Mango Passionfruit Smoothie

This smoothie is such a tropical treat, but still packed with a good serving of veggies. It's a great way to cool off on a hot day, or to sip on during your drive to work. Pretending like you're on a tropical beach sipping fruity drinks and not stuck in traffic on the 5 freeway? Sign me up!

This smoothie is great because it also only requires a few ingredients. Passionfruit may sound a little exotic, but you can actually find passionfruit juice at many grocery stores. It's naturally slightly tart, so you'll just want to watch for juices that contain lots of added sugar. I've used the Ceres brand, which is sold at our local grocery stores. You can also buy it from online retailers like Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Ceres-Fruit-Juice-Blend-Passion/dp/B00IV6T29A/ref=sr_1_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SkmrXIDqzM2JAO1snKZ3CYElUeuX85LgrA0N4N6rXyi3m3a3lMlxX4j6J8WzoMA2rah5CAQdnXSaxUmxL4ukV3mfJX9QbWZ6i_tIcQ2ADIaAW-qSHqK2xmEmsXGUyOyUKF7lVhuUTob3r6VWvxsexGsxoLr1VCHWbxPR1D2me5HLlk9fNc4WIWSK--PHSF1mbeJ3wuasPV3g7053Arpb5jOALzy6ykfpoMJS_D5WRYxvRHkteLSqD8sibHBkcOSXp-WRGgIxWy8ld6RrQM-2ShYNq9X1Zmi1l141g1H53Pc.nZXP2zXGX2J4sl4YAsrneRXYWf8hXAhS69hReNmPjuQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=passionfruit+juice&qid=1722916495&sr=8-5

I like to use frozen fruit for my smoothies because I find that it gives a richer flavor. Adding ice can cause the smoothie to get watered down. Costco is my go-to for frozen fruit. They seem to have the best quality and value from what I have found.

Smoothies are also a great way to use up bananas that are extra ripe. If I notice that my bananas are ripening faster than I can eat them, I like to slice and freeze them. That way I can keep them from going to waste and have them ready to use for smoothies or other recipes. Pro tip when freezing bananas is to let them freeze flat before letting them all go together. This prevents them from turning into one giant block. I usually will just line them up neatly in a freezer bag and then lay the bag flat directly in the freezer. Once they are frozen, they shouldn't stick together as much, so you don't have to worry about keeping the bag super flat the whole time. Another way to freeze them is to place a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and place the sliced bananas there. Then place the cookie sheet in the freezer. Once the bananas are frozen, you can then transfer them to a bag or a freezer safe container.

Mango Passionfruit Smoothie

Yield: 2 large servings or 3-4 small/medium servings

Prep time: 5 minutes

Materials: large capacity blender, or divide ingredients into single serve blender cups

Ingredients:

4 c (about 2 large handfuls) spinach

1 ripe banana

6 c frozen mango

1/2 c passionfruit juice

1-2 c water

1 scoop unflavored or vanilla protein powder (optional)

1 scoop collagen powder (optional)

Sweetener of choice (honey, stevia, etc.), to taste (optional)

Instructions:

1. If using one large blender, add all ingredients directly to blender. If using single serve blender cups, divide ingredients evenly among cups.

2. Peel banana and add to blender.

3. Wash spinach and add to blender.

4. Add frozen mango, passionfruit juice, and 1 cup of water to blender, and blend until smooth.

5. Add more water until desired consistency is reached.

6. (Optional) Add protein powder or collagen powder. Blend until fully incorporated.

7. (Optional) Add sweetener, if desired. Blend until fully incorporated.

8. Serve and enjoy!