Strawberry Mango Smoothie

This vegan strawberry mango smoothie is so good that I’ve made it nearly every day for the last 6 months. Not kidding, it's just that good.

We’re using frozen fruit, a couple mix-ins for protein and flavor, and plant-milk to make your new favorite smoothie. I make mine with plant-based coconut yogurt and milks, but if dairy is your jam, go for it. Not a strawberry or mango fan? Check out this green spirulina smoothie.

Jump to:

• Equipment
• Ingredients
• Frequently asked questions
• Strawberry Mango Smoothie
• Make it with me!

Equipment

This strawberry mango smoothie is superrrr basic, you just need a good blender and some basic kitchen tools.

1. Blender – I’ve been on the Vitamix train for the last couple years and use it every single day for my smoothies. This is a professional-grade blender, folks. Before that, I used the Nutribullet for single-serving smoothies. The worst thing about the Nutribullet is that there isn’t a great way to mix your smoothie when things get stuck, whereas some of the higher end blenders come with an “agitator” – that stick thing that helps you stir while the blender is going. That said, this problem is easily solved by stopping the blender and stirring with a spoon.
2. Chef’s knife – to cut into your avocado. If you’ve never cut an avocado before, slice it lengthwise like a hot dog, you’ll hit the hard pit in the middle.Twist to separate the two halves, and scoop the green part out of the skin (the half without the pit is recommended). Save the other half for later, or if you’re making a really big smoothie or an avo toast on the side, carefully remove the pit use.
3. Spoon – for scooping yogurt and avocado. Also for eating.
4. Insulated mug, reusable straw and/or bowl – I take smoothies to go almost every morning, so it goes into an insulated mug with a reusable straw. If you’re going for a more leisurely smoothie experience, go for the good old bowl and spoon.

Ingredients

Let’s talk ingredients…starting with frozen fruit.

1. Frozen strawberries – I love using frozen berries in smoothies for two reasons: first, berries are lower in sugar than most other fruits. Second, frozen fruit means you don’t need ice, which in turn means more flavor.
2. Frozen mangos – we’re going for the same frozen factor to reduce need for ice. In addition, mangos are a creamy, sweet