Beet Smoothie
This deep crimson blended drink is packed with natural sweetness, creamy banana, bright berries, and just enough earthy beet flavor to make it feel like you're actually doing something good for yourself. It comes together in about five minutes with just one blender and a handful of ingredients.
Equipment
- High-speed blender - Such as a Vitamix or Nutribullet
- Cutting board
- Chef's knife
- Vegetable peeler
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Citrus juicer
- Tall glasses - For serving
Ingredients
- 1 raw beet - about 5 oz or 140g, peeled and roughly chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup frozen strawberries - 150g
- 1 frozen banana - medium, sliced, about ½ cup or 120g
- 0.5 cup fresh orange juice - 120ml, from about 1 large orange
- 0.5 cup water - 120ml
- 1 tsp fresh ginger - 5g, peeled and grated, or a ½-inch knob roughly chopped
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup - 7g, optional, to taste
For a creamier, higher-protein version
- 0.25 cup plain Greek yogurt - 60g, optional add-in
For serving
- Beet slice - thin, for garnish
- Fresh strawberry slices - for garnish
- Chia seeds - for garnish
Instructions
- Rinse and scrub the beet, then trim off the stem and root ends. Peel completely with a vegetable peeler and chop into 1-inch pieces.
- Scrape the skin from a ½-inch knob of fresh ginger using a spoon, then finely grate or roughly chop it.
- Juice the orange to get ½ cup of fresh orange juice.
- Add the chopped beet, frozen strawberries, frozen banana, ginger, orange juice, and water to the blender. Add Greek yogurt now if using.
- Secure the lid and start blending on low for about 10 seconds, then gradually increase to high and blend for 45-60 seconds until completely smooth. Scrape down sides if needed.
- Taste the smoothie and adjust sweetness with honey or maple syrup, or add a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten if needed.
- Pour into tall chilled glasses and garnish with beet slices, fresh strawberry slices, or a sprinkle of chia seeds. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Always peel the beet for the smoothest texture. The skin is tough, slightly bitter, and doesn't break down completely even in a powerful blender.
- Use frozen banana and frozen strawberries for the thickest, creamiest texture without diluting the smoothie with ice.
- If using fresh fruit, add 4-5 ice cubes to the blender to chill and thicken the smoothie.
- Start the blender on low speed before gradually increasing to high for the smoothest results.
- Blend for at least 60 seconds—beets need more time to break down than soft fruit.
- For a thicker smoothie, add more frozen banana or frozen strawberries. For a thinner consistency, add water one tablespoon at a time.
- Store leftovers in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Shake or stir well before drinking, as separation is natural.
- For meal prep, portion all dry and frozen ingredients into zip-lock bags and freeze. In the morning, dump a bag into the blender, add liquid, and blend in under 2 minutes.
- Beet smoothies can temporarily cause pink or red discoloration in urine and stool. This is harmless and completely normal.