Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie

A green smoothie reminiscent of that refreshing ice cream favorite.

Fresh, minty, flecked with chips of chocolate: this smoothie has recently become a go-to for me, especially on mornings after I’ve eaten something on the rich side. It feels light while also satisfying my hunger.

I’ve also been delighted to find a great use for mint. The more I learn about fresh herbs, the more I want to find creative ways to work them into my meals with greater regularity. A little handful can be like eating a huge bowl full of salad greens; they are densely packed with nutritious goodness.

Don’t be thrown by one surprising ingredient: frozen cauliflower. Your smoothie will not taste like a cruciferous vegetable. Interestingly enough, it gives a creaminess. It’s also a sneaky way to sneak in a bit more veg!

Don’t feel like you have to go buy a bag of frozen cauliflower for this (which you could do, if you wanted). My preferred method is just to put some aside when I’m chopping up a head to roast for dinner, and cut the florets into small pieces. I plop these into a little baggie (still raw), toss it into the freezer, and then open it up when I want to make this smoothie.

I imagine this will be particularly enjoyable in the summer, but I’ve been making it in the dark of winter as well.

I hope you give this a try soon.

• 1 ¼ cups soy milk

• Fresh mint, about ¼ cup of leaves, loosely packed

• 5 cups fresh greens such as baby spinach, baby kale, and/or baby chard

• 2 T. almond butter

• 1 ½ bananas, fresh or frozen (fresh blend more easily; consider thawing frozen ones slightly first)

• ½ – 1 cup frozen cauliflower

• 2 T. cacao nibs

Ingredients

Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie

1. Add ingredients to a high-speed blender in the order listed, leaving out the cacao nibs until the end. (Tip: after adding the soy milk and mint, I add greens, packing them down lightly, until the get to the 6-cup line on my blender container.

2. Begin blending on low. You may need your tamper to help get everything going. Once everything is moving, increase speed slowly to blend on high until smooth. Stop to scrape down sides as needed.

3. Once the smoothie is well blended, add the cacao nibs and pulse or blend for just a few seconds to mix in and blitz slightly. You still want nice chips.

4. Transfer to cups. Optional: place in fridge or freezer for a bit before enjoying

5. Enjoy within a few hours of blending.

Serves 2 (makes about 32 fluid ounces)

Instructions

As you eat this smoothie, chew it. (Well, really, you should chew all your food, including smoothies and soups, but this is especially important here for getting the full effect of enjoying the chocolate bits within the smooth mintiness.)

Last updated: August 16, 2024