This recipe makes a filling and indulgent creamy shake which will satisfy vegans and non-vegans alike. Despite being a sweet treat it also contains nutrients from the fresh fruits and vegetables and is suitable for dairy free diets.
It is possible to leave out the fruit sugar to make a less sweet drink although fructose or fruit sugar is a low GI sugar so causes less stress on the system. Use the ripest fruits possible to make this a deliciously sweet and summer tasting drink. Hass avocados tend to have a creamier texture so are the best to use and baby leaf spinach makes a deliciously green and fresh tasting addition to the shake.
Raw foodists could leave out the coconut milk because in the UK this usually only comes in cans or cartons which have been heated or pasteurized in some way. Raw hemp milk or almond milk could be used instead.
Green Thick Shake Ingredients
- 1 ripe Hass avocado
- 1 banana
- 5 - 6 fresh pineapple chunks
- 2 large handfuls of baby leaf spinach
- 10 whole almonds, soaked overnight night then peeled
- 2 ripe kiwi fruits, without skins
- 6-8 ice cubes
- Half a can of coconut milk
- Fruit sugar to sweeten if desired
- Juice of a lime
Soaking the Almonds
Cover the almonds with filtered water and leave to soak overnight. Before use, discard the water and peel the brown skin from the soaked nuts. This can be a little fiddly but is easy to get used to doing. Some people blanch the almonds briefly by pouring boiling water over them as this makes them easier to peel. This might seem a fiddly step but the almonds add lots of nutrition to the shake and also help it to be creamy, smooth and filling.
To Make the Smoothie
- Place the soaked and peeled almonds in a blender with the fruit sugar if using and pulse a couple of times to mash the ingredients.
- Add the spinach and blend to a smooth paste.
- Add the pineapple, ice cubes and kiwi fruits and blend for thirty seconds before adding the banana, avocado and coconut milk.
- Once the drink is smooth, stir in the lime juice and enjoy.
This drink is best enjoyed fresh but can be kept covered and refrigerated for a day or so. The addition of the lime juice adds flavor an vitamins and also helps to keep the shake a vibrant green color.
Serve in a tall glass or beaker with a fat straw for true thick shake credentials.
Shefali Choudhury - Writer and visual artist, Suite Beauty topic editor, Shefali spent 10 years in professional makeup artistry from beauty to blood ...
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