Coconut Milk is all the rage nowadays. With more awareness taking over the world, plant-based milk is the future. Despite that, most plant-based milk is watery and does not taste anything like regular milk. This is with the exception of coconut milk! Coconut milk is rich and creamy with the taste of absolute heaven.
Coconut milk is delicious as is, but it can spark your palate when added to smoothies. It adds the thick, rich creaminess to smoothies that other plant-based milks don’t. Moreover, the slightly sweet and coconut taste is one to live for. To help you make these refreshing beverages anytime, we will list out the best recipes for coconut milk smoothies. If you are in a rush, just jump to the end of this article for a quick coconut milk smoothie recipe card!
How to make a Coconut Milk Smoothie?
First, let’s talk about a primary flavor that most people will love. It only requires two types of fruit, bananas and berries and some coconut milk. This recipe does not require any added sugars but still will be delicious and slightly sweet. It is, therefore, suitable for keto diets too. For the sake of those who like sweetness more, we will mention some sweeteners.
Ingredients:
- Unsweetened 100% fat coconut milk. (You can use homemade variety too. Just make sure it is thick)
- Sweetener (optional) – You can use a sugar alternative like monk fruit sweetener or erythritol. Alternatively, you can also use simple syrup or maple syrup
- Coconut chunks
- Room temperature bananas
- Frozen berries
Instructions:
- Tale your coconut milk and put it in a blender with some coconut chunks. Add in some ice as well
- The process at high speed until smooth and creamy
- Pop in your fruits along with your sweetener
- Blend again at high speed
- Taste and add fruits or sweeteners as needed
Tips for the best coconut milk smoothie recipe:
- Using coconut chunks is absolutely essential with this recipe. They will add the thick creaminess to your smoothie that you will come to love
- You can easily find coconut chunks with other frozen foods at the supermarket. You can also use fresh coconut flesh instead
- if you are not vegan; adding heavy cream to your beverage will give it an even creamier boost
- Be careful with the amount of ice you add. You may end up making your drink too watery instead of thick.
- Remember to use fresh bananas. Frozen bananas simply do not taste good.
How to store and freeze coconut milk smoothies?
You can keep the coconut smoothie in the fridge for a few days. Just mix it well before each drink. The fruits you add will significantly affect the life of the drink. Whichever fruits rot first, they will make your drink go bad faster too. If you make a smoothie only out of coconut and other nuts, it can be stored for up to a week!
If you want to freeze the smoothie, there is a neat little trick to do that too. Simply take your ice cube tray and fill it with your smoothie. Now, you can freeze it! If you want to enjoy your smoothie again, simply put some ice cubes in a blender and blend away!
This can actually be an excellent method to have a smoothie quickly when you are short on time. Simply make more smoothies than you need and freeze them away!. All you need for a smoothie now is a blender and these ice cubes! You can add in some fresh fruits while blending to give it a fresh taste. You can use these ice cubes for six months while frozen!
How can I add more protein to my smoothie?
If you are not a vegan and are open to dairy-based options, adding greek yogurt can be really good for your smoothies. It will add some more creaminess and a whole load of protein to your drink.
Suppose you want to opt for plant-based options to add more protein. Here are some ideas:
Chia Seeds:
Chia seeds are an excellent source of protein. They can be easily incorporated into your drink. Simply soak them in some water and then scoop them into your smoothie when ready to drink it. Two tablespoons of chia seeds can provide you with 4 grams of protein.
Nut Butter:
You can use any of your favorite nut butter to add extra creaminess and protein to your smoothie. Not only that, but it will also be a great taste addition to your beverage. Almond and Cashew butter is more neutral than peanut butter. The amount of protein that will be added to your drink will be dependent on how much protein is actually in the butter you use and its quantity.
Coconut Milk Nutrition:
Coconut milk is extracted from the fresh white pulp of coconut. Due to this, it is pretty high in fat content. This makes it creamy and delicious like regular cow-based milk.
1 cup of full-fat variety has about:
- 445 calories
- 48g fat
- 5g fiber
- 5g protein
- 6g carbohydrates
It also contains an ample amount of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Some varieties are fortified to add in more vitamins and minerals for better health. While coconut milk is high in fat, it is a healthy plant-based fat that does not increase your LDL cholesterol. It, therefore, just helps your body. However, it is true that any high caloric food can make you gain weight if you intake more calories than your body needs.
Coconut milk is perfect for keto diets due to its low carbohydrate content. You can easily incorporate some coconut milk recipes into your diet.
Other Coconut Milk Smoothie Recipes you should try:Â
What fruit goes with coconut? Well, there are many fruit smoothie recipes that taste absolutely amazing with coconut milk. Here are a few coconut milk shake recipe ideas you should try. They are great for any time of the day but I personally love them during breakfast!
Banana Kiwi Smoothie
Ingredients: Kiwi, fresh bananas, greek yogurt (optional), coconut milk, spinach
How to: Just add all the ingredients to a food processor and blend away!
The tropical flavors of the kiwi highly complement those of the coconut. The addition of the banana makes the whole smoothie creamier and richer in taste while adding a hint of sweetness. We have incorporated spinach into this recipe to add more nutrients to the drink without compromising on the taste. Spinach is mild, so it will not make your coconut milk smoothie taste bad while making it so much more healthy. To make your drink even creamier, you can add greek yogurt. This will make it protein-rich as well. Although, it tastes just as well without the greek yogurt.
Matcha Green Tea Smoothie
Ingredients: Matcha Powder, banana, and coconut milk
How to: Matcha Powder. Banana, Coconut Milk
This is one of the healthiest recipes on this list. It will have a taste much like a matcha milkshake with all the loaded health benefits. Matcha has been known to be high in antioxidants that will keep you safe from many diseases, including cancer. It also boosts brain function, improves cognitive abilities, and leaves one feeling energized. This may be owing to the caffeine content in the drink as well. Matcha is even more healthy than green tea because it is made of the entire plant rather than just the leaves. This ensures that it will have a concentrated level of goodness!
Pineapple Banana Smoothie
Ingredients: Pineapple chunks (canned or fresh), banana, chia seeds (optional) and coconut milk
How to: Pop in all the ingredients listed above except chia seeds in a blender and blend until smooth. Add in your presoaked chia seeds at the end.
This is one of my favorite smoothies from the list. It combines the delicious flavor of pineapple with coconut in a perfect tropical vibe. If you used canned pineapple, your drink would be sweeter and more flavorful. Using fresh pineapple ensures a healthier beverage with a milder taste. Both are incredibly nutritious. It just depends on what you want from your smoothies. Keep in mind that coconut milk smoothies are very calorie-dense, therefore using canned pineapple will just add to the calorie density and may not be good if you are trying to lose weight. The banana just makes your drink rich and creamy to enjoy!
Tropical Fruity Smoothie
Ingredients: Bananas, Apples, Spinach, Cucumber and Coconut Milk
How-to: Cut all the ingredients and remove the cores of the apples. You may peel the apple skins if you want a smoother smoothie. You can precut all these ingredients and freeze them for a quick recipe. Add these all in a food processor and blend until smooth.
This is another fruity favorite of mine. I had never imagined that apples would taste good in a smoothie. Contrary to my expectations, the tartiness of the apple combined with the sweet creaminess of the banana gave this smoothie the perfect blend for someone me – someone who doesn’t have a sweet tooth. You can pop in some berries if you want a sweeter taste and even some sweeteners. We add some spinach to this recipe to make it an even more energizing and nutrient-rich beverage.
Blueberry Mint Smoothie
Ingredients: Mint, Blueberry, coconut milk
How to: Take some fresh mint, frozen blueberries and pop them into a blender. That’s it!
This smoothie is one that left me pleasantly surprised. I had never thought of adding mint to a smoothie before. It turns out. It is one of the most refreshing ingredients to pop into your drink! That being said, this is definitely not for everyone. Some people absolutely despise the minty flavor in desserts. I was one of them! This blueberry mint coconut milk smoothie may be either your go-to drink or something you will never drink again. Whichever one it is, do give it a try!
Nutella Smoothie
Ingredients: Nutella, hazelnuts, and coconut milk
How-to: Blend some coconut milk with hazelnuts and bananas. Add in Nutella to taste.
