Mango Banana Smoothie
Without being too obvious, we go through a lot of mangos in our house. I keep the giant 4 pound bags of frozen mango chunks in my freezer nearly all the time. When the kids want something cold and creamy for dessert, but I accidentally finished the ice cream the night before in a Below Deck binge, it’s frozen mango to the rescue! I let the chunks defrost for a few minutes, and the kids enjoy the slushy texture and believe they’re eating ice cream. When mangos are in season, we pile them on our counters, and eat them outside on the trampoline for a snack, while the juices drip down our arms and attract bugs that like sweet things. We can’t get enough mango mousse in our family, which is why that particular recipe makes 4 small ramekins instead of most desserts that serve two on this site. It’s just that good! When I really stop ad think about it, this mango banana smoothie is probably the thing we do most often with the mango in the freezer. We nearly always have a banana in the pantry that needs to be used (the darker, the better for sweetness), and I always need to use the orange juice in the fridge so that I can have the fridge space. You’ll see one slightly unusual ingredient in this smoothie, but don’t let it deter you. The ground turmeric is completely optional; I just add turmeric for its anti-inflammatory properties. I do the same in my mango pineapple smoothie, and it doesn’t add anything to the taste of the smoothie. It brings an intense golden yellow color to the smoothie, but that’s always a great thing!
Ingredients
orange juice: freshly squeezed or from the carton, your choice here! If I have orange to use up, I’ll juice them; if not, I’ll use the carton of orange juice that’s always taking up too much space in my fridge anyway. mango: You need 8 ounces of frozen diced mango–when it’s frozen, it will look like 2 cups, but if it defrosts, it will slump down to 1 cup. If you’re using fresh mango, just measure out 8 ounces, or half a pound. banana: Just half of a banana (roughly 2 ounces) to make a single smoothie for one, or use a full banana to make smoothies for two. Freeze any leftover banana, and use it the next time you’re making a smoothie. turmeric: Ground turmeric is optional and purely for health benefits.
How to make a mango banana smoothie:
Is a mango banana smoothie healthy?
I definitely feel like this is a healthy smoothie, because it doesn’t contain any added sugar, like honey or maple syrup. The fruit brings plenty of sweetness here, and the vitamin C is really high from the orange juice and mango. The banana brings potassium and fiber to the smoothie. I also love that this smoothie is vegan and dairy-free, though you could add one small container of plain or vanilla yogurt for extra creaminess and protein, if you prefer.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes, you do this one of two ways. You can chop everything (mango and banana), and place it in a freezer-safe bag. Sprinkle the turmeric on top, and seal the bag and freeze it. On the day you want to make the smoothie, add the orange juice to the blender and dump in the bag of frozen fruit and turmeric. Or, the other way to make this ahead of time is to blend everything together, and pour it in a mason jars. Don’t fill the mason jar all the way to the top, and place it upright in the freezer. The night before you want the smoothie, move it to the fridge to defrost.
Can I make this into a mango banana smoothie bowl?
I love the trend of smoothie bowls, which is basically a super thick smoothie poured into a bowl instead of a glass for drinking. To make this a smoothie bowl, reduce the orange juice to 1 cup and be sure to use frozen mango and banana. You might have to use the plunger your blender comes with (or a long handled spoon) to get the smoothie going with the reduced liquid. When the smoothie is super thick and creamy, spread it in a bowl and top with granola, sliced almonds, and more diced fruit. So pretty and fun! Other fun drinks:
Mango Lemonade Rose Lemonade Blackberry Limeade
orange juice: freshly squeezed or from the carton, your choice here! If I have orange to use up, I’ll juice them; if not, I’ll use the carton of orange juice that’s always taking up too much space in my fridge anyway.mango: You need 8 ounces of frozen diced mango–when it’s frozen, it will look like 2 cups, but if it defrosts, it will slump down to 1 cup. If you’re using fresh mango, just measure out 8 ounces, or half a pound.banana: Just half of a banana (roughly 2 ounces) to make a single smoothie for one, or use a full banana to make smoothies for two. Freeze any leftover banana, and use it the next time you’re making a smoothie.turmeric: Ground turmeric is optional and purely for health benefits.
Vitamix Blender
