Apple-banana smoothie (Easy & healthy)

 

Hello readers!

I trust you are all doing great!

Welcome to easy cooking blog no. 16!

 

Introduction

 

After sharing many curries, snacks, and baking recipes in my previous blogs and now I have decided to shift my focus from quenching of hunger to quenching of thirst. Therefore, today's recipe is about a refreshing and flavourful “APPLE-BANANA SMOOTHIE”, which can be enjoyed along with different meals or what if I tell you, it is a meal in itself; so, can be a replacement of your carbs-filled breakfast.

 

It's my personal favourite drink that can be prepared using any fruit of your choice along with some extra ingredients (nuts, cinnamon powder, fresh coconut etc) including milk or simple water. 

 

I should name this drink an "antioxidant" drink. Since it has all the necessary nutrients, vitamins required. Antioxidants are vital for our bodies. It delays aging and scavenges the free radicals generated in the body, which eventually prevents cell damage.

 

This smoothie is an excellent option for those trying to lose or maintain their weight for the longest time. Just replace your breakfast or lunch with this beautiful and colourful drink. It not only nourishes your body thoroughly but also cuts down the extra calories we tend to gain from our regular meals. It gives you all the goodness of fruits and nuts and keeps you energetic and fuller for an extended period of time. 

 

So if you are one of those who detest standing in the kitchen and cook elaborated meals, this drink can be your best buddy. You hardly need 10 minutes to bring together this recipe.

 

Smoothies can be the best option for difficult kids who do not want to eat fruits and all the healthy stuff required for their growth. Mothers can blend all the seasonal fruits with some milk and nuts to make this gorgeous smoothie and feed their kids. They will guzzle it down without throwing any tantrums.

 

This drink is perfect for summers. I often replace my breakfast with this smoothie. You can, of course, do some variations as per your liking and health requirements. Instead of milk, you can go for water or any plant-based milk. 

Please check my other exciting recipes as well.

 

Aloo paratha easy breakfast recipe

Gobi paratha easy breakfast recipe

Easy eggless banana loaf 

Easy whole wheat atta cake

Let me share the ingredients!

 

Ingredients (for two servings)      Qty

 

Red apple                                 1 medium-sized

Banana                                       2 medium-sized

Almonds                             4-5 (soaked if possible)

Cinnamon powder                     ½ tsp

Grated coconut                          1 tbsp

Fresh full cream milk               1 and a half cup 

Chia seeds soaked                    1 tbsp

 

Making time: less than 10 minutes (including chopping of fruits).

 

Procedure

 

Step 1: Washing and chopping of desired fruits.

 

Wash all the required fruits thoroughly with fresh water; pat dry them with paper towel or any cotton cloth and roughly chop all the fruits and keep them aside. 

Step 2: blending with some more ingredients. 

 

Now gather all the other ingredients needed to make this delicious smoothie like fresh coconut (if not available, use grated store-bought one), some almonds and cinnamon powder.

 

Soaked chia seeds (soak them for at least half an hour in water, once they swell nicely, they are suitable to be used).

 

Milk: I have used fresh full cream milk for this recipe. If you have any diet restrictions or health preferences, you can use low-fat milk, soya milk, almond milk, oats milk, peanut milk, or water to make it super healthy and guilt-free.

 

Now throw in all the fruits and rest of the ingredients including the milk in a blender and blend them to a smooth and rich smoothie. 

Serve it fresh with some ice cubes if you wish to. 

 

Health Benefits!

 

Note: Please ensure that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients used in my recipe. Please feel free to alter the recipes as per your health and diet preferences.

 

Since fruits are rich in all the antioxidants needed for our body, antioxidants help to scavenge all the free radicals generated by our body; in short, antioxidants helps to fight aging by preventing cell damage in our body. So, we should consume fruits regularly. 

 

Apple is rich in all the vitamins and micronutrients needed for good vision and so many more other health benefits. 

 

Banana is a rich source of potassium; it helps balance our Blood pressure and is a high energy source; along with these two, it has numerous benefits. 

 

Almonds are a rich source of protein and good fat with remarkable qualities.  

 

Cinnamon helps manage your glucose levels. But if consumed more, the required amount could harm your body. 

 

Coconut is again an excellent source of fibre, all the essential nutrients. 

 

Chia seeds: these should be consumed after soaking for best results. They are rich in antioxidants and have excellent health benefits. 

 

Milk is a good source of calcium, protein, and fat needed. 

 

Garnishing

 

Pour this delicious smoothie into your favourite glass and add some crushed dry fruits or nuts over it before consuming. 

 

If you are fine with the sugars and fats, go ahead and decorate the smoothie with some chocolate syrup or add a big scoop of your favourite ice cream. 

 

I prefer to garnish my smoothie with chopped bananas and apples often. 

 

You can dry roast some sesame seeds and sprinkle them over the smoothie. 

 

Serving suggestions

 

Although it is perfect on its own, however, you can serve various fruits along with it. 

Do not forget to add some crushed ice before serving it. 

 

You can have a light sandwich along with this smoothie, it will be like a complete meal in itself, and you will be sorted for the next 4 to 5 hours. I always do this when I go out for a longer period of time. 

 

Tips and tricks

 

Always use fresh and seasonal fruits to make smoothies.

 

You can choose whole cream milk, low-fat milk, soya milk, coconut milk, oats milk, almond milk, or peanut milk as per your health preferences or liking. 

 

The good thing about this smoothie is that you can skip the milk and use water, as we are using bananas to give a smooth and rich texture to the smoothie. 

Always opt for fresh coconut; in case you do not have access to fresh, use store-bought. 

 

Add the cinnamon in a small quantity; just a pinch of it should be fine. In case you have any allergies or trouble consuming cinnamon, skip this. 

 

I prefer to have the smoothie freshly made. Please do not make it and store it in a fridge beforehand, since fruits tend to get oxidized quickly; so excellent benefits consume it fresh. 

 

You can add a tsp of peanut butter and oats to your smoothie along with the ingredients. It will add more protein and fibre to your drink. 

 

If you are watching your diet and trying to lose weight, it's a good idea not to use sugar at all. You can use substitutes like honey or jaggery in a limited amount. 

 

You can use any other fruit, such as a pear, some strawberries, avocado, etc., avoid using citric fruits only as we are using milk in the recipe. 

 

That is it for today's blog!

 

I hope you like this recipe. 

Do share your comments!

Take Care

Neha