Carrot Smoothie
A vibrant and naturally sweet carrot smoothie that blends raw carrots with banana, orange juice, and a touch of ginger for a refreshing and energizing drink.
Equipment
- High-speed blender - A Vitamix or Ninja works best for a smooth texture with raw carrots
- Cutting board
- Chef's knife
- Vegetable peeler
- Fine grater or microplane - For grating fresh ginger
- Measuring cups and spoons
- tall glass - For serving
- Straw - Optional
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh carrots - 130g, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 medium ripe banana - sliced and frozen
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice - 120ml
- 1/2 cup almond milk - 120ml, or milk of choice
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger - grated, or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric - optional but recommended
- 1/2 cup ice cubes - 75g
- 1 tablespoon honey - or maple syrup, optional to taste
Optional Add-ins
- Greek yogurt - for creaminess
- coconut milk - as a swap for almond milk
- fresh spinach - for extra greens
- frozen mango - for a tropical variation
- cinnamon - for carrot cake variation
- vanilla protein powder - for a protein boost
Instructions
- Wash, peel, and chop the carrots into rough 1-inch chunks.
- Peel the frozen banana and slice into coins. Grate the fresh ginger using a microplane.
- Add orange juice and almond milk to the blender first, followed by carrots, frozen banana, ginger, turmeric, and ice cubes.
- Start on low speed for 15-20 seconds, then increase to high and blend for 45-60 seconds until completely smooth.
- Taste and adjust sweetness with honey or maple syrup if desired. Add more liquid if too thick.
- Pour into a tall glass and serve immediately. Optionally garnish with a carrot slice or sprinkle of cinnamon.
Notes
- Freeze the banana ahead of time for a thicker, creamier texture. Peel and slice ripe bananas and freeze overnight.
- Young, fresh carrots are sweeter. Older, larger carrots can be slightly bitter; add extra orange juice to compensate.
- Don't skip the ginger - even a small amount adds warmth and depth to the flavor profile.
- Always layer ingredients correctly: liquids first, then soft/frozen items, then hard ingredients like raw carrot to protect your blender.
- Blend for at least 60 seconds on high speed to fully break down the raw carrot fibers for a silky texture.
- For a thicker smoothie, use a fully frozen banana and more ice, or add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt.
- Store leftovers in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Shake well before drinking.
- Make smoothie packs by pre-portioning chopped carrots, banana slices, and ginger into freezer bags for quick weekday mornings.
- If using a standard blender, steam the carrots for 5-7 minutes until slightly tender for a smoother result.
- For a carrot cake variation, add 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg, and 2 tablespoons of cream cheese or Greek yogurt.