Choc Mint Green Smoothie
Fresh herbs can add so much flavour and oomph to your meals and snacks and this green beauty is no exception - it is seriously refreshing! Mint grows outrageously well and this smoothie is another way in which you can incorporate the health benefits of fresh herbs into your daily food intake.
Mint contains an antioxidant called Rosmarinic acid with has anti-inflammatory properties and may help to relieve seasonal allergy symptoms. The menthol in Mint is a natural decongestant which helps to break up phlegm and mucus. And, if that’s not enough of an incentive to get minty fresh, mint has been used for thousands of years to soothe stomach upsets and may even help those people experiencing discomforting symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
This smoothie is a definite must try for the minty fans out there. It makes a great breakfast if you feel like a bit of ‘clean’ start to your day and also makes a hearty and satisfying snack for hungry goers. It’s also deliciously creamy and full of nutritious and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats from the addition of avocado.
I think all smoothies taste better with a bit of added crunch so I always top off my smoothies with a few toasted nuts or a tablespoon of my crunchy topping. The cacao nibs are the ‘choc’ part of the smoothie so don’t be fooled, there is no chocolate per se in the recipe but it tastes darn good regardless!
Choc Mint Green Smoothie
Serves 1 adult or 2 small people
1 banana, sliced into rounds and frozen
Large handful mint leaves, washed
2 handfuls silverbeet, spinach or kale, washed and roughly chopped
1/2 avocado
1/2 cup chilled milk (cow, rice, nut or soy milk)
1 Tbspn nuts (i.e. cashews, almonds)
To serve:
1 tsp cacao nibs and 1 Tbspn toasted nuts and seeds or homemade muesli
Method
Place all of the ingredients into a high-powered blender or Nutri-bullet and blend until thick, creamy and smooth
Pour into a serving glass and top with cacao nibs and toasted nuts and seeds
Enjoy!
Gluten-Free (check soy milk), Dairy-Free (if using rice, soy or nut milk)
