Here’s a “smooth” way to kick off the New Year, with a healthy you! Smoothies can be a fantastic meal replacement when created thoughtfully: they should be satisfying, well-composed and (of course) super-scrumptious.
We call this smoothie “The Cravings Crasher.” It’s rich in healthy fats and protein, and so luscious (while also dairy-free! ) It has a kiss of sweetness from the dates and complexity from the warm spices. This satisfying smoothie will knock your cravings outta the park!
We like to make our own fresh nut milk. Would you like to see a tutorial on that? Comment below! Also, we use whole spices, since we prefer to first toast and then grind them for optimal freshness & flavor. Using ground spices (as long as they are not too long in the tooth) is fine in this case since you probably want to make a quick smoothie without much fuss. For those who love an olfactory kitchen and have the time, freshly toast and grind your own. (We sure did!)
Wanna take this over the top? Then sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top. You’ll be glad you did!
Ingredients
2 cups almond or cashew milk
4-6 dried Medjool dates (pits removed)
1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ teaspoon ground clove
¼ teaspoon star anise, optional (you can use ground, or smash in a mortar and pestle)
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
a few twists freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
sprinkle of freshly toasted coconut for garnish, optionalInstructions
Add the nut milk, dates, and fresh ginger to the Vitamix.
Blend, using the tamper, to a nice consistency and add the spices.
Taste, and adjust the sweetness (dates) and richness (add some coconut oil for extra creaminess).
Is it cold outside? Are you needing something warm? The lovely thing about the Vitamix is that you can blend on high speed for a few minutes, and the friction of the blades will warm the drink. Lovely, warm, frothy lusciousness — yes, please!
Serve sprinkled toasted coconut flakes on top.
