Imagine yourself in the tropics! This Tropical Smoothie recipe is full of tropical fruit flavors – a great way to start your day.
Love smoothies? Try this Pineapple Banana Kale Smoothie Recipe, Cherry Coconut Smoothie, or change it up with this Smoothie Bowl with Coconut and Berries.
Are you looking for something fast and delicious that you can make for breakfast? Or how about a healthy after school snack? I feel like I’ve been in a rut lately, so I’m glad I was reminded of this Tropical Smoothie recipe that I originally posted about back in 2008!
I often think that people don’t really need a recipe for a smoothie. But if you are like me, you get in the habit of making the same smoothie over and over again. So I’m here with some inspiration for a tropical treat for breakfast. Of course, you can sub in different fruits, or even different liquids, but I thought this one was pretty perfect as it is!
What do you put in a fruit smoothie?
I have a bit of a love affair with smoothies. And the thing that I love the most is that the sky is the limit when it comes to what ingredients you use.
For a fruit smoothie, I like to use frozen fruit when possible. Frozen fruit is readily available at the grocery store, but it is also super simple to freeze fruit yourself at home, too. To keep things basic, you really only need a liquid – you can use anything from water to milk to coconut milk to fruit juice – and the fruit. If you are using fresh fruit, or if you like a thicker or icier consistency, you’ll want to add a bit of ice, too.
Ingredients
There are only a few ingredients that you need to make this tropical smoothie. These are all ingredients that are easy to keep on hand – either in the refrigerator or the freezer. If you are an avid smoothie fan, you’ll probably already have all of these ingredients on hand! Here is what you need:
- frozen mango chunks
- frozen strawberries
- frozen banana
- milk
- orange juice
- plain Greek yogurt
- honey
How to Make a Tropical Smoothie
It couldn’t be easier – just put everything in your blender, and blend!
Read below for tips and tricks with different kinds of blenders.
Substitutions
This is a great starting point for a smoothie, so the substitutions really are endless!
For the liquid, regular water can be used instead of coconut water. The juice can be subbed out for your favorite juice – pineapple or mango would be delicious! The milk can also be substituted for a dairy free substitution, or more juice or water.
For the fruit, you can choose any fruit that you like. I like to use frozen fruit so that I don’t have to use as much ice. (Sometimes I don’t even use ice at all!) I do always like to include bananas because it makes the smoothie creamy.
I will also sometimes add in coconut extract to bring more of a coconut flavor.
Make it green by adding in a handful or two of spinach or chopped kale.
Tips for Making Smoothies
- Not all blenders are created equal. This doesn’t mean that you have to have the newest, most expensive blender on the market. In fact, I wrote a whole cookbook that I tested using a cheap $15 blender from the local big box store. But the truth of the matter is that most smoothies won’t be as smooth in a cheaper blender as they are in a more powerful blender. Frozen fruit can take awhile to break down into the smoothie if you don’t have a high powered blender, so just be aware that it may take a little longer in a cheaper blender. Just have patience! I have a Blendtec that I love, and many people also love the Vitamix. Or you can get a Ninja blender for under $100.
- If you are using a high powered blender, you can just throw everything in any order. If you have a cheaper blender, put the liquid in first and the frozen fruit last.
- Start your blender on a low speed and work up to a higher speed.
More Smoothie Recipes
Pineapple Banana Smoothie
Tropical Carrot Smoothie
Chocolate Berry Smoothie
Root Beer Float Smoothie
Honeydew Lime Smoothie
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Tropical Smoothie
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 cups 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Blend
- Cuisine: American
Description
Imagine yourself in the tropics! This Tropical Smoothie recipe is full of tropical fruit flavors – a great way to start your day.
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen mango chunks
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 cup ice
- 1 frozen banana, sliced
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup coconut water
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Recipe Notes:
adapted from Barefoot Contessa Parties!
SUBSTITUTIONS: This recipe is really a great starting point and is easy to adapt to what you like or what you have on hand. Any frozen fruit will work in place of the strawberries and mango. I always do like to use banana because it makes the smoothie creamier.
If you don’t have coconut water, you can use regular water, or more milk or juice.
Sub pineapple juice for the orange juice, or another tropical juice of your choice.
I also sometimes add a bit of coconut extract to bring in more coconut flavor.
