Paleo Smoothie Recipes almond milk

Not many people would turn down a pretty looking smoothie, a refreshing frappé or a velvety shake. We shouldn’t rely on these drinks to replace our meals on regular basis but they are easy and quick to make making them a great on-the-go breaky or a quick lunch.

While vegetable based juices and green smoothies are high in vitamins and antioxidants, many other fruit smoothies and shakes can be high in sugar, even in its natural form. Go easy on those puppies if you’re cutting down sweet foods. In our household, we often have some protein based smoothies (we use whey or hemp seed protein powder) with frozen fruit and coconut milk. We down these after some physical training, unless dinner is just around the corner. If you do plan to have a smoothie as a meal replacement, it’s a good idea to add a side of protein such as a little chicken, cooked prawns, salmon or a hard-boiled egg.

I’ve compiled a list of the best paleo shakes, smoothies and frappes I’ve tried or would like to try in my kitchen. These are grain and gluten free, dairy free, with no refined sugar.

Before we start, here is a little guide to different types of blended drinks:

Shakes, also known as milkshakes and thickshakes, are cold, usually sweet drinks made with milk, ice-cream, ice and flavourings or sweeteners like chocolate sauce or fruit syrups. Protein shakes are well known in the fitness community.

Smoothie is a blended drink made with fruits or berries and various additions of crushed ice, yogurt, frozen fruit, ice-cream, milk, juices, honey and sometimes nut butters.

Frappé is a dessert, often a drink, made with shaved ice and fruit juices and purees. Coffee Frappé is a popular summer drink.

1. Simple Coffee Frappé -serves 1-2

60 ml of strong brewed coffee (2 shots Espresso), chilled
1 tsp vanilla essence/extract
1 cup coconut cream
1 tsp coconut syrup or maple syrup
1 cup ice cubes or crushed ice
Coconut & dark chocolate shavings to garnish

Method: Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. Process all ingredients until smooth and well incorporated. Add a little extra water if too thick.

2. Emerald Kale & Mango Smoothie – serves 1-2

1 mango, peeled, diced, stone removed (keep refrigerated prior to using)
2 cups fresh kale – 2 large leaves, stem removed, leaves torn and washed
1/2 lime, juice only
1 kiwifruit, peeled and diced
1 cup cold coconut milk

3. Salted Caramel Thickshake – serves 1

1/2 cup cold almond or coconut milk
1 1/2 tsp cashew butter/spread or 1/4 cup raw unsalted cashews, soaked
1/2 banana
2 dried pitted Medjool dates
1 tsp pure maple syrup (leave this out if you don’t like it too sweet)
A pinch of sea salt
A couple of ice cubes

Method: Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. Process all ingredients until smooth and well incorporated.

4. Strawberry Coconut Almond Smoothie
Recipe can be found here.

5. Almost Pina Colada – serves 2

1 cup pineapple juice, fresh or with no added sugar
1 cup coconut milk
1/2 lime, juice only
1 banana
A few cubes of ice

6. Mixed Berry & Chocolate Paleo Smoothie

7. Raspberry Mojito Frappé

1 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
6-7 mint leaves
1 tsp coconut or maple syrup
1/2 cup orange juice
*if using fresh raspberries (although why not just eat them whole?), add some crushed ice

8. Blueberry Acai Smoothie -serves 2
This recipe is by Kathy from Healthy Happy Life but I’ve amended the ingredients list slightly as it had soy milk.

1 cup coconut milk
1 1/2 frozen bananas
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup acai juice
3/4 cup ice

9. Black Forrest Shake – serves 2

1 cup pitted, canned or fresh cherries
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup coconut or almond milk
1/2 banana
Sprinkle with grated dark chocolate and coconut shavings

10. Watermelon & lime frappé – serves 2

3 cups chopped watermelon
1 lime, juice only
1 tsp honey or maple syrup
1 cup crushed ice or ice cubes

11. Hangover Smoothie
Who wouldn’t want to try this one? You can replace hemp milk with almond or coconut milk. Recipe is from Vegan Yack Attack.

12. Apple Banana Cinnamon Smoothie – serves 2

1 cup chopped, peeled apples (Granny Smith is best)
1 banana
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp vanilla essence/extract
1/4 cup unsalted almonds (or cashew nuts)
1 cup coconut or almond milk
1/2 cup water

Method: Process all ingredients in a blender until smooth and well incorporated, serve sprinkled with extra cinnamon.

13. Key Lime Pie Green Smoothie