Carrot Apple Ginger Smoothie

This carrot apple ginger smoothie is subtly sweet, immune boosting and low calorie—made with simple ingredients in just 5 minutes. Vegan, gluten free, nut free and soy free.

Why You’ll Love This Smoothie

• Refreshing taste
• Strengthens immune system
• High in antioxidants

This carrot apple ginger smoothie is refreshing, subtly spicy and sweet. Perfect to enjoy first thing in the morning as a healthful breakfast or as an immune-boosting drink when you’re coming down with a cold. This smoothie is packed with health benefits and is low in calories making it a suitable part of any weight loss meal plan.

Carrots are the perfect root vegetable to add to smoothies because they are mildly sweet and blend well with the taste of fruits. They are high in antioxidants like beta-carotene, a compound which is converted to vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is helpful in maintaining good eye health. Carrots also have a lot of vitamin C which keeps the immune system strong. Consuming antioxidants daily is a healthy habit as they reduce the damage done by free radical cells. This can help reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases over time. Carrots, apples, bananas and ginger are all rich sources of antioxidants.

Ginger soothes digestive issues, is anti-inflammatory and even reduces nausea and stomach pains. It’s easy to include a small piece in a smoothie without overwhelming the flavour of the drink if combined with the correct type of ingredients.

Ingredients Needed

These are the ingredients you will need to make this carrot apple ginger smoothie.

Green apples: Wash the apples thoroughly and leave the skins on.

Ginger: Washed and peeled.

Carrot: Peeled and rinsed clean from any dirt.

Cinnamon: Balances out the flavour and adds a little kick. Use ceylon cinnamon powder (not cassia).

Frozen bananas: Creates the thick, creamy base of the smoothie and adds sweetness.

Oat milk: The liquid that brings all of the other ingredients together to blend smoothly and adds a creamy consistency.

For ingredient amounts and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Benefits

Hydrating

Staying properly hydrated is a basic requirement for optimal health. By incorporating daily smoothies you can maintain your ideal hydration level more easily. Start each morning with a smoothie for easy hydration!

High fibre

Easily get more fibre in your every day diet! In addition to being generally healthy, getting enough fibre can be extremely helpful for weight loss as it helps keep you feeling full for longer, without adding calories. Fibre also helps improve our gut health.

Nutrient dense

Vegan smoothies are a great way to get more nutrient rich foods in each day. By blending them into a single meal, it’s super quick, easy and fun! Choose ingredients like dark leafy greens, berries, nuts, seeds and fruits to make your smoothies nutrient rich.

Variations

Try an alternative plant milk

This recipe uses oat milk but you can try using any plant based milk you prefer. Some alternatives include soy, almond or cashew! You can also make your own plant milk from scratch.

Make it sweeter

For some extra sweetness add 1-2 medjool dates. Soak the dates in water for 5-10 minutes for easier blending. Be certain the pits have been removed before adding to the blender or else your smoothie will be full of tiny fragments that make it undrinkable!

Switch base ingredients

If you don’t like bananas then try something else as the base! Mango usually substitutes banana well. If you’re allergic to or simply dislike a suggested ingredient then try to find something with a similar texture that you enjoy the flavour of. There is no wrong way to make a smoothie, and you can always omit any ingredients you don’t have on hand.

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to blender.

• Start blending at low speed for 5-10 seconds. Increase to high speed and blend for 1-2 minutes. Use the blender tamper to push ingredients down towards the blades.

• Pour into a glass and serve your carrot apple ginger smoothie.

Prep & Blending

Add ingredients in the correct order

Always add liquid ingredients to your blender first. Then add powders, nut butters, nuts and seeds. Then add fresh greens and fresh fruit. Finally add your solid ingredients like frozen fruit. If using a small blender container with a twist on lid, reverse the order so that when you turn the container over to blend the frozen ingredients are farthest away from the blades.

Use a tamper

Push ingredients down towards the blades while blending using the tamper that comes with your blender. This helps to avoid thick smoothies from getting stuck, so you don’t have to stop blending and scrape down the sides of the container.

Don’t over blend

Try to blend your smoothie for less than a couple of minutes. If blended for too long, even thick smoothies will become thin. This is because the heat generated by the blades and motor of the blender heat up your ingredients while they are being blended.

Use a high power blender

For smoothies that have a perfectly smooth and creamy texture use a high powered blender such as a Vitamix. It can break down any ingredients to much finer particles than standard blenders, and more nutrients are released. A high speed blender also reduces the time you need to blend your recipe, which helps keep it nice and cold.

Chill your glass

By placing your smoothie glass in the freezer for a few moments you can help your smoothie stay cool for longer. This is especially helpful if you’re in a hot climate. Pop it into the freezer while you are prepping and blending, then take it out when it’s time to pour your finished smoothie!

FAQ’s

Can I use ginger powder instead of fresh ginger?

You can use dry ground ginger if you don’t have any fresh ginger. Use only half a teaspoon in the whole recipe as it is stronger than fresh ginger. The taste will be similar but for maximum health benefits try to use fresh ginger root.

Can I lose weight with smoothies?

Smoothies are an excellent weight loss food! This is because they are generally lower calorie and higher in fibre and nutrients. Due to high water content, the large volume of a smoothie helps your stomach to feel satiated. And the fibre keeps you feeling full for longer, without feeling weighed down or tired like a huge meal would.

Can smoothies be refrigerated?

Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately after blending, while they are freshest. However you can refrigerate most smoothies for 1-2 days in an airtight container such as a jar.

Can I make smoothies without a high speed blender?

Yes, you can still make smoothies with a regular blender. It might take more patience depending on the recipe, but it can work. Turn off the blender to scrape down the sides of the container, and secure the lid before continuing to blend. Repeat as needed. Alternatively you can add a small amount of additional liquid to the recipe, which should help.

How can I increase the protein?

If you wish for your smoothie to have a higher protein content, you can simply add (more) protein powder to the recipe. Plain unsweetened plant based protein will work in any smoothie. Alternatively you can try adding hemp seeds or even silken tofu.

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