5 Herb smoothie recipes bursting with flavour and health benefits

Adding herbs to your smoothies is a great way to switch your standard fruit smoothie routine up a bit. Herbs don’t only add flavour, but they also have added health benefits. Herbs are flavourful, act as a natural filter for your body and have cleansing properties.

Now that all sounds great I hear you say, and at first I was really sceptical too about the whole idea of blending herbs into my smoothie. I love adding herbs in salads and savoury dishes, but found it hard to imagine adding herbs to smoothies could make my favourite smoothie recipes any better. So I tried it, and truth be told: I’m hooked! I tried 5 herbs and paired them with fruits that bring out the best taste of both. It resulted in these smoothie recipes, which I hope will convince you too!

BASIL

Basil is one of the oldest herbs known to mankind, there are many variations of basil like sweet basil, lemon basil, Italian or curly basil etc. The smell and flavour of basil vary according to the essential oils present in the herb. Basil is also known for its antibacterial properties and for helping with kidney detoxification. Basil also helps to restore the body’s natural pH levels and feeds healthy bacteria within the gut microflora. Besides being used in various culinary dishes, basil is also used in cocktails and yes, smoothies. Try it with this blueberry smoothie recipe to experience the taste sensation.

Blueberry Basil Smoothie

2 C Frozen Blueberries

1 Frozen Banana

½ - 1 C Milk (or non-dairy)

¼ C Basil (5-6 leaves)

3 Tbsp Yoghurt

1 Tbsp Chia seeds

 

MINT

I love mint in cocktails and chocolate, and in smoothies it’s a perfect addition to cool off. Mint has been used for thousands of years to aid with upset stomach or indigestion. I’d say it brings life to a smoothie, so tickle your taste buds with this pink happiness smoothie!

Pink Happiness

¼ C Mint Leaves (loosely packed)

½ C Pink Dragon Fruit

1 Frozen Banana

½ C Low Fat Milk (or non-dairy)

½ C Low Fat Yoghurt

1 Tbsp Raw Cashew Nuts

 

PARSLEY

Yes, you read correctly parsley! It’s more than a garnish that you toss to the side before enjoying your meal. Parsley is a nutritional powerhouse packed with vitamins A, B, C and K, and minerals iron and potassium. Parsley is said to be a natural diuretic, which helps to eliminate excess fluid, it is commonly used by stars who want to drop extra weight before big events because it helps reduce water retention and bloating. Parsley has a distinctive, pungent flavour and aroma so it’s best to use no more than a few sprigs in a smoothie. Try it in this refreshing cucumber and apple smoothie.

Vegan Cucumber and Apple Refresher

1 C Cucumber

4 Sprigs Parsley

1 Tbsp Chia seeds

½ C Ice Cubes

1 Apple, halved

1 Tsp Ginger

½ - 1 C Water

 

FENNEL

Fennel happens to be a vegetable, herb and a spice. The fronds are used as a herb, you can also use it in salads, side dishes and for flavouring soups and fish and of course your smoothies! Fennel provides an earthiness that helps to round out the flavours and reduces the overall sweetness in your smoothies, enjoy some fennel with a touch of avocado with this fennel smoothie.

Creamy Dairy-Free Fennel Smoothie

½ Small Avocado

½ Frozen banana

½ Medium fennel bulb and 10cm stalk

1 Small lemon, peeled

2/3 C Frozen Mango

1 Tsp Raw Honey

½ C Chilled Green Honeybush, Rooibos & Mint tea

 

CORIANDER

Coriander is also known as cilantro, and has a bright, lemony flavour. It’s also known for having anti-septic properties to help cure mouth ulcers and studies have shown coriander to have strong anti-histamine properties that can reduce seasonal allergies and hay fever. The leaves are rich in vitamin C, vitamin K and protein. It has quite a strong flavour, and pairs really well with pineapple in this recipe with a sweet banana base.

Pineapple Green Smoothie

1 C Coconut Water (more or less for desired consistency)

1 C Frozen Pineapple

1 C Spinach

¼ C Coriander, handful

 

All these smoothies blend very well in our 2 liter models, and blend super smooth in 45-60 seconds. With the OmniBlend V you can use the 60 seconds time cycle, after which the blender will stop blending automatically. The OmniBlend I allows for variable speed control, to adjust the speed according to your requirements. For thick and creamy smoothies, or to make it a smoothie bowl, add less liquid and use the tamper (through the lid) to stir the ingredients while blending.

Hope these recipes inspire you to spice things up a little too!

These smoothie recipes were developed by Bernice, who’s handling OmniBlend’s customer service and sales and in contact with foodies around the country on a daily basis. Bernice has a background in food technology, and is passionate about all that looks, smells, and tastes like food. She loves sharing how you can get the most out of your OmniBlend.