Smoothie Season
One of many homemade mango lassis that have been doing wonders in all this summer heat. The sprinkling of ground cardamom on top really adds that extra oomph that’ll send you into smoothied bliss.
It’s summer time and that means that it’s Smoothie Season!! While I’ve been stocking up on frozen fruit, my one other health-conscious roommate has been in the habit of having kale and Greek yogurt perpetually in the fridge. Ipso facto, we’ve been churning through smoothies. Between the increasingly hot weather and the need for post-workout refueling, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a fresh, cold glass of liquified produce (except water I suppose). Thank god that we have a blender in the apartment.
These days most of my at-home workouts are run through Ring Fit Adventure on my Switch, which by the way is the ideal video game for my lifestyle. An RPG based on working out? I don’t think I’ve ever been more sold on a concept.
Besides Ring Fit absolutely kicking my ass (it’s amazing what kind of mileage the developers have managed to get out of a resistance ring and a leg strap), the game is filled with all sorts of fitness tips, varied (and customizable!) workout routines, and of course smoothies. The in-game smoothies function like potions or other consumable items, and it just so happens that they double as inspiration for me while playing.
While what you’re tossing together between levels is usually short of an actual recipe, I have found myself learning some unique pairings that I wouldn’t have otherwise considered. You might have pause at the thought of a banana and sesame smoothie, but those two ingredients plus oat milk make for a zero-effort blend that has the taste and texture of a nutty vegan custard, with health benefits to boot!
Those pairings are really where the fun lies in the art of smooth cruising. Watching the glass pitcher buzz and whir as its contents swirl into a colorful new creation is like alchemy. Experimenting with new blends certainly invokes that sort of joy that you get playing with your food. I’m like an alchemist, or some sort of modern, tech-savvy yogi witch.
While the sky’s the limit when it comes to what sort of concoctions I can throw together, I definitely have some go-tos. If you’re looking to embark on your own beverage adventure (non-alcoholic, as far as we’re concerned for today), I’ll lay out some of my favorites:
Post-Workout Protein Blend — banana, peanut butter/nut butter, (oat) milk, (Greek) yogurt, kale, honey (optional)
Notes: Great for rebuilding those torn and sore muscles! Rich in nutrients and texture. Great as a day starter/breakfast if you’ve got a buys one ahead of you. Can add protein powder for an extra bit of bulk (we use chickpea protein). Fit for a CrossFit Elvis.
Mixed Berry Blend — Mixed berries (frozen), (oat) milk, (Greek yogurt)
Notes: Simple and delicious, with a pleasing purple color! Sweet and refreshing. Could use chia or flax seeds if you’re looking to up the healthiness. Excellent for smoothie bowls if you’re into that.
Mango Lassi — Mango chunks (frozen), (Greek) yogurt, (oat) milk, honey, ground cardamom (optional, but strongly recommended)
Notes: An absolute favorite of mine, brought to you by the Indian subcontinent. Incredible by itself but also exceptional as a companion to any heavily spiced or spicy meal. It’s basically a drinkable dessert.
Really the takeaway is that you just need fruits and/or veggies, yogurt, some sort of milk (though I’ve had success using coconut water as well), and a natural sweetener to suit your tastes. From there, it’s a beautiful, smoothiful world! Feel free to play around with your favorite flavors and see what blends you find yourself throwing together! Tossing in ingredients and seeing what you can make of it is half the fun. Just be responsible and respectful of your blender. Those blades are no joke.