This is for all the chocolate lovers out there. Whoever likes chocolate shakes and other cocoa-based goodness, this is your go-to drink! Add in some fresh hazelnuts for an increased nuttiness and flavor. You can roast the nuts before adding them to give it that signature smokey taste. Just a dash of fresh bananas will make this absolute beverage heaven. This recipe is great both for making iced drinks and for making hot chocolate. If you make hot chocolate, throw in some marshmallows, and you are good to go!
Spicy Pina Colada Smoothie
Ingredients: Avocado, pineapple, lime juice, orange juice, coconut milk (half cup), a pinch of salt
How to:Â Put all the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth liquid forms.
This is by far the most different recipe on our list. It is definitely not for everyone. Both those who it’s for will fall in love with it. It is a combination of spicy and tangy with a slightly sweet fruity flavor to it. To give it more of a punch, rim your glass with salt and then drink it! This is one of the recipes that will do well with added alcohol to it. It is your choice whether you want it as a cocktail or a smoothie. You can make a low-calorie substitute by adding low-fat coconut milk. But trust us, it is better this way!
Mint Watermelon smoothie:
Ingredients: Watermelon, honey, fresh mint leaves, and coconut milk
How to: Take about 8=9 medium-large cubes of watermelon and put them in a food processor. Add in some mint leaves and a teaspoon of honey. Blend it until it forms a smooth paste. Then add in some coconut milk and blend again.
Want a drink to gulp down after a workout that is creamy, refreshing, but still light? This is the perfect fit for you. Owing to the high water content in watermelons, this drink has a lower fat content and is hence less creamy than others. You don’t need to add a lot of coconut milk which will make it lower in calories. Sipping on this on a hot day feels like heaven in a glass. Add in some crushed ice, and you will always be thirsty for this drink again.
Other Fruity Flavors for Smoothies
You should try out these recipes at home. If you need more ideas for adding some flavors to these recipes, we will give you more! This is the best part about coconut milk smoothies; you can add nearly any fruit to it and have it be mouth-watering! You can keep some frozen fruits in the freezer and pop them in the blender any time you want. Here are some ideas for you:
Blueberry:Â Use frozen blueberries in combination with any sweet fruit, and it will taste amazing. About 2 cups should suffice!
Raspberry: Raspberries taste absolutely amazing in combination with strawberries to make delicious strawberry coconut milk smoothies.
Mango:Â Use mango with any less sweet fruit. Mangoes are very sweet themselves, so be careful when adding in other sweeteners.
Pineapple: You can add in frozen, canned, or fresh pineapples to almost any other fruit and have it be delicious
Other plant-based milk types to use in your smoothies
Oat milk:Â Oat milk is lower in caloric content than coconut milk. It also tastes very similar to cow milk for those concerned with an oat-y aftertaste to it. Oat milk is low in fats but higher in carbohydrate content. It has no saturated fats, so rest assured, it won’t give you heart trouble. A nice frothy foam will form on top that will make your smoothies absolutely creamy and delicious. Not to mention its high fiber content which keeps the digestive system smooth and running. You should definitely try this milk variety for your smoothies.
Almond Milk:Â Not only is almond milk lower in caloric content than coconut milk but most other plant-based milk varieties. It only has 40 calories per cup! It has a nice balance of fat, proteins, and carbohydrates. Despite this, it is not as creamy and good as coconut milk for smoothies. If you make smoothies out of almond milk, never leave out the bananas! The bananas will give you the creaminess your smoothie needs. Almond milk is not only great for a keto diet but also works for calorie-reductive diets due to its low carbohydrate and fat contents.
Coconut Milk Smoothie Recipe
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen berries strawberries, raspberries or blueberries
- 2 whole bananas room temperature
- 1/2 cup full fat coconut milk
- 1/2 cup ice
Instructions
- Peel the bananas
- Add all the ingredients in the blender
- Blend until smooth
Conclusion:
Coconut milk is by far one of the best plant-based milk options that we have found for smoothies. Not only will it create delicious drinks for you, but they will also be full of nutrients. Take any of your favorite fruits and pop them in the blender with coconut milk to make these healthy recipes. You will be satisfied with the results. So, which recipe did you try? Let us know in the comments below!