Matcha, vanilla, and cashews turn banana and cashew milk into a creamy tea-flavored smoothie. Matcha adds a grassy note that differs from brewed tea. Optional ginger provides another accent without needing to be included in every version of the recipe.
Healthy Smoothie Recipes
Vanilla Matcha Cashew Banana Smoothie
Matcha, vanilla, and cashews turn banana and cashew milk into a creamy tea-flavored smoothie.
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
- 2 tablespoon raw cashews
- 1 cup unsweetened cashew milk
- 1 teaspoon matcha or more, if desired
- 1 banana, peeled and frozen
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 0.25 teaspoon ginger root optional
Directions
- Pour the measured liquid into the blender. Add the softer prepared ingredients first, keeping the frozen pieces separated so they can move toward the blades instead of forming a solid block above them.
- 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
Measure matcha and break up clumps before blending. Begin with the listed teaspoon before adding more. Matcha contains caffeine, so consider your usual preferences when choosing or adapting this particular smoothie.
Unsalted cashews add texture as well as richness. A high-powered blender may process them easily, while another machine may leave some grit. Chopping them finely can help; any optional soaking or softening should be counted separately from the quick blending time.
A banana with a few brown speckles gives a different sweetness from a firm, barely ripe one. Slice it before freezing, keeping pieces separate. This makes measuring easier and avoids a large frozen mass that the blender cannot move.
Ingredient health benefits
- Banana contributes vitamin B6, which helps the body process protein.
- Cashews contribute magnesium, used in normal muscle and nerve function.
Nutrition references: NIH: Vitamin B6; NIH: Magnesium. 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.
