The holidays are a great time to unwind and enjoy laughs with family and friends. Unfortunately, some of our holiday drinking habits can be harmful to our health. This is why we love this delicious recipe taken from “Cooking from the Heart: DASH Edition Cookbook.”
Eating can be fun, delicious, and healthy even when you are letting loose on holiday. The proof is this recipe courtesy of Pharma Dynamics. Inspired by the flavor of a classic carrot cake, this guilt-free smoothie will keep you feeling fuller for longer.
Carrot Cake Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) raisins
- 3⁄4 cup (180 ml) strong warm Rooibos tea
- 1 medium carrot, coarsely grated1⁄2 small pineapple, peeled and cubed
- 1 medium banana, sliced
- 1 medium apple in the skin, chopped
- 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) of uncooked ordinary oats or ground almonds
- 1⁄2 tsp (2,5 ml) ground cinnamon
- a pinch each of ground nutmeg and ginger, or to taste lemon juice to taste
Preparation
- Soak raisins in Rooibos tea for 10-15 minutes to soften.
- Place all the ingredients with the soaked raisins in a large jug. Blend with a stick blender until well blended. Season to taste with more ground spices and lemon juice.
- Pour the smoothie mixture into glasses and garnish with any extra elements used in the mixture; like a lemon wedge and sprinkle of cinnamon. If it’s too thick, thin it down with a little water or more Rooibos tea to your preference.
Alternative:
Peanut butter & blueberry smoothie:
- Replace the carrot and pineapple with another small banana and 1⁄2 cup (125 ml) of frozen or fresh blueberries. Blend as above with 2 tbsp (30 ml) peanut butter (with no added salt or sugar) and 50 ml strong Rooibos tea. Garnish with more berries and ground spices and enjoy your carrot cake smoothie. Makes 500 ml, to serve two portions.
- A hack one can use is overripe fruit, like berries or bananas, which can be frozen in freezer bags. This could be perfect for an ice-cold smoothie. First, slice bigger fruit like banana or pineapple, and then freeze.
TIPS
Makes 750 ml | Serves 4 | Ready in 20 minutes.
MAIN IMAGE CREDIT: nblx/shutterstock
Want to know more?
If you’re not a fan of carrot cake but are looking for healthier drinking habits during the festive season, then might we recommend this savory green smoothie recipe?
