Sweet Avocado Banana Green Smoothie (dairy free)

Not quite sure if you like green smoothies? Start here. A healthy but sweet avocado banana green smoothie that’s very delicious and far from the ‘swamp juice’ you might be scared of! It’s very easy to make, a good source of fibre and nutrient-packed. This recipe is gluten free and dairy free.

Why you will love this healthy avocado banana smoothie

• A very easy way to increase your fruit and vegetable intake. The majority of people do not meet the recommended daily intakes for fruit and vegetables – in fact, they fall quite far from it! Blending them into a smoothie can be a convenient way to boost your diet.
• Added protein, fats and fibre for a more filling smoothie option. Rest assured this smoothie will be satisfying thanks to the addition of protein powder, avocado, tahini and flaxseed. This is a nourishing, balanced smoothie recipe.
• Naturally sweetened so you’ll actually want to drink it! Obviously the most important factor here is the taste of this green smoothie. It’s sweet tasting thanks to the use of banana, medjool date and the protein powder. (Note: you can actually reduce the sweetness of this smoothie by using an unsweetened natural protein powder if you prefer!)

Ingredients for a sweet green dairy free smoothie

• Frozen banana. This is the base ingredient for a beautifully creamy sweet smoothie. Ideally you want to freeze a peeled, very overripe banana (think, a very soft spotty brown banana). This will give you the best result.
• Avocado. For even more creaminess, healthy fats and fibre, a generous wedge of fresh avocado. If you can’t access fresh, a frozen chunk of avocado will also work.
• Baby spinach. This is one of the most sweet and gentle tasting leafy greens. An essential element in this green smoothie in terms of nutrition as well as the colour!
• Coconut milk or other non-dairy milk of choice. You’ll need to add some kind of milk to this recipe, although you can be flexible in what you choose. Coconut milk is sweet and creamy – I strongly recommend using carton (i.e. drinking) coconut milk as opposed to the canned coconut milk you typically add to cooking. Other top choices are almond milk or soy milk. Soy milk is higher in protein if that’s important to you.
• Tahini. Tahini is a paste made out of roasted sesame seeds. It’s packed with healthy fats and is quite a good source of calcium. This rich seed paste adds more depth and flavour to the smoothie.
• Ground flaxseeds. Also known as linseed, these tiny brown seeds are a nutritional powerhouse and offer plant-based omega 3 and plenty of fibre. I always advise using ground flaxseed (looks like a rough flour) and not whole flaxseeds, as this ensures you can absorb the nutrients most effectively.
• Medjool dates. These are the king of dates, with a juicy caramel flavour. It enhances the sweetness and flavour of this smoothie, trust me once you start using them you will be addicted!
• Vanilla protein powder. Give your smoothie a big protein boost by adding a serve of protein powder. Using a vanilla flavoured powder also contributes to the overall sweetness of the smoothie. If you prefer not to have that more noticeable sweet protein powder taste, you can also use unflavoured protein powder. Please make sure to choose a vegan protein powder, not whey, if you need to keep this smoothie dairy free.

Love something crunchy on top of your smoothie? Try hemp seeds, cacao nibs or a sprinkle of your favourite granola.

See the recipe card for ingredient quantities.

How to make a thick and creamy avocado banana smoothie

A good quality high speed blender does help in the smoothie-making process, ensuring all the ingredients are processed really smoothly. I have had a Vitamix blender for years and it’s still going strong, although to be honest these days there are so many other great options too (and the price of a good blender has dropped down significantly). Even a solid ‘bullet’ style blender can really get the job done.

When it comes to the ingredients, I also have a few tips for putting it together for the best result.

• Use very ripe – preferably overripe – bananas for making smoothies, and freeze the banana first. (I keep a ziplock bag of frozen banana chunks in the freezer.) Overripe bananas have an incredibly sweet flavour, perfect for a smoothie, and when they’re frozen they’re going to give your smoothie an amazing consistency and also keep it really chilled.
• Love a thick, ice-cold smoothie? Add in a few ice cubes before blending. Personally I LOVE this and will always add a few ice cubes.
• Sources of healthy fats like avocado and tahini are what give this smoothie a really beautiful creamy finish. Don’t skip these ingredients! If you’re not a tahini fan, you could use almond butter or cashew butter instead.
• I’ve mentioned using a vanilla flavoured protein powder for added sweetness, which is what I recommend. You can use a different flavour – like a salted caramel style would also work – or unflavoured, but I really think vanilla works the best.

Can I use water instead of milk in a green smoothie?

I do not recommend swapping the milk to water in this smoothie. It is essential for making the end result beautifully creamy and sweet.

For the ultimate creamy green smoothie I would also be careful and choose a really good quality coconut or soy milk as the milk – I find these tend to have the most creamy flavour whereas almond milk can be a bit more nutty (and the poorer quality almond milks are just really watery).

Are green smoothies actually healthy?

Green smoothies can be a healthy snack or even a quick breakfast or lunch if you want something light and fresh. This particular green smoothie recipe is nutritionally balanced with protein, carbohydrates and fats. It provides fibre as this is a smoothie, not a juice (where typically the fibres are removed from the fruit/veggies).

It really depends on what goes into the smoothie! Keep in mind also that one specific meal/snack/recipe doesn’t make you ‘healthy’. Health is more about your overall eating pattern over a long period of time – so there’s room for green smoothies and plenty of other foods, too.

I hope you enjoy this sweet and creamy green smoothie recipe! Leave me a comment below or tag me on Instagram and let me know if you like it!

Other delicious smoothie recipes:

• Chocolate Avocado Smoothie

• Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie

• Espresso, Maca and Banana Smoothie