WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE
Need a midday pick-me-up, or some post-yoga hydration? This sweet and salty Ayurvedic smoothie recipe is light, filling, and full of energizing vitamins and minerals. The star ingredient is turmeric—India’s golden spice. It also contains bananas and salt for post-workout potassium and electrolyte balancing.
Ayurvedic Benefits of Turmeric
Turmeric (known as haridra in Sanskrit) is a versatile botanical that’s used in Ayurveda in everything from curries and tea to herbal supplements, massage oils, and more. An antioxidant spice, turmeric has naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It also supports healthy joints, promotes healthy digestion, and immunity. In India, women apply turmeric paste to their skin for a radiant glow.
This unique botanical is bitter, astringent, and pungent in taste. Turmeric is tridoshic, meaning it balances all three Ayurvedic doshas (subtle mind-body energies). Its warming properties balance KAPHA and VATA doshas (mind-body types), and its bitter taste balances PITTA.
In our turmeric smoothie recipe, we’ve combined cooling coconut milk and mango with hydrating pineapple, fortifying banana, and delicious digestive spices like cinnamon and ginger. Give it a try!
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup almond milk or coconut milk
- ½ cup mango chunks and/or ½ cup pineapple chunks
- 1 medium banana
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon turmeric (can increase to 1 tsp.)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- A dash of Himalayan pink salt; adjust to taste
- A pinch of freshly-ground black pepper; adjust to taste
- A little honey (optional) if you like it a little sweeter
TIP: How much turmeric should you use in a smoothie? A little goes a long way! ½ teaspoon is a good amount, but some may prefer ¼ teaspoon. More than 1 teaspoon will make your smoothie taste too bitter.
Some additional (optional) add-ons
- 1½ tablespoons maca
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- ¼ ripe avocado
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened coconut flakes
DIRECTIONS
Using a high-speed blender, combine all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. Adjust all seasonings to taste. Enjoy!
VIDEO
Want to know more about India’s golden spice? Watch Turmeric: the Golden Botanical:
https://mapi.com/blogs/videos/turmeric-the-golden-botanical
You can also read this article on the 5 Surprising Benefits of Turmeric.
