Banana Beet Smoothie

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

• 3) Add the peeled banana, beets, plant-based milk, lemon juice, raspberries, seeds, and maca root powder to the 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

More Smoothie Recipes

• Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
• Strawberry Kale Smoothie
• Mixed Berry Smoothie
• Ginger Fruit Smoothie

Photos by Alfonso Revilla