This is the smoothie of my dreams, and I have to have it every night or I shrivel up into a mere shell of a human. If there are no bananas and our grocery budget is maxed out, I make a small sign which reads “Please help. Bananas needed asap for frightening shriveled condition” and sit on the sidewalk to terrify passerbys into dropping a banana in my hat. My addiction to this smoothie is a sickness, people–a sickness. And we all know that sickness likes company. Or was that misery? Anyway, I want everyone to experience the wonders and horrors of a lifelong dependence on this fruit-laden, creamy treat.
I used to make smoothies all the time in high school. Then I forgot they existed. And then, on a recent trip to my sister Heidi’s house in Alabama, she made one that I would have killed for. But instead of killing (which might not go over well with my pastor) I bought the ingredients myself upon my return home and I whipped one up. And then another. And then another. After wasting a decade of my life not consuming smoothies, I had to make up for lost time.
One of the best things about it: the only thing you dirty is the blender and the glass you drink it from. No chopping involved! And no ice involved—my blender can’t handle it. It jams up and the motor catches on fire. Or at least it starts smelling like it’s caught on fire. The frozen fruit does the trick of cooling the whole thing down. Since we’re in the midst of beautiful, summery, strawberry-laden days, I like to stock up on cheap strawberries, take ‘em home and freeze ‘em whole so that they’re always on hand. But in the winter, I may have to revert to the pre-frozen bags.
Ingredients
(2 servings)
1 ripe banana
1 TBS brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/3 c milk (or half & half if you’re like me)
1/3 c plain yoghurt
6 medium frozen strawberries
Toss everything in your blender. Take a leap of faith and use the half & half instead of the milk (then tell yourself it’s just this once). Blend! Drink.
If you don’t like your smoothies so thick (i.e., my husband), just add more milk. If you like ’em fruitier, just add more strawberries. If you want to exponentially add decadence, spoon in some vanilla ice cream–it’s versatile! This really is the easiest thing you’ll ever make.
Use this recipe as a base to switch up the fruit. I like to use frozen peaches, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, mangoes, etc. Get crazy and switch up the flavor of yoghurt you use. You can also spike it with some vanilla vodka if you so choose. Will you have chosen wisely? That’s for you, your tastebuds, and your ethics to work out.
After my 3rd photo shoot with this smoothie recipe trying to capture something that didn’t look like a washed-out pile of mush, I discovered 2 very important tricks. If you’re willing to put in a little extra effort (read: 2 more minutes of prep) and want to make the smoothie EXTRA delicious, try this:
-Heat up 2 frozen strawberries in the microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes. This will turn them into a schmushy, liquidy pulp. Put the whole shebang in the blender with the rest. It adds something, it really does. Probably something about chemistry and the heat reacting with the sugars of the fruit. Let’s call it “microwavization of the strawberriohelix sugarchronicon.”
-Chop up some chunks/rounds of strawberry and banana, and mix those in at the end. After photographing the garnishes (I never use garnishes on a normal night–does anyone??), I plopped ’em in to the smoothie right before drinking (read: inhaling) it. And you know what? Finding those chunks of fresh fruit as I gulped it down was DELIGHTFUL. I can sense you’re dubiousness–but please trust me! I wouldn’t lie to you! (sob of genuine-ness and sincerity catching in throat) In fact, it’s SO GOOD I MUST WRITE IN CAPS TO DRIVE THE POINT INTO YOUR MINDS!!
OK, now that we’ve seen the pretty pictures, let’s get real. This is how I really drink it: all 3 servings in one beer glass. Mmmmm.
Click here for printer-friendly version: Thick Strawberry-Banana Smoothie
View Comments (18)
I'm going to try this smoothie! I like how well you write. Who knew photo's of smoothies could be so breathtaking? The photo's are all great... I especially love that first one where it's taken above the glasses.
Thanks Layla! Let me know how it turns out. Hope you're doing well!
LOL I still have not tried to make this yet despite saying I would
These look delicious! I'm having my sister over tonight so I think I'll whip up some of these to go with our BLT's!! I found you through TK, I like your humor:)
Cool! A fellow TK-er! Let me know how the smoothies turnout. =)
I used fresh strawberries, but the recipe was amazing :) thank you
FREEZE the strawberries and bananas before tossing them in the blender. It's Uh-May-Zing!
I'm drinking this as I'm typing - Preeeeeeeetty gooooooood.
FINALLY after 3 and a half years since saying in your comments, "I'm going to make this"....I finally made it!
I omitted the brown sugar each time (due to our diabetes, I figured we didn't need the excess sugars), I followed your recipe almost exact the first time, then the second time (because Josh wanted another), I made some slight changes (almond milk instead of cream, used more frozen strawberries).
Just made this. Soooooo gooooood.
Can I use fresh fruit instead of frozen fruit? Also, could I substitute the banana for orange juice to make sort of an orange strawberry smoothie?
You can do whatever you want! That's the beauty of smoothies. If you don't use frozen fruit you might want to toss in some ice cubes to get it nice and cold, but smoothies are super fun to experiment with. =)
This smoothie was perfection! I've been searching for that perfect SB.B smoothie recipe and I just found it. I do like my smoothies thick as well and thick was it! Also, THE SWEETNESS. One of my concerns was that it wouldn't be sweet enough but this author struck the perfect balance-you really don't need that much added sugar at all. The only thing I changed with my recipe was using fresh strawberries and bananas, instead of frozen, and I used the same proportions. I also just added 1 IceCube to keep that element of iceiness. Anyways, still really good and a great addition to my eggs and bacon in the morning!
Awesome! So glad you liked it, Dakota!
Yes. This smoothie was absolutely beautiful. It tasted like ice cream. Best idea in the world. Except I fear that I will now also be addicted. 😉Anyway, it was fabulous. Thank you.
Awesome to hear Leone! And you're welcome! Your comment reminded me I haven't made a smoothie in way too long ... =)