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What’s not to LOVE about this banana beet smoothie?? It works great for a quick 10-minute breakfast or snack! Since beets are available for most of the year along with bananas and frozen raspberries, this beetroot smoothie can be enjoyed any time of the year.

completed Banana Beet Smoothie in a glass cup against a light background

Smoothies make an excellent way to sneak veggies into your breakfast and snacks. The bananas help sweeten the beets and tone down their earthy flavor a bit.

If you love beets, you might also enjoy beet energy balls, a beet smoothie bowl, or some small batch pickled beets.

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Why This Recipe Works

  • It’s the perfect smoochie — I mean, smoothie for Valentine’s Day!
  • Mostly simple ingredients. Those that are a bit harder to find are totally optional which means you can simply skip them.
  • Packed with nutrients and naturally sweetened.

What Goes Into This Recipe

There may be some new ingredients in this recipe you’ve never heard of before so let’s look at the highlights so you know more about them. The full ingredient list and quantities are in the recipe card.

ingredients for Banana Beet Smoothie measured out against a white surface
  • Beets: Beets are packed with antioxidants and other nutrients. They give the smoothie its bright pink or red color. Don’t worry if you don’t like their flavor as they lose a bit of their earthy flavor when cooked and blended with the other smothered ingredients.
  • Banana: Naturally sweetens the smoothie and also contributes to its creaminess.
  • Non-dairy milk: Your favorite or most economical brand works just great!
  • Lemon juice: Use fresh for the best flavor.
  • Raspberries: The ease of frozen raspberries is an affordable and efficient option. Plus it makes the smoothie thicker and eliminates the need for ice.
  • Chia seeds and hemp seeds: These are on the more expensive side of things so they’re optional, but you can save a bit by buying in bulk. Also, you usually use them in small amounts so they tend to last a bit. The advantage of using them is they add protein and healthy fats to the smoothie.
  • Maca root powder: Maca grows in the Andes mountains in South America. It’s also optional but if you decide to purchase it, it’s often available in health food stores or online.

Smoothie Variations

Looking for some ways to boost the nutrition in your smoothie? Here are some of my favorite ingredients to add or swap!

  • No chia or hemp? Use flax instead!
  • Want to add protein? Add nuts, nut butter, a scoop of your favorite vegan protein powder, or even some soft silken tofu.
  • Swap out the raspberries. This beet smoothie works great with any type of berry so swap them for another or use mixed berries.
  • Don’t want to cook the beets? Opt for frozen or already cooked beets in the produce section!

How To Make a Beet Smoothie

You will need to plan ahead a bit for this recipe since it requires cooking fresh beets. You can do this ahead of time to make it easier.

  • 1) Make sure to scrub the beet really well. Then cut the top and tail off the beet. Chop it up into one-half-inch cubes. It’s going to get blended up, so no need to make them pretty! 
  • 2) Cook the beets in boiling water for about five minutes or until they are tender enough to blend up well. Set them aside to cool.
process shot of adding beets to a pot
  • 3) Add the peeled banana, beets, plant-based milk, lemon juice, raspberries, seeds, and maca root powder to the blender.
process shot of adding Banana Beet Smoothie ingredients to a blender
  • 4) Blend all the ingredients until they are combined and smooth! Enjoy.

Expert Tips 

  • When cutting the beets, the smaller the chop, the faster they’ll cook. 
  • For a cold smoothie (from the frozen raspberries) be sure to give the beets time to cool.
  • Use frozen bananas for a creamier, more shake-like smoothie. Simply cut them up in batches and store them in the freezer to grab for smoothies. It’s a great way to use up overripe bananas instead of throwing them out!

FAQs

Can I make a smoothie with raw beets?

Yes, you can! They are more difficult to blend so you will need a high-speed blender. Raw beets also have an earthier flavor, so be aware that may influence the flavor of the smoothie.

What fruit goes well with beets?

There are quite a few you can use including apples and apple juice, berries, citrus including orange, lemon, and grapefruit, cranberries, mangoes, pomegranate, and watermelon.

completed Banana Beet Smoothie in a glass cup against a light background

More Smoothie Recipes

Photos by Alfonso Revilla

two completed Banana Beet Smoothies in a glass cup against a light background

Banana Beet Smoothie

5 from 41 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 1 serving
What's not to LOVE about this banana beet smoothie?? It works great for a quick 10-minute breakfast or snack! Since beets are available for most of the year along with bananas and frozen raspberries, this beetroot smoothie can be enjoyed any time of the year.

Ingredients 

  • 1 small beet
  • 2 cups of water
  • 1 medium banana
  • ½ cup of non-dairy milk
  • 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice
  • â…” cup of frozen raspberries
  • 1 teaspoon of chia seeds (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon of hemp seeds (optional)
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons of maca root powder (optional)

Instructions 

  • Cut the top and tail off the beet, and wash and scrub clean. (No need to peel the skin.) Chop the beet into ½-inch cubes. It's going to get blended up, so no need to make them pretty! The smaller the chop, the faster they'll cook, though…
  • Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the chopped beets. Cook for about 5 minutes (or long enough that they'll blend easily–you know your blender better than I do!).
  • In the meantime, to the blender, add the peeled banana, non-dairy milk, lemon juice, raspberries, seeds, and maca root powder (if using).
  • When the beets are done cooking, strain and add just the beets to the blender. If you prefer your smoothie cool (from the frozen raspberries), adding steaming hot beets will warm your drink a bit, so let them cool for as long as you like. When ready, blend all the ingredients till they're well combined.

Notes

  • When cutting the beets, the smaller the chop, the faster they’ll cook. 
  • For a cold smoothie (from the frozen raspberries) be sure to give the beets time to cool.
  • Use frozen bananas for a creamier, more shake-like smoothie. Simply cut them up in batches and store them in the freezer to grab for smoothies. It’s a great way to use up overripe bananas instead of throwing them out!

Nutrition

Calories: 246kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 7gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 0.4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gSodium: 247mgPotassium: 808mgFiber: 12gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 155IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 235mgIron: 2mg

Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Additional Info

Author: Matthew Smith
Course: Breakfast, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Method: Stovetop
Diet: Vegan
Tried this recipe?Please tag us at @PlantBasedOnABudget! 🙂
About

Matthew Smith

A former math teacher, Matt is now cooking up food in a vegan restaurant in Berkeley, CA. More than 5 years into his vegan journey, he loves sharing tasty, compassionate, and healthful food with friends and family–and strangers, too, sometimes!

More about Matthew Smith

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made this and it was delicious. Because my shakes are fitness oriented, I used chia seeds, acacia fiber, protein powder, creatine, and stevia as my additions. I also added a bit of whole milk. I’ll be making this regularly. Thanks.

    1. Hi! You can find them both in most health isles in most stores. If not, you can also find them available online! 🙂

  2. I don’t normally buy beets but I do have a large bag of beetroot powder. Can’t remember why I bought it, I think I used it once. I could probably use a bit of this instead, right?