Making the perfect smoothie is never going to be easy. Don’t get us wrong, smoothies are awesome, but making one perfectly… Now there’s a challenge!
Smoothies are popular as a breakfast option, as a midday treat, and as a post-workout pick-me-up.
Some smoothies are fruity, some are green, and some are densely packed with nutrition to give you a kick start to the day ahead.
Today, we will talk about how you can get that perfect smoothie, what the ratios are to make it work, and create the best smoothies that you possibly can. Because like anything, making the perfect smoothie, is truly an art form.
What Is The Best Smoothie Ratio?
Smoothies are an awesome way to put together your favorite things, experiment, and have fun with food and nutrition.
With the correct smoothie ingredients ratios, you can be aware of how you can fashion your ideal green or fruity smoothie and make it into a true masterpiece. Not only are ratios important, but proper pairings are too, and we will touch on that later.
All you need for a smoothie is a blender and some ingredients. However, do remember, if you intend on using frozen fruits, you should make sure your blender is capable of chopping up frozen fruit first.
Ratios For A Fruit Smoothie
Fruit-based smoothies are one of the most popular smoothie types there is, after all, who doesn’t love a refreshing strawberry and banana smoothie? Of course, fruit smoothies can also craft epic smoothie bowls!
You need to be mindful however, underripe fruit is not going to be any good for a smoothie. You want to use ripe fruits, no matter what they are, however, too ripe can be too sweet, and too sugar-heavy.
Bananas are a common ingredient in fruit smoothies, and they are best had while they are yellow with little brown specks.
In terms of fruit smoothies, the ratios differ slightly if you are using frozen fruit or fresh fruit. So, let’s take a look!
Frozen Fruit Smoothie Ratios
A frozen fruit smoothie should have 3 primary parts to it. They are as follows:
- 3 parts frozen fruit.
- 1-2 tablespoons worth of add-ins.
- 3 parts fluid (water, juice, milk, etc).
Unfrozen Fruit Smoothie Ratios
A smoothie made with fresh ingredients should have 4 primary parts to it. These are as follows:
- 2 parts liquid.
- 3 parts fruit.
- 1-2 tablespoons worth of add-ins.
- 2 to 3 ice cubes (optional)
Ratios For A Green Smoothie
Green smoothies are different. These do not have to contain fruit, but they can, if you want a bit of sweetness and extra flavor. We will assume that you do, this for these measurements.
Be aware that when you are enjoying green smoothies, you need to blend up the leafy greens first, as they will be the hardest for your blender to mash up. Some greens can be hard to break down, so it can even be worthwhile adding them gradually.
Most green smoothies will be made up of the following 3 parts:
- 3 parts liquid.
- 3 parts leafy greens.
- 3 parts frozen fruit/ additional ingredients.
You may not want to add frozen fruits, some people enjoy adding a banana and then some nuts or seeds for a protein boost. Remember, this is a guideline, not a strict recipe.
Flavor Combos!
Remember we said we would focus on flavor as well? Well, here we are. We are going to look at some of the best flavor combinations that there are in smoothies.
Of course, you can consider your favorites, as not all of these are for everyone, but it is worth knowing what works and what doesn’t, especially if you are new to smoothies!
Berry Power
Who doesn’t love berries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, black mulberries, cherries, and so on?
But, what do these berries go well with? Truth is, they go well with so much! They match with bananas beautifully, but they also pair well with so many other things and they can go great in green smoothies as a sweetener. The good news is most berries also contain a lot of nutrition!
Here are some pairings you could match with berries!
- Ginger.
- Apricots.
- Citrus (lemon, grapefruit, nectarines, oranges, etc).
- Vanilla.
- Mint.
- Figs.
- Beets.
- Mango.
- Plums.
Bananas: The Main Base
Bananas are the main base of a lot of smoothies, and if we are honest we are struggling to think of anything they don’t go with.
They have a unique flavor and texture, and they pair well with most other fruits and a majority of veggies. They might not go well in every green smoothie, but they do work well in most.
Going Green
Green smoothies can contain swiss chard, baby spinach, beet greens, collard greens, kale, and more.
A lot of people like to pair leafy greens with citrus fruits, which is not a bad idea. However, many tend to use juices in green smoothies, which we would advise against, as this adds more sugar than necessary.
Why not add some avocado or a banana to thicken, then add some berries and some seeds for extra flavor and nutrients?
Get Those Fluids
Water is the basic smoothie liquid, and it allows ingredients to show their flavors and helps the blending process.
But, water also hydrates, and does not contain any calories or sugars, so you know it is good for you! Water is the base you should use in green smoothies, and if you try it out in fruit smoothies you might be pleasantly surprised!
Fruit juice is delicious but it is also high in sugar so is best avoided.
Plant-based milks are a secondary favorite of ours as they add some extra nutrients to the smoothie, and most do not have too much sugar in them, as long as they are unsweetened.
Green tea is also an awesome choice. These often have detoxing or antioxidant effects and add a unique flavor, while being low in calories and sugar. So, we highly recommend this too!
Add-On’s
If making a fruity, berry-based smoothie, add in some lime juice, flax seeds, and ginger, and try out new things such as acai, avocado, and even peppermint extract to give it a little something special.
If making a banana smoothie, mix in some cacao powder, hemp hearts, almond butter, cinnamon, or sesame seeds for an extra dash of flavor.
Green smoothies go great with chia seeds, matcha powder, acai, coconut, yogurt, and avocado!
Our Perfectly Ratio-Balanced Smoothie Recipe:
While you are here, we want to share our perfectly balanced smoothie recipe with you.
This smoothie is everything you want in a smoothie – it’s thick, it’s perfectly sweet, it’s nutritious, and just the right consistency and a blend of ingredients!
Creamy Strawberry And Pineapple Smoothie
Equipment
- 1 Blender We used this one
Ingredients
- 1 cup/150g of frozen strawberries
- 1/2 cup/75g frozen pineapple
- 1 tbsp almond butter unsweetened
- 2 tsp Greek yogurt unsweetened
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 200 ml low-fat milk unsweetened
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender and blitz until smooth. About 2-3 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Substitutions
Here are some alternatives that you may use:- To make this strawberry pineapple smoothie with fresh fruit - use fresh pineapple and strawberries instead of frozen.
- You can use dairy-free milk instead of dairy, such as oat or almond milk
- Use peanut butter instead of almond butter
- Use flaxseeds instead of chia seeds
- For a vegan option, use dairy-free yogurt.
Nutrition
FAQs:
How Much Water Should I Put In My Smoothie?
The amount of water you put in a smoothie should be equal to the primary ingredient you are including. If using fruit, it should be equal amounts of water to fruit.
What Is The Secret To A Good Smoothie?
A good smoothie is made with the right ingredients and good ratios to ensure that no one ingredient overpowers it.
How Do You Measure Fruit For Smoothies?
The best way to tell if you are including the right amount of fruit is taste. However, a good rule of thumb is to use the right measuring tools such as measuring cups and measuring spoons.
Additionally, she spent a few years working for Smoothie King, where she gained extensive knowledge about making smoothies.
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