[Recipe] 3 Hot Winter Smoothies

I got really into smoothies during the warmer weather, however ice-cold smoothies quickly lose their appeal in these wintery northern climes.  So I went looking to see what I could find on the web to tempt me … and keep me warm now that winter is here.

I found several very tempting hot smoothie recipes from Nicky at the Kitchen Sanctuary: one chocolate, one gently spicy and one green smoothie.  However, Nicky give some warnings about making hot smoothies.  She says …

Don’t fill your smoothie maker up with boiling liquid. It’s either going to shatter the glass (if you have a glass jug) or it’s going to come wushing out with a tonne of pressure when you open the lid after whizzing things up.

Check your smoothie maker or blender can take warm or hot liquids. This recipe calls for a little of the warm almond milk to be mixed with cold water before blending. Then add the rest of the hot almond milk at the end.

Recipe 1: Hot Oaty Chocolate Smoothie

Ingredients: (Serves 1; 313 cals; fiber 8.5 g)

• 15g/0.5 oz Dark Chocolate, chopped (check the brand for gluten free if required)

• 200ml/6.75 floz Almond Milk

• 20g/0.7 oz rolled Oats (check the brand for gluten free if required)

• ½ a ripe, medium sized Banana

• 6 Almonds

• 5g/0.2 oz Chia seeds

• 20ml/0.7 floz cold Water

1. Add the dark chocolate to a jug.

2. Add the almond milk then microwave till the mix is warm and the chocolate has melted (or use a pan).

3. Put the oats, banana, almonds, chia seeds, the water and approx. a fifth of the almond milk in your blender. Add an extra splash of cold water if you think the liquid is too warm (see warning above about hot liquids and smoothie makers).

4. Blend on high for a minute until the oats and chia seeds have been completely incorporated.

5. Heat the rest of the almond/chocolate mix until hot, but not boiling.

6. Pour the blended oat mix and hot almond milk into your cup, stir to mix then serve.

Recipe 2: Hot Orange, Ginger & Carrot Smoothie

Ingredients: (Serves 1; 194 cals; fiber 7 g)

• Juice of 1 large Orange

• 1 tsp grated fresh Ginger

• 1 large Carrot, washed and roughly chopped

• juice of ½ a Lemon

• 1 tbsp. Honey

• 200ml Water, just boiled

• 50ml COLD water

1. Add the juice of 1 large orange, the ginger, chopped carrot, lemon juice, honey, 50ml cold water and a splash of the hot water to your smoothie maker or blender (see warning above about using hot liquids in smoothie makers and blenders).

2. Blend until everything is incorporated. Pour into a cup, stir in the rest of the hot water and serve.

Recipe 3: Hot Green Tea Smoothie

Ingredients: (Serves 1 cup; 247 cals; 8.3 g fiber)

• 30g Kale

• 1 sweet dessert Apple, chopped

• 2 Medjool Dates, pitted and chopped

• 1 cup of hot brewed Green Tea

Blend the kale, apple and dates with a little water and a splash of green tea.  When well blended pour into a cup, then pour over the remaining hot green tea and stir well.

Nicky suggests …

You can knock the calorie count down by adding only one medjool date if you wish. Medjool dates are approx. 66 calories each, so just having one would reduce the calories down to 181 calories.

Source: KitchenSanctuary

Photo: DrinkMeHealthy