Most of us make smoothies in one particular way, we throw all the healthy ingredients in a blender, hit ‘blend’ and hope for the best. In most cases not all ingredients get blended, our smoothie is too thick or too watery and does not look at all like the homogenous mass it is supposed to be. Still, we drink it, because it is healthy, right?
Well, who says that healthy food can’t be tasty as well, here are some of the best-kept secrets to preparing the ideal smoothie.
The trick is to get the perfect ingredients
In order to make a tasty smoothie, you need to have fresh, healthy ingredients. We are sometimes tempted to throw in all that is left in a fridge, even if it is a few days old. This can make your smoothie have an unpleasant taste and seem a bit off. If you are planning to prepare a smoothie, go to your favorite store and get all the ingredients you plan to use, so that they are fresh and tasty. This will improve your final product significantly.
Find an ideal balance
In order for your smoothie to have the perfect texture, you need to learn the ideal measures for all ingredients that you are planning to use. So let’s start!
All about the liquids
You should start your smoothie with a ¾ liquid base, it can be milk, or if you want any type of dairy-free substitute, anything from almond to soy milk. This amount is ideal for helping you get the perfect result without the extra juiciness.
Fruit up
Start with one ripe banana, it gives great taste and texture to any smoothie mix. Accompany that with a cup of fresh fruit. It can be a combination of berries or some pineapple. It is better to opt for the fresh version rather than the frozen one, at least taste wise.
Go nuts
If you like a smoothie with some texture, opt for one to two tablespoons of whole nuts or seeds. Chia seeds are a great option if you prefer a shake that’s thick and gelatinous. In order to get the right texture, you will need a good blender, that way all the ingredients will be blended perfectly.
Mean green machine
You can always add a bit of greens to a fruit smoothie if you don’t like an only green one. Don’t overdo it, a handful of spinach or kale is a great option. You can also consider cooked butternut squash, it is great for the taste, and super healthy especially in fall months.
Spice it up
For a stronger taste, you can always add some great herbs and spices. They will have a great positive effect on your health and make your smoothie that much tastier. Start off with ginger, it will help speed up your metabolism and keep you warm. Mint is also a healthy option. And if you have a favorite ingredient like basil or rosemary you can also experiment with them.
What goes when
Now that you know how to balance the tastes and what you can use for perfect flavor, let’s see how we can get that homogenous texture. Naturally, not all ingredients blend in the same way, so it is very important to know the right order of filling up your blender. Start with liquids, and then add powders and sweeteners (try to avoid these) next come the greens followed by soft ingredients. Finally, end it with fresh fruits nuts and seeds.
Start enjoying the fruits of your labor
It is best to drink a smoothie immediately after you make it, that is when the tastes are the strongest and the texture is ideal. As the time passes the heavier particle go to the bottom and liquids go up, and even if you stir it or mix it again it won’t be as good as it is when freshly drunk. So blend away and enjoy!
Staying healthy
There is no need to point out how healthy smoothies actually can be if made with right ingredients. However, if we want to achieve overall health, other products like the ones we use for skincare or as nutritional supplements have to contain healthy and organic ingredients as well. So browsing around websites like Nourished Life can certainly point us in the right direction.
Blog submitted by Luke Douglas, luke.douglas@ripped.me www.ripped.me
