Equipment Needed
- A high-speed blender
- A microplane or fine grater (for fresh ginger/turmeric)
- A measuring cup
- A glass to serve (because drinking something this pretty from the blender carafe feels wrong!)
Step-by-Step Instructions
First, I get everything prepped and ready to go. If I’m using fresh ginger and turmeric, I’ll peel the knobs using the edge of a spoon—it’s so much easier than a peeler and saves your fingers from turning bright yellow. I grate them directly over the blender jar to capture every bit of potent juice. Then, I measure out my mango. I almost always use frozen because it creates that perfect, spoonable smoothie consistency, but fresh works beautifully too, especially with a handful of ice.
Now, everything goes into the blender. I add the mango first, then the turmeric, ginger, and that all-important black pepper. I pour in the coconut milk last. A little tip from my many messy lessons: start with just 3/4 cup of the milk. You can always add more to thin it out, but you can’t take it away if you accidentally make it too runny. I’ve done that, and ended up with a spiced mango soup instead of a smoothie!
Here’s the fun part. I secure the lid tightly—turmeric stains are real, and I speak from experience—and start blending on low, gradually increasing to high. I let it run for a full 45 seconds to a minute. This isn’t just about mixing; that extra time ensures the fibers from the ginger are fully broken down and everything is impeccably smooth and frothy. You’ll see the color transform into this uniform, sunny hue.
Finally, I stop the blender and do a quick taste test. This is my moment to adjust. Sometimes the ginger is extra spicy, so I might add another tablespoon of coconut milk. Or, if my mango wasn’t super sweet, a tiny drizzle of raw honey can round it out perfectly. Then, I pour it immediately into my favorite glass. The vibrant color against the glass never fails to make me smile, and drinking it right away ensures you get all those fresh, volatile aromatics at their peak.(See the next page below to continue…)