Fresh mint gives cacao a herbal accent, while banana and avocado create a creamy base. Dates soften the chocolate flavor and almond milk supplies liquid. Spinach joins the mixture without needing to become the leading flavor of this dessert-style smoothie.
Healthy Smoothie Recipes
Mint Cacao Avocado Banana Smoothie
Fresh mint gives cacao a herbal accent, while banana and avocado create a creamy base.
Prep: 5 minutesServings: 1
Base recipe: 1 serving; the full base batch
Vegan
Category image
Measured ingredient amounts adjust with servings. “To taste” amounts and directions stay as written.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 0.75 cup spinach
- 0.25 cup mint leaves fresh
- 1 banana, peeled
- 0.25 avocado, peeled and stone removed
- 2 Medjool dates
- 1 tablespoon cacao powder
- cacao nibs optional
Directions
- Put the measured liquid in the blender with the prepared leafy greens. Secure the lid and process until the leaves are finely dispersed, stopping the machine before scraping down the sides if needed.
- Add the remaining edible ingredients, including the measured fruit, nuts, seeds, or spices listed for this recipe. Blend until evenly combined. Use the machine instructions to choose a suitable speed, and stop before checking texture or scraping the jug.
- Taste a small spoonful after blending. If the mixture is too thick to pour, add cold water one tablespoon at a time and blend briefly again. Divide the base batch into 1 serving and enjoy promptly.
Notes
Contains tree nuts. Prepared ingredients are required; additional cooking, cooling, freezing, brewing, or soaking time is excluded from the active prep estimate. Serving volume and nutrition totals are not measured.
Adapted from Jen Hansard at Simple Green Smoothies.
Tips and ingredient notes
Use mint leaves instead of tough stems. Start with the measured portion because varieties differ in strength. Optional cacao nibs stay crunchy as a topping and are not essential to the blended recipe.
Choose avocado that mashes easily and measure only sound edible flesh. Firm pieces can remain lumpy after softer fruit has blended. When changing avocado quantity, adjust gradually because extra avocado changes the body more noticeably than the same volume of juicy fruit.
Use unsweetened cacao or cocoa rather than an instant chocolate-drink mix. The latter can contain sugar and other ingredients that alter the recipe. Break up large powder clumps before blending, then taste only after the powder is fully dispersed in the liquid.
Ingredient health benefits
- Spinach provides vitamin K, needed for normal blood clotting.
- Banana contributes vitamin B6, which helps the body process protein.
Nutrition references: NIH: Vitamin K; NIH: Vitamin B6. These are ingredient contributions; nutrition per serving has not been calculated.
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Recipe adapted from Jen Hansard at Simple Green Smoothies. Article text and directions written for Healthy Smoothie Recipes. Supplement omissions and preparation changes mean source nutrition totals do not apply.