Make it green by adding a handful or two of baby spinach or chopped kale.
STORE: This is best right after it is made and will not store well.
Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 cups
- Calories: 186
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 43 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 6 mg
Keywords: tropical smoothie, tropical smoothie recipe
Patsyk says
I have several of the CIA cookbooks on my wish list… I’m dying to take a course (or 2 or 3 or 4!) from them! I can’t wait to see what you make from this cookbook.
I think Ina has some great recipes, but have been hesitant to buy her books as I don’t know that I’ll use them enough since I tend to cook “lighter” than she does. I love this project and how you share your results each month.
glamah16 says
The CIA puts out great books. I have one on Cake Decorating and one on Hors D Ouevers. Come on, give a prty. You’ll be great. I actually enjoy the ‘presure’.
Augustina says
I just got a new handheld immersion blender so maybe this smoothie will be my first recipe using it! I don’t own any Ina Garten cookbooks yet but i have tried some of her recipes before. I like her style too. Thanks for sharing these great recipes.
Roni says
love the smoothie idea. wouldn’t have considered banana mango together. Isn’t that weird? :~)
Mary says
Oh I’m so excited to see what you’re going to make! I’ve never heard of this cookbook before, but I’m definitely intrigued!
Katerina says
Great post as always! I took this one out of the library and grabbed a few recipes, I am generally a big Ina fan and I have her original book. I have also been meaning to make her spinach gratin. We can see who gets to it first.
Prudy says
What a great idea-to actually use the cookbooks you’ve got. I just read your profile and noticed you are from Orem. I just happen to be in Orem visiting my sister. I’m from Santa Clara. Your opera cake looks wonderful!
Vicarious Foodie says
Yum! Smoothies are such a great way to get a fast, nutritious breakfast. Yours sounds (and looks) great!
Psychgrad says
Like many others, I’m a fan of Ina Garten. Her recipes are always good. Giz recently made her rugelach recipe. As an official taster of Giz’s recipes, when I’m in town to visit, I can verify that it is also good.
Grace says
i had mango for the first time a couple weeks ago (in a salad at an airport, no less), and now i can’t get enough. i want to toss it in everything. it’s amazing to me how quickly i can become obsessed with a certain food, and usually the obsession ends just as easily. i’ll be sure to make this smoothie while i’m still feeling the mango-love, cause it sounds great. 🙂
Dhanggit says
oh i love strawberry smoothies!! i would probably add some banana on it though!! 🙂
btw, i agree with you how time flies so fast..everytime i look at my daughter..she used to be a baby she’s growing faster and faster..i feel a little bit old …sigh 🙁
Elle says
With summer coming, I’ll be looking for more smoothie ideas, so thanks for this one! It looks so refreshing!
Cakespy says
I love it when books are separated like that in a way that makes sense. Judging by how delicious this smoothie looks, and with Mr. Cakespy’s penchant for them in the morning, I might have to give this one a try!
Emiline says
Yeah, I’m more of a coffee gal myself, but this smoothie looks really good.
I wonder if by drinking V8, you would get a lot of vitamins in your diet? I don’t think I’ve ever had a V8.
I wouldn’t mind having this Ina book. I like her.
giz says
I have Ina’s party book and love it totally. I blogged her rugalach recipe not long ago – fantastic and so easy to make. All her recipes are totally accessible, no nonsense and never let me down.
Brittany says
Just wanted to say great blog, and congrats on the FFF feature!
eatme_delicious says
Can’t wait to see what you make from the Vegetables cookbook! And yum to that smoothie. Did you use fresh mango? They’re such a pain to cut up. I love smoothies because, as you said, it’s a great way to add more fruit to my diet!
EAT! says
I have all Ina’s cookbooks and I mostly love all her recipes. I like her easy style and lots of fresh ingredients.
Aggie says
I’m a big Barefoot Contessa fan…her original cookbook is one of my favorites and most used. When I got it, I read it like a book…she’s my kind of gal.
Have I told you I love your blog? =)
M. Clem says
The smoothie tasted amazing! I will definitely make this again.
★★★★★
Deborah says
I’m so glad that you liked it!
riduannur rahman says
I loved this very much. i have some nice idea you can work with
John doe says
Its super good but its quite big so i find if you half the ingredients it is a good size for one!
★★★★★