fresh basil
Add the frozen strawberries, watermelon and basil to a blender and blend for 30 to 45 seconds. Pour into glasses and garnish with fresh strawberries and sprigs of basil.
Peach Pie Smoothie
Enjoy all the flavors of peach pie without the crust. This creamy, satisfying combination will fuel any summer outdoor adventure.
Serves 2
16 ounces frozen peaches
¼ cup rolled oats
2 medjool dates, pitted
1 tablespoon almond butter
½ teaspoon vanilla powder
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch ground nutmeg
½ cup unsweetened soy, oat or almond milk
1 cup ice cubes
Garnish
½ fresh peach, sliced
Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Garnish with slices of fresh peach and serve.
What kind of smoothie do you typically make at home? Let us know in the comments below.
