I love anything cold and creamy: ice cream, pudding, smoothies, chocolate mousse–you name it, I like it!

I do not, however, particularly care for cold, icy things like slushies or snow cones.

So when I make a smoothie (particularly a smoothie-in-a-bowl), I am going for the creamiest concoction I can create!

Deliciously creamy smoothie

This week, I discovered the key to a smoothie so creamy, it’s really almost a pudding: Avocado.

In the blender

Yes, I did just say avocado. Maybe not the first ingredient you would think to include in a smoothie, but it makes the texture absolutely divine, and does not effect the taste much at all.

With avocado and coconut milk, this smoothie is packed with healthy fats. Yogurt or cottage cheese (plus the pecans I threw on top) adds protein, and cardamom aids with digestion. Coconut water, avocado, and bananas all add electrolytes, especially potassium. So not only is this delicious, but it’s a healthy way to start the day (especially after hot, sweaty yoga)!

I almost threw some berries into the mix today, but I decided to repeat this wonderful peach/banana combo that I discovered last week. Next time, I’ll try raspberries instead of peaches. In my original smoothie, I used cottage cheese, but today I used Greek yogurt. There was not much of a noticable difference, so either one will work well.

Ingredients

Creamy, Dreamy Smoothie

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 1 banana
• 1/2 small avocado
• 1 small peach
• 2 Tablespoons frozen Coconut Milk
• 1/3 cup greek yogurt OR cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup Coconut Water
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamon
• Optional toppings: nuts, coconut, chia seeds, granola, nut butter

Combine 1/2 banana, avocado, peach, coconut milk, yogurt, coconut water, and cardamom in a blender. Blend until smooth. Top with remaining 1/2 banana, sliced, and whatever other toppings you choose.

“Happy Paisley” bowl!

I loved every bite of this smoothie!

**NOTE: If you prefer a runnier smoothie that can be sipped through a straw, you could increase the Coconut Water to 1 cup.

Smoothie Perfection

Do you prefer thick “smoothie-in-a-bowl” smoothies, or thinner, “drink-through-a-straw” smoothies? Regardless, I encourage you to experiment with avocado.

Enjoy!

-L