This strawberry date smoothie is the antidote for the summer heat. Tangy with yogurt and a glug of olive oil for richness and nutrition, it is loaded with ripe strawberries and naturally sweetened with luscious dates. Sip its icy smoothness for a delicious breakfast, snack on the go, or a delightful (healthy) treat anytime.
A hot sunny day - a cool creamy drink. That's what summers were made for.
And this luscious strawberry-date-olive-oil smoothie isn't just cool and creamy . . . it's a strawberry explosion!
Our strawberry patch is taking its sweet time to produce anything, after our rainy spring, so when I had the chance to pick the abundand ripe crop of strawberries in our friends' garden, I jumped at the chance. I came home with two baskets full of sweet, red treasures (after nibbling my fill while picking them).
Is there anything better than eating a sun-warmed perfectly ripe strawberry while standing in the patch on a summer day, the sweet juices dripping down your chin?
I think not.
Surprise Ingredients
Olive oil in a smoothie? . . . Yesssss!
It adds a luscious creaminess and a delicate complex flavour, but you can't figure out what it comes from. The health benefits of olive oil have been well touted - it's rich in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, promotes heart health, lowers blood pressure, stabilizes blood sugar, reduces inflammation and cholesterol - that's pretty good for a simple (and tasty) oil. Plus, the olive oil helps emulsify the ingredients in the smoothie, so they stay smooth and creamy.
And dates for sweetness? . . . Yessss!
In addition to adding a good level of fiber to your drink, using dates to sweeten it means you're not adding any refined sugars. Along with the protein in the yogurt and all the goodness of the strawberries, this is a smoothie you can enjoy, knowing it's packed with nutrition even while it tastes so dang delicious.
Strawberries, Dates, and Olive Oil (Pretty as a Picture)
That's what you'll need to make this fruity smoothie, plus some plain yogurt, a touch of vanilla, and a splash of water.
I have been having fun persuing my love of watercolour painting and have turned to doing food illustrations (of course, what else?). It's been very fulfilling to paint some of my recipe ingredients for favourite dishes (more to come in future posts).
Ingredients and Substitutions
- plain, natural yogurt - use regular yogurt or Greek yogurt (you'll need to add more water to get your smoothies to a nice sippable consistency). Even buttermilk or kefir would work here, too.
- dates - Medjool dates are the largest, softest and creamiest with a lovely caramel flavour. Use them to taste. Start with 10 dates, and add more if you'd like your smoothies to be a bit sweeter (or use less, to taste, if your dates are very large). Other varieties of dates will work too - you may need to blend them longer to get them totally puréed (best in a high-speed blender).
- olive oil - here's where you use the good stuff; extra-virgin, cold-pressed olive oil for its health properties and rich, grassy flavour.
- vanilla - it's not being disguised in baking here, so spring for the pure extract.
- frozen strawberries - freeze your own or buy unsweetened whole or sliced ones. You can also substitute with other frozen fruits. Tangy ones like raspberries work well. If you use sweeter berries or fruits (like blueberries, peaches, etc), add a tablespoon of lemon juice to provide some balance.
- water - to make your smoothie smooth and pourable.
How to Make an Easy Strawberry Date Smoothie
Just layer all the ingredients in a blender canister (preferably a high-speed blender). It's best if you put the yogurt on the bottom, so the ingredients get moving freely without needing to stir them.
It'll take just a couple of minutes and you've got four incredible Strawberry-Date-Olive-Oil-Smoothies to share and enjoy.
An Anytime Treat
Strawberry Date Smoothies are a great breakast-on-the-go idea, or wonderful as an after school snack. Make a blender full of them to serve at your next brunch. Pour them into individual small mason jars and pack them in a cooler with an ice pack for a picnic. Or even serve them as an easy dessert on a hot day. . . your guests will think you are pretty cool!
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Guten Appetit!
Strawberry Date Smoothie
Equipment
- a blender, preferably high-speed
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240 g) plain, natural yogurt
- 10-12 Medjool dates (or less, to taste)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, preferably cold-pressed extra-virgin
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups frozen strawberries, unsweetened
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
Instructions
- Tear each date in half, and remove and discard the pit. (Start with 10 dates, add more if you'l like it sweeter.
- Put the yogurt in the bottom of a blender canister, then add the pitted dates, vanilla, olive oil, frozen strawberries, and water. Increase blender speed gradually and blend on high speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Taste, and if you'd like it sweeter, add 1 or 2 more dates and blend again until smooth.
- Pour into 4 serving glasses and serve. Garnish each glass with a strawberry half, if desired.
- The smoothie can be kept in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days - stir before serving. It will lose its thick iciness, but still be just as tasty.
- Makes about 4 cups (960 ml) of smoothie.
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