Originally, this shake was created for my son. I like to give him a smoothie daily, and they usually contain some sort of fruit, greens, and a healthy source of fat. I knew he wasn’t the biggest fan of oranges, so I added a fresh date to the mix to help sweeten up their slightly tart flavor, added some avocado for creaminess, and threw in a handful of spinach, for good measure. This combination was a total hit– not just with my son, but with my husband, too. In fact, it was Austin who said this drink reminded him of an Orange Julius. Later, he asked me to make this shake again, but this time as a dessert. So, I omitted the greens and added a dash of vanilla to mimic vanilla ice cream. I think the result is delicious enough to share, so I hope you enjoy it, too! — Healthy Orange Julius Shake (Vegan) Serves 2 Ingredients: 3/4 cup water or almond milk, plus more if needed to facilitate blending 4 clementines, peeled 2 soft Medjool dates, pitted* 1/4 avocado, pitted 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional) 2 handfuls of ice cubes *If your dates aren’t soft, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes and then drain before using. Directions: Combine all of the ingredients in a high-speed blender, and blend until completely smooth. Adjust the flavor to taste, if necessary, and serve immediately. Note: If you don’t have a high-speed blender, I’d recommend blending the first five ingredients until they are completely broken down and smooth, then adding the ice and blending again for a slushy texture. I hope you enjoy it! — Smoothie Shout-Out: If you’re looking for more smoothie recipes, my friend Tess, a.k.a. “The Blender Girl,” just released the Blender Girl Smoothies app in the iTunes store! It features 70 delicious recipes, with a new recipe added each week, along with special dietary and nutritional information, and a unique search function that allows you to search by ingredient, dietary needs, or even by your mood.
With smoothies like Tastes-like-ice-cream kale, Hangover helper, and Brownie Batter, Tess’s smoothie recipes are a must-have! Smoothie App photo by Erin Kunkel from The Blender Girl Smoothies app © Tess Masters, copyright (c) 2014. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Random House LLC.
