This Tropical Citrus Blast Smoothie gets its “blast” from fresh ginger and a host of bright, flavorful fruits like pineapple, lemon, and banana. Easy to make, but hardly ordinary.
Pulverize a few of the tougher ingredients, then blend the rest.
Ingredients
1 one-inch piece fresh ginger, (peeled if you wish)
1 cup orange juice
1/4 lemon, seeds discarded
2 cups fresh or frozen pineapple chunks, plus more for garnish
1 large banana
3/4 cup (low-fat) plain yogurt
1 Tbs chia seeds, optional
2 Tbs vanilla
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Sugar
2 cups ice (if using fresh pineapple)
Directions
- Place the ginger and juice into the blender, and process until the ginger is completely pulverized into the juice, 30 seconds. Add the lemon, blend until completely pulverized into the juice, 30 seconds.
- Add pineapple, banana, yogurt, (chia seeds), vanilla, and cinnamon, and blend. Add sugar, to taste (perhaps 3 Tbs). (Blend in the ice just until you stop hearing “kerchunk” sounds.) Garnish with fresh pineapple, and enjoy.
Notes
- Instesad of orange juice, use pineapple juice or another sweet, citrus juice.
- I used a powerful Ninja blender. I don’t how well these directions would work in a less powerful machine.
Social Learning
Is it a sin to add sugar to a smoothie? Trust me, I’m not one for adding sugar where it isn’t necessary, but depending on the sweetness of the fruit that you use, this smoothie may need a bit of sweetening. Of course you could use something like honey if you feel that’ll bring you closer to enlightenment. Note that if you use dark brown sugar, it will change the color of your smoothie in a way that at first seems disappointing, but after you get used to it, it’s OK.
This smoothie’s pretty pulpy, which I don’t mind. But if you do, use lemon juice instead a whole piece of lemon. And oh, by the way, do rinse the blender jug thoroughly before putting it in the dishwasher. I didn’t, and my dishwasher left pulp on the other dishes.
You know what else’d be good in here if you happened to have it on hand? Peaches and/or mango.
One of the advantages of having a really powerful blender is that if there’s any smoothie left over, you can leave it in the blender, and slip the blender jug right into the freezer. It would have to freeze completely – like, overnight – before the Ninja couldn’t re-blend it straight from the freezer. If you catch it at the right moment, it’ll be like a cross between a slushy and a smoothie.
The Backstory
I like to make smoothies as a way to use up leftover ginger. Aside from flavor, the ginger also provides a bit of a kick that I really love.
I had intended to buy a whole, fresh pineapple for this. However, when I got to the store, I saw pineapple that had been peeled and cored, on the verge of becoming overly ripe, for $5.00. The fresh pineapples were going for $4.99. It was worth the extra penny to not havo prep the pineapple, and very ripe fruit is perfect for smoothies.
Tropical Citrus Blast Smoothie
Credit for images on this page: Make It Like a Man! unless otherwise credited. This content was not solicited by anyone, nor was it written in exchange for anything. Thank you, Kesor. References: Gimme Some Oven, Martha, Nutrition in the kitchen, Simple Greens.
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I am not a smoothie fan, but this sounds really wonderful. I like the add of ginger.
angiesrecipes recently posted…Sourdough Discard Bread
Neither am I, for the most part! So, I don’t make a smoothie like this very often, which makes it kind of a special occasion when I do.
We haven’t made a smoothie for years – and I don’t know why. It is a great idea for a healthy (even with sugar) lunch. COnveniently, our friend just gave us a bag of frozen pineapple and we have lots of peaches and bananas on hand – all I need to get is the yogurt! Nice smoothie, Jeff!
I’m right there with you, David. I don’t make smoothies at home often. It’s one of my ways of using things up, “Salads,” “soups,” and “in a tortilla” are some of my favoirite ways, but “smoothie” makes a sweet alternative.
Such a nice and fresh smoothie perfect for the unbearable heat waves many places are dealing with right now. I would also add some mint for the extra freshness!
Yes, I bet some mint would be great! Thanks!
I can see why this smoothie would be called a “blast”- the ginger would give it quite a kick. I usually use ginger in Asian dishes but would like to try it in a smoothie, too. This is a nice cool drink during the heat wave!
Fran @ G’day Souffle recently posted…Baked Caramel Apples with Dumplings
Yeah, thanks! The ginger provides flavor, but also that kick you mention. It’s great!
Smoothies! Haven’t had one for quite some time. Maybe because our blender is kinda wimpy? Really have to get a decent one, I guess. Anyway, such a nice recipe. Pulpy is fine with me, so I’ll make mine your way. Thanks!
John+/+Kitchen+Riffs recently posted…Watermelon, Feta, and Mint Salad
Thanks, John!
I’ve been craving smoothies lately! Perhaps its because we’re at the height of summer fruit season. Either way, I love the lemon + ginger in this one, Jeff. Pulpy smoothies for the win!
David @ Spiced recently posted…Grilled Sticky Chicken
Thanks, David!
What a refreshing and healthy smoothie. And I bet it even tastes like a desert. 🙂 ~Valentina
Thank you!
Leftover ginger? I keep my gingers (Thai and ordinary ginger) in a zip-lock bag in the freezer. I use my microplane to grate it when needed. No need to peel because the microplane grates it so finely that the peel doesn’t matter. I do scrub the ginger before I freeze it. Just make sure you let it dry before freezing. I love having ginger on hand.
Smoothies are a great way to use up fruit, we don’t have them often enough, this post is a great reminder to do so. Such a lovely summer drink.
Eva Taylor recently posted…Bacon and Scallion Cornbread
That’s a great idea, Eva! Thanks!
yes i do the same as eva (above). i finely grate or just finely chop my unpeeled ginger and chuck it in the freezer in ziplock bags. lasts forever:) THis drink sounds good jeff. oddly i detest banana but can take it in a smoothie like this. I do believe the word ‘smoothie’ was coined here in australia. but i could be wrong. apparently people tried to change it to smoothy with a y but it didn’t take.
sherry recently posted…Overnight Bread Made With 33 Cloves of Garlic!
Interesting! “Smoothie” does sound like a Aussie term. How dare anyone try to end that word with a Y! I’m going to have to try that ginger trick.
actually i just remembered that i now i chop it a bit, then i zap it in my food processor! so easy.
sherry recently posted…Overnight Bread Made With 33 Cloves of Garlic!
Nice! Thanks!
Two things I like about this recipe:
1- This an energizing smoothie, would be perfect for many of those searching for a coffee replacement;
2- It’s incredibly nutritious without greens, which taste(s) some people find difficult to get used to.
Great job, Jeff!
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Thank you, Suzanne!