Smooth Blending To Perfection
The best recipes are those you create yourself, and Chef Estela’s recipes are a great starting point for many healthy conscious eaters. Sometimes culinary experiments go awry, and you may end up with a smoothie that’s too thick, too thin, or just doesn’t taste right. Before you throw away a self-inspired blend that missed the mark, we have quick fixes to turn your creation into a winner. Be sure to keep notes of your steps.
How to Make a Smoothie Thinner:
- Add small amounts of water, almond milk, or juice. Bring your machine back up to its highest speed, then blend 10-20 seconds.
- Chef Estela Pro Tip: Load the container in the following order for best results: liquids first, then soft fruits and veggies, finally ice.
How to Make a Smoothie Thicker:
- Use or add frozen fruit (especially bananas), add more ice, or add frozen vegan yogurt. Bring your machine back up to its highest speed, then blend 20-30 seconds
- Chef Estela Pro Tip: Add a variety of fruits/vegetables or greens in an assortment of textures.
How to Make a Smoothie Less Bitter:
- Pineapple and oranges both add lots of fruity sweetness. Banana, in addition to being sweet, seems to neutralize bitter flavors. Strawberries are also good choices for green smoothies. Try adding a bit of vanilla bean or vanilla extract, agave, cacao, or unsweetened cocoa powder. Flavored protein powders also mask the taste of bitter greens. After adding these ingredients, bring your machine back up to its highest speed, then blend 10-20 seconds.
- Chef Estela Pro Tip: Tastes do change and adapt to improved eating habits. Baby greens are generally more digestible than mature greens (and more expensive) so work up to bitter greens by adding them in small amounts to your spinach or collards. Gradually adjust this ratio as your taste buds evolve and adapt. Chalky taste: Add more fruit and/or other recipe ingredients. Bring your machine back up to its highest speed, then blend for 10-20 seconds. Adding extra protein powder can give you too much of a good thing; so use amounts recommended on the label.
How to Make a Smoothie Less Sweet:
- Add a touch of lemon or lime juice. Bring your machine back up to its highest speed, then blend 10-20 seconds.
- Chef Estela Pro Tip: Fruits contain nature’s finest sweeteners, so use a balance of sweet and citrus fruits, while reducing or eliminating other sweeteners. When making your smoothies, add a low sugar (low glycemic) fruit such as blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or grapefruit to tone down that sweetness.
How to Make a Smoothie Sweeter:
- Add sweet fruits, especially dates. Using watermelon in place of water will sweeten a smoothie. Bring your machine back up to its highest speed, then blend 10-20 seconds.
- Chef Estela Pro Tip: Two or three Medjool dates usually do the trick.
How to Make a Smoothie Creamier:
- Avocado is ideal for adding creaminess to smoothies, while Its mild flavor disguises the nutritional wallop. After removing skin and pit, you can add a whole avocado to your smoothie, or save some for the next day. As an alternative, add frozen vegan yogurt, or vanilla vegan yogurt to increase creaminess. Bring your machine back up to its highest speed, then blend 10-20 seconds.
- Chef Estela Pro Tip: Balance your liquid and solid ingredients to achieve just the right texture.
To see more Chef Estela Pro tips like these buy a copy of Heavenly Eating. Remember the Secret of Moderation to optimize your healthy, balanced diet. Find more recipes in Heavenly Eating or join our Facebook Group for more Heavenly Eater tips and tricks to Eat Right With Delight.
Also, get yourself a good single serving blender if you don’t have one already. Take a look at the Tribest Personal Blender.