Make Yourself a Banana Smoothie

Banana is like a Swiss Army knife – versatile and ready for anything! Whether you're munching on one as a quick snack, tossing slices on top of your cereal or blending one up into a tasty smoothie, you're always in for a treat.

Speaking of banana smoothies, that’s banana at its best. A banana smoothie has got all the flavours you need to put a smile on your dial – from sweet banana and creamy milk to a refreshing icy kick that'll cool you down quicker than a dip in the ocean. And the best part is, with a cracking banana smoothie recipe, you can get this downright delectable concoction in just a few minutes. No worries, we’ll soon explore how to make a banana smoothie.

What Is Banana Smoothie?

Before we dive into the banana smoothie recipe, let's take a moment to talk about what a banana smoothie is. Well…to begin with, it’s like a party in your mouth. But it’s made with just a handful of simple ingredients: ripe bananas, milk and honey.

It’s not uncommon to have yogurt and other fruits also in your banana smoothie recipe. But really, the star of the show here is the humble banana - it's what gives the smoothie its core texture and flavour. And that tropical goodness of a banana smoothie just hits the spot no matter when you have it – after a long day at work or as a refreshing breakfast.

How To Make Banana Smoothie?

Let’s see how this banana smoothie recipe can help you enjoy the creamy texture that’s like velvet on your tongue. With the perfect balance of thickness and chill you’re sure to get that satisfying mouthfeel.

Ingredients

• 2 ripe bananas, peeled and chopped
• 240 ml /1 cup of almond milk
• 120 ml / ½ cup of Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp of honey
• ½ tsp of vanilla extract
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• A handful of ice cubes

Banana smoothie recipe notes:

Banana: The best bananas for a smoothie are the ripe ones. It’s even better if you can plan ahead and freeze them. As they help to thicken the smoothie and give it a creamier texture. Plus, you can get a chilled drink without a heap of ice. Too much ice may turn your drink into a watery mess. 

Milk: There’re dairy-free options that you may use in your banana smoothie recipe, like almond milk or soy milk. If you prefer dairy, then full-cream milk works well.

Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt is a versatile ingredient in a banana smoothie recipe. Its thick consistency makes the smoothie even more satisfying. So, adding a dollop of Greek yogurt to your banana smoothie recipe is a good idea.

Vanilla Extract: Vanilla adds a touch of sweetness and depth of flavour to your recipe for banana smoothie. Plus, vanilla extract is a natural sweetener, so you can use lesser sugar in your banana smoothie recipe.

Cinnamon: The spice in the recipe for banana smoothie complements the sweetness of the banana and the subtle flavour of the vanilla extract. And it also gives your drink a warm and cosy vibe.

Now let’s see how to make a banana smoothie!

Instructions

Step 1: Chuck the bananas, almond milk, yogurt, honey and vanilla extract into a blender.

Step 2: Blend everything together until it's nice and smooth.

Step 3: Add a handful of ice cubes and blend again until they're all crushed up.

Step 4: Pour the banana smoothie into two glasses. And if you're in a mood, garnish with a slice of banana or else just add a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Step 5: Now enjoy the delicious outcome of your banana smoothie recipe.

Some tips on how to make a banana smoothie recipe better:

Use frozen fruits: Frozen fruits will make your smoothie thicker and creamier. They also help to keep your smoothie cold without having to add extra ice.

Experiment with different fruits: There’s no harm in some experimentation with the banana smoothie recipe. Try to mix and match different fruits to find your perfect combination. Just let your taste be your guide and most likely, you won’t go wrong with your version of the banana smoothie recipe.

Add greens: Sneak in some greens like spinach or kale to add extra nutrition to your recipe for banana smoothie. It’ll also make your smoothie more colourful.

Manage the liquid content: It’s better to add lesser liquid first, as you can always pour more to get the right consistency.

How To Freeze Bananas for Smoothie?

First things first, always choose ripe bananas for freezing. And before freezing, peel and cut them into smaller pieces. Smaller pieces are easier to use when you're ready to make your smoothie. And peeling is important as bananas frozen with their skin on can be difficult to peel after they’re frozen.

After you’ve peeled and cut the bananas, arrange the pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure that the banana pieces are not touching each other. Next, place the sheet into the freezer and let the bananas freeze for a few hours. When they’re completely frozen, you may transfer them to a freezer-safe container.

Now those frozen bananas can be used whenever you make your smoothie. Just let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes. This thaws the bananas slightly and makes it easier to blend them.

Varieties Of Banana Smoothies

Green Tea Banana Smoothie Recipe Idea: To make this smoothie, start by brewing some green tea. Allow it to cool down. Then, add the tea to a blender along with other ingredients from our recipe for banana smoothie. Blend them all together. Give this green tea banana smoothie recipe a go and see how it can help you power through your day.

Nuts and Seeds Banana Smoothie Recipe Idea: Toss some bananas in a blender. Then add a handful of your favourite nuts, like almonds or cashews, and a tablespoon or two of chia seeds or flaxseeds. Pour in some milk and blend until smooth.

Watermelon, Strawberry and Banana Smoothie Recipe Idea: First grab, seedless cubes of fresh watermelon along with hulled and chopped strawberries. Then add them to a blender along with other ingredients from our banana smoothie recipe. Blend to get a delicious variation of our banana smoothie recipe. Next time maybe you can try a mixed berry or strawberry smoothie.

FAQs on Banana Smoothie:

Q. what fruits mix well with bananas?

A. One of the classic combinations in a banana smoothie recipe is banana and strawberry. For a tropical twist to the banana smoothie recipe, bananas with pineapple or mango are good options. Finally, bananas can also be paired with citrus fruits like oranges or grapefruits.

Q. what’s a banana smoothie made of?

A. A banana smoothie recipe includes ripe bananas, milk, Greek yogurt, honey and ice. But you can also add some other ingredients in your version of the banana smoothie recipe, like nuts, seeds, berries or even some veggies. But that’s not all, you can even add some spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.

Q. does a banana smoothie have milk or yogurt?

A. Typically, a banana smoothie recipe contains both milk and Greek yogurt to provide a good consistency to the smoothie. However, milk can be replaced with non-dairy options like almond milk or coconut milk. And plant-based yogurt can be a non-dairy alternative to Greek yogurt. A banana smoothie recipe may even exclude both ingredients.

Q. is it good to drink a banana smoothie every day?

A. If you keep an eye on high-calorie components, you can still enjoy banana shakes daily as part of a balanced diet. However, if you're trying to lose weight, be cautious about having it daily. It’ll be a good idea to include a range of fruits and veggies with low refined sugar in your banana smoothie recipe.