As the sun slowly but surely starts to linger around longer into the evening, we follow suit. The food on our table shifts with the change of the seasons, welcoming the recent harvest of seasonal produce and experimenting with new recipes. We will certainly be spending less time slaving over our hot stoves in favor of staying cool and savoring the long, relaxing days. The easy way out is to bust out the Vitamix and pour the contents of your fridge into it. While we all have stand-by paleo smoothie recipes, it’s inevitable that the craving for something new will hit. Look no further – we’ve gathered up a list of refreshing, nourishing recipes to kick back with as the temperature rises. For more ideas along the lines of a quick fix (hey, we all need a break from the kitchen from time to time), check out The Ultimate Paleo Protein Bar Review.
1. Zucchini Fig Smoothie from Tasty Yummies
Nothing says Summer like this smoothie recipe. Weird combination, eh? Zucchini is an underutilized green addition to a smoothie compared to spinach and kale. It’s just as nutrient-dense and low in calories, yet it provides a lot more substance. The summer squash has a high water content while also acting as a thickener, resulting in a hydrating and filling final product. Figs are one of those fruits that are only in season for a short window of time before they’re gone again – take advantage, and use them in as many inventive ways as possible! Beth’s secret touch to making this rich and creamy is the addition of cashews. Bonus protein!
Ingredients:
- 2 fresh figs, stems removed and halved
- 1 frozen organic banana
- 1 cup zucchini, chopped
- 1/2 cup organic raw unsalted cashews, soaked
- 1/2 cup filtered water
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Honey or other sweetener, as needed
- Pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt
- Handful of ice
Read the full recipe from Tasty Yummies here
2. Creamy Tropical Turmeric Smoothie from Savory Lotus
Fresh turmeric is the epitome of the “superfood” claim because it actually is one. A great way to sneak it into the diet in its purest form is to blend it into a creamy smoothie. You can always use it in powder form, but the root is easily utilized in this recipe without much knife-work. It’s mostly known for its anti-inflammatory properties, but it’s also been shown to be a powerful antioxidant and block cancer cells. This versatile spice can be used in just about anything you want to make healthier or very yellow. Katja from Savory Lotus recommends starting out small if you are new to the flavor, though. The base of this smoothie is banana, pineapple and coconut – best savored pool side or on the beach.
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 3/4 cup pineapple chunks, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup coconut milk
- fresh turmeric, peeled ~ about the size of a small grape (or 1/4-1/2 tsp turmeric powder
)
- fresh ginger, peeled
- 1 TBS coconut butter
or coconut oil
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
- 2 TBS hemp seeds
- 1 TBS gelatin hydrolysate
- Optional: 3-4 ice cubes, if you like a colder smoothie
Read the full recipe from Savory Lotus here
3. AIP-Friendly Strawberry Carob Smoothie from Grazed and Enthused
This carob smoothie is perfect for the most sensitive of paleo-ers as it doesn’t include common smoothie ingredients such as chocolate or coconut to achieve its rich, chocolate-y taste. Frozen banana will turn this smoothie into a treat just like ice cream without all the added junk. Alaena from Grazed and Enthused adds gelatin to this to make it a tad bit thicker and up its gut-healing factor. Top this with extra strawberries, and it may as well be a banana split. Primed AIP followers may already be fond of carob powder, but it’s pretty much the only adequate substitute out there for chocolate, so get familiar!
Ingredients:
- 1 heaping cup strawberries
- 1 banana, sliced and frozen
- 2-3 T carob powder
- 1 T gelatin
- Handful ice
- ½ tsp vanilla powder (optional)
Read the full recipe from Grazed and Enthused here
4. Key Lime Pie Smoothie from Cook Eat Paleo
This is a great smoothie for the minimalist blender chef who just wants to sip on something satisfying to cool down. There are only three ingredients excluding the ice and your (optional) sweetener of choice. Lisa at Cook Eat Paleo has a good point – this is much easier than baking a pie. It’s also lighter and healthier, most of its calories coming from fat to give you a solid dose of sustainable energy.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup ice
- ½ avocado
- zest and juice of 2 limes
- raw honey, or sweetener of choice, to taste
Read the full recipe from Cook Eat Paleo here
5. Rainbow Smoothie from Cook Like a Cavewoman
Okay, so it doesn’t look like the rainbow, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts. The deep purple shade of the final blend is still pretty mouth-watering anyways! This recipe is the “kitchen sink” of smoothies – you know, when you have a fridge full of bits and pieces that don’t quite go together or you just can’t decide what you want for breakfast. Ashley from Cook Like a Cavewoman gives you the option of papaya, mango, and/or pineapple to give this the right flavor. The rest is equal parts fruits and veggies for the perfect balance. The final product is a thick smoothie with a huge variety of flavors and nutrients.
Ingredients:
- 4 to 6 frozen strawberries
- 4 to 6 pieces of frozen mango, papaya, and/or pineapple
- ⅓ of a very ripe banana
- 3 baby carrots
- 8 to 10 baby spinach leaves
- A small palmful of frozen blueberries
- 1 heaping tsp ground flaxseed meal
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
Read the full recipe from Cook Like a Cavewoman here
6. Fruit-Free Green Smoothie from In Sonnet’s Kitchen
Sometimes, life just calls for ALL THE VEGGIES. This is a great substitute to green juice if you can’t dish out the cash to buy it pre-packaged or muster up the energy to make your own at home. Besides, blending all that green goodness will yield a more filling and fibrous glass in the end when compared to juicing. If you’re watching your carb or fructose intake, this one’s for you. Avocado lends its healthy fat content to make this smoothie creamy and filling. Cucumber will keep the final product thick and hydrating. The fresh parsley can be a little overpowering, but it’s easily hidden and so very good for you! Sonnet developed this recipe with your health in mind.
Ingredients:
- ½ organic cucumber, chopped
- ¼ cup parsley
- ½ lemon, peeled
- ½ avocado, pitted and peeled
- 2 cups organic, raw spinach
- 1 cup coconut water
- 6 ice cubes
Read the full recipe from In Sonnet’s Kitchen here
7. Healthy Orange Smoothie from The Minimalist Baker
This tonic is jam-packed with vitamin-C and beta-carotene as you can tell by its bright orange hue. While the sniffles are often associated with the dreary winter months, some of us still get a little run-down in the Summer. When you start to feel a little under the weather, it’s a good idea to load up on the essential vitamins and minerals for a speedy recovery. This recipe from the dynamic duo behind The Minimalist Baker features creamy sweet potato for the perfect texture. Fresh cinnamon adds the just-right sprinkle of spice to this sweet, citrus boost. It’s sure to get you back up and running after a cold or a tough workout alike.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup loosely packed sweet potato puree
- 1 medium ripe banana, previously sliced and frozen
- 1 Tbsp almond butter (optional)
- 1/4 tsp each ground turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger (if using fresh ginger, use 1 tsp chopped)
- 1/2 Tbsp flaxseed meal or chia seeds
- 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/4 cup orange juice (optional)
- Large handful ice
Read the full recipe from The Minimalist Baker here
8. Paleo Chocolate Banana Smoothie from Gluten Free on a Shoestring
The definitive list of paleo smoothie recipes is not complete without a little chocolate indulgence. This recipe is simple and clean for those of you just looking to get a quick fix in while staying on track. Frozen bananas and medjool dates make this recipe the sweetest of the bunch, so save this one for when you really need dessert after dinner. Nicole at Gluten Free on a Shoestring claims that this one’s just like Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey. Need I say more? You can use either unprocessed cocoa powder or raw cacao powder, but don’t be afraid to get generous with your servings! The more, the better.
Ingredients:
- 3 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 1 pound medjool dates, pitted
- 4 tablespoons (20 g) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 14 ounces (5 to 6 bananas), sliced and frozen
Read the full recipe from Gluten Free on a Shoestring here
9. Watermelon Smoothie from Primally Inspired
When the heat wave is in full force, one of the most refreshing fruits is watermelon. You can cut one right in half and dig in with a spoon, or you can serve it up mocktail style in the way of this frozen treat from Kelly at Primally Inspired. The ingredients used in this no-sugar-added smoothie are known for their hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties, so drink up! Fresh mint and a squeeze of lime will quickly turn this into an icy delight on the hottest of days.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups watermelon chunks, frozen
- 1 cup coconut water
- 3 limes, juiced
- 10 mint leaves
- pinch of sea salt
Read the full recipe from Primally Inspired here
10. Super Detox Green Cleansing Smoothie from The Green Forks
This green monster is the king of all paleo smoothie recipes. If it’s green, it’s going in the blender! From dark leafy greens to fresh herbs and spices, your body is going to thank you for powering through this one. You can skip the multivitamin after this one, as you’ll be getting hefty doses of vitamins A, B, C, E, and K. Not to mention magnesium, omegas, calcium, zinc, selenium, and folate. The list goes on. Just check out Laura’s full run-down on this gorgeous smoothie for yourself.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup spinach or torn kale leaves
- 1 cup torn romaine leaves
- ½ cup chopped cucumber
- ½ cup chopped celery
- 1 small pear (or ½ large), cored and chopped
- 1 banana, chopped (preferably frozen)
- 1 cup water or coconut water
- 1 tablespoon of fresh mint
- 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley
- ½ to 1 whole lemon, juiced
- ½ tablespoon chia seeds
- ¼-inch slice ginger root, peeled
- pinch of cayenne, optional
- pinch of cinnamon, optional
- pinch of turmeric, optional
Read the full recipe from The Green Forks here
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