Banana smoothie

Banana Smoothie

This year the rains have a strange pattern...it comes in fits and starts...it is certainly more scanty than earlier years...not at all like Mumbai monsoon...and since it is not a sustained rainfall there has not been any appreciable cooling down of the temperatures...we have been having more of summer like  rather than monsoon like weather...

Our regular (for the summer ) cooling drink of lassi along with our meals have been carried over to this supposedly rainy season too...and today with the heat still on, thought that instead of our mid morning regular fare of fruits, it would be great to have a smoothie...a cool refreshing healthy and yummy drink.

Smoothies are something we have had quite regularly in the recent past...earlier whenever we had to make a drink with a fruit it would be more like milkshakes - e.g. banana or mango or chikoo pulsed with milk and sugar...and there you have your typical drink...
Then the concept of smoothie was introduced...though the smoothie could be made with milk as well...the more popular ingredient is yogurt, along with or without milk, & ice.
And due to health conscious folks - sugar free sweetners, or honey etc replaces regular sugar...
I also tend to add some nuts to give it that extra punch....

Many recipes call for crushed ice ....I prefer to use frozen fruit - generally when a banana has ripened and is being ignored by all and sundry - I quickly peel it and put it in a container and freeze it for further use...sometimes it is in a muffin or bread ...and as today in a smoothie...


Smoothie can be made with many different fruits - or even with a combination of fruits ....the basic recipe for a banana smoothie can be converted for other fruits as well...

Ingredients: (Serves 2)

2 frozen banana
1 cup milk
1/2 cup yogurt
1 Tblspn honey
8 - 10 almonds ( optional )
1 tsp vanilla essence ( optional ) or 1/4 tsp cardamom powder ( optional )

Method :

1) Roughly chop the almonds in a grinder.
2) Add the frozen banana and pulse for a couple of minutes.
 If using room temperature banana then you can add ice to the grinder.
3)Then add the rest of the ingredients and grind till it all blends together.
4) Serve chilled.

Enjoy !!!

Tip: The vanilla essence or cardamom powder is optional. You can also sprinkle some chocolate shavings on top as a garnish.
The sweetness can be increased or decreased as per taste, and honey can be replaced with sugar, brown sugar, or sugar free sweetner.
And the nuts if not ground too fine give a good crunch and adds an amazing taste to the smoothie.

Smoothie made, pictures taken, then the whole thing being polished off by us...I sat down to post the blog...and after raving about how good it is...I am tempted to make another, but will try to resist the temptation....but you do go ahead and try it out.