Equipment Needed
- A high-powered blender
- Measuring cups
- A glass or jar for serving
- A reusable straw (optional, but fun!)
Step-by-Step Instructions
First, I add all my frozen fruits straight from the freezer into the blender pitcher. I always start with the dragon fruit and blueberries on the bottom, as they tend to be softer and help the blender get going. Then, I tuck in the frozen banana slices. To that, I add the scoop of protein powder, the chia seeds, the Greek yogurt, and finally, I pour the almond milk over everything. This liquid-on-top order helps the blending process immensely. I’ve learned the hard way that putting the milk in first can cause the powder to just stick to the sides.
Now, I secure the lid tightly—a lesson learned from a very pink kitchen ceiling incident—and start blending on low. I let it run for about 15 seconds to break up the big chunks before gradually increasing the speed to high. I listen for the sound to change from a loud, struggling churn to a smooth, consistent whirl. This usually takes about 45 seconds to a minute. If the blender seems stuck, I’ll stop, use the tamper if my blender has one, or simply shake the pitcher a bit before continuing. Never use a spoon while it’s running!
Once the mixture looks uniformly smooth and has that gorgeous, deep magenta color with tiny speckles of blueberry skin, I stop the blender and take off the lid. This is my taste-test moment. I give it a quick stir with my straw and take a sip. Because I use a ripe banana, I rarely need extra sweetener, but if your fruit wasn’t as sweet, this is when you’d add that optional teaspoon of honey or maple syrup. Blend for another 10 seconds to combine.
Finally, I pour it immediately into my favorite tall glass. I love watching how it cascades, thick and velvety. Sometimes, if I’m feeling fancy, I’ll do a quick “clean” swirl on the inside of the glass with a dollop of extra yogurt before pouring. There’s no waiting with this smoothie—it’s at its perfect, frosty best the moment it’s made. The whole process, from fridge to first sip, never takes me more than five minutes.(See the next page below to continue…)