This zucchini smoothie tastes like a chocolate milkshake, however shhh! It is made with wholesome substances like almond butter, dates, and zucchini.
This zucchini smoothie tastes like a chocolate milkshake. It’s creamy, wealthy, and candy. Regardless that it’s wholesome sufficient to drink for breakfast or a snack, it might completely go for dessert. It’s that good!
Why add zucchini to a smoothie?
However let’s handle the elephant within the room: what’s zucchini doing in a smoothie?
My take: zucchini is definitely a massively underrated smoothie ingredient. Much like spinach and kale—greens that we’re completely used to tossing within the blender—it has many well being advantages. Zucchini is wealthy in fiber, minerals, and nutritional vitamins like vitamin C.
It additionally offers smoothies a tremendous creamy texture. There’s no want for a frozen banana right here! Frozen zucchini makes this smoothie thick and frosty by itself.
Zucchini Smoothie Recipe Elements
Prepared to do that chocolate zucchini smoothie recipe? Right here’s what you’ll want:
- Zucchini, in fact! You’ll want one medium. Chop and freeze it at the very least a day earlier than you intend to make the smoothie.
- Medjool dates – For sweetness.
- Almond butter – It provides protein and wholesome fat.
- Cocoa powder – It offers the smoothie a wealthy chocolate style. Cacao powder works right here too.
- Nutmeg and vanilla extract – For heat, dessert-like depth of taste.
- Ice cubes – To make the smoothie cool and frosty.
- Almond milk – Or any milk you want! My selfmade oat milk can be nice right here, and coconut milk would make this smoothie style much more decadent and creamy. Should you don’t want this smoothie to be dairy-free, common milk works too.
Discover the whole recipe with measurements under.
Make a Zucchini Smoothie
Step one on this zucchini smoothie recipe is freezing the zucchini.
Wash it, chop it, and unfold it in a single layer on a small baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for two hours. Then, switch the veggies to an hermetic container, and retailer them within the freezer till you’re able to make the smoothie. Tip: The preliminary freeze on the baking sheet prevents the zucchini from sticking collectively, which makes it simpler to mix.
After you have frozen zucchini helpful, you possibly can mix up the smoothie. Place the zucchini, almond milk, dates, almond butter, cocoa powder, vanilla, and nutmeg in a high-speed blender. Mix till clean, including extra milk as wanted to mix. Add a handful of ice and mix once more.
Lastly, take pleasure in! Pour the smoothie into glasses. Should you like, high them off with chocolate chips, coconut flakes, and a drizzle of almond butter. Cheers!
Substitutions and Variations
This recipe is incredible as written, however if you wish to change it up, by all means, do! Listed here are just a few concepts to get you began:
- Change the nut butter. This smoothie is DELICIOUS with tahini. Peanut butter can be incredible too!
- Amp up the protein. Add a scoop of your favourite protein powder or a tablespoon of chia seeds.
- Nix the chocolate. For a fruity zucchini smoothie, skip the cocoa powder and dates. Add your favourite fruit to the blender as a substitute! Strawberries, blueberries, and banana would all be nice. If obligatory, add a drizzle of maple syrup to sweeten the smoothie to style.
Let me know what variations you strive!
Extra Wholesome Smoothie Recipes
Should you love this chocolate zucchini smoothie, strive one in all these wholesome smoothie recipes subsequent:
Zucchini Smoothie
Serves 2
This zucchini smoothie recipe tastes like a chocolate milkshake! It is made with wholesome, plant-based substances, nevertheless it’s candy, wealthy, and creamy.
Stop your display screen from going darkish
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In a high-speed blender, place the zucchini, almond milk, dates, almond butter, cocoa powder, vanilla, and nutmeg. Mix till clean, including extra almond milk as wanted to mix. Add a handful of ice and mix once more.
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Pour into glasses. Drizzle with almond butter, sprinkle with chocolate chips and coconut flakes, if desired, and serve.
*In case your dates will not be gentle, soak them in heat water for five to 10 minutes. Pat dry earlier than utilizing.