Usually, people look to blenders when they want to make smoothies, but you really don't have to! As long as you choose a fruit that is smooth and ripe, you can grind it manually and mix it with your favorite smoothie ingredients, such as yogurt or nut butter. Get the smoothie's signature texture by whisking the mixture with ice until the smoothie is cool and creamy. Use this simple method for your favorite smoothie recipe, or create your own unique drink recipe!
Step
Part 1 of 2: Choosing Ingredients
Step 1. Look for very ripe fruit
Since you can't crush hard, high-fiber fruits, buy or choose fruit that is soft and can be mashed manually (by hand). Keep in mind that fruit has a softest texture when fully ripe. Try making your smoothie using one or a combination of these basic ingredients:
- Kiwi
- Mango
- Banana
- Pear
- Berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries
Step 2. Use vegetable puree or vegetable puree
While most vegetables are too fibrous to make a smoothie without a blender, you can use a ripe, smooth avocado instead. Keep in mind that you can also add a spoonful of vegetable puree, such as pumpkin puree, butternut squash, or carrots.
Vegetable puree can also thicken the mixture and give it a light color
Step 3. Add protein to thicken the drink
Smooth fruit is usually the dominant ingredient in smoothies that aren't made in a blender, but you'll need a "filler" to add protein and give it a softer texture. Use your favorite yogurt variant, nut butter, or chia seeds to add protein to your drink mix.
Instead of peanut butter, you can use tahini or sunflower butter. This ingredient can increase the protein content of smoothie mixes without added sugar
Tip:
For a thicker smoothie, use full-fat Greek yogurt. Choose the flavor you like or use a plain variant to preserve the original taste of the smoothie.
Step 4. Choose liquid ingredients to thin the smoothie
You may not need a lot of liquid ingredients in your smoothie, but it's a good idea to keep nutritious liquids ready in case you need them. For a softer mixture, prepare milk or an alternative product, such as almond milk or soy milk. To make it sweeter, use fruit juice.
For example, you can use apple, grape, orange, or pineapple juice
Step 5. Add powdered ingredients as a source of protein or flavour
Modify the smoothie recipe by adding additional flavors or protein powder. If you are adding protein powder, use the dosage as recommended by the manufacturer. For added flavor, try using:
- Cocoa powder
- Matcha powder (green tea)
- Maca powder
- Spices, such as nutmeg, cinnamon, or turmeric
Part 2 of 2: Making Smoothies
Step 1. Puree fruits and vegetables
Clean and peel the skin from the fruit. Then, put as much fruit as desired in a bowl and use the back of a spoon, fork, or potato puree to mash the ingredients as smooth as possible.
Keep in mind that small lumps of fruit and vegetable puree may still remain
Step 2. Mix the mashed fruit or vegetables with the ingredients of choice
Place the mashed fruit or vegetables in a new bowl and add any thickening agent or powder as desired. Stir until the powder is dissolved and all ingredients are evenly mixed.
For example, to make a classic banana strawberry smoothie, place the mashed strawberries and bananas in a bowl along with a few tablespoons of yogurt. Stir the ingredients to form a smoothie mixture
Step 3. Toss the mixture with ice if you want a soft foamy dish
You can enjoy the dish right away once it's thoroughly mixed, but you may want to enjoy it chilled. Put some ice in a large jar and pour the smoothie mixture into the jar. Cover the jar and shake until the mixture cools and is foamy. The shuffling process takes about 30 seconds.
To make a frozen smoothie, add crushed ice to the mixture before serving. Keep in mind that the smoothie will have a texture that resembles a slushie
Step 4. Add desired liquid ingredients to adjust the consistency of the mixture
After mixing all the main ingredients, taste it first and determine whether the consistency or thinness is according to taste. To thin the mixture, add 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 ml) of juice or milk until the mixture has the desired consistency.
If the mixture is not thick enough, add more yogurt or chia seeds. Chia seeds may take a few minutes before they can thicken the mixture, so it's a good idea to let the smoothie cool before enjoying it
Step 5. Enjoy the chilled smoothie that is ready
Pour the mixture into a serving glass and enjoy immediately. Because they are not mixed or mashed by machine, there is a possibility that the ingredients used will quickly separate again. If the ingredients separate, stir the smoothie again with a long spoon and enjoy serving using a straw.
