Frankensmoothie

The smoothies I make are Frankenstein-face colored and strangely…alive? Each batch is another loopy experiment, but this recipe in particular yields delicious, invigorating results. Even if you’re veggie-averse, you might actually be able to trick yourself into eating them when they’re hiding behind yummy fruit flavors. Plus, I love tonnnns of add-ins that either amp up the flavor or make me feel like I’m putting something good into this mortal garbage disposal.

Here’s the bare-bones ratio I use for every smoothie, with a recipe to follow to give you a place to start in your own blender! I aim for:

• One part fruit thing
• One part veggie thing
• One-half part creamy thing (like yogurt, for example)
• One part liquid (like juice!)
• Bonus: Spice/nuts/seeds/protein powder add-ins!

I go by parts here, because I freehand it all, but if you need some guidance, assume a part equals one cup, and you’ll end up with two to three full glasses. If you follow these guidelines as a rule of thumb, and adjust per your favorite textures and flavors, you’ll be mad scientist-ing your way to something really delish. I like kale with a sweeter fruit, like mango, to cancel out the bitterness, or spinach with berries, which have a subtler sugar content. I also love to add cinnamon and coconut shreds to bring some depth to the flavors, or boosters like vegan protein powder and flax or chia seeds. (My favorite secret ingredient is frozen edamame—stealth protein that keeps me full and energized through the morning!) For the creamy ingredient, I tend to use Greek yogurt or half of a frozen banana. This part is key in taking your mixture from “pureed fruit and vegetables” to “smoothie” territory, so please, for the love of yuck, do not skip the creamy part of the ratio!

Here is my favorite green smoothie recipe. It’s delicious and adaptable to your preferred levels of smoothness, sweetness, or add-ins!

• One part baby spinach, washed
• One-half part pineapple, frozen
• One-half part mixed berries, frozen
• One part orange juice
• One-fourth part frozen edamame
• Half an avocado

Optional (but I put in all of these!):

• One teaspoon of cinnamon
• Two teaspoons of flax seeds
• Four teaspoons of hemp protein powder (it’s green, too!)
• A handful of shredded unsweetened coconut

Combine everything in a blender and blend until its fully smoothified! If the result is too thick, add more liquid until you get your desired consistency. If your fruit and edamame is frozen, you should have a deliciously slushy snack, but pour over ice if you want it chilled. Ahhhhh! —Dylan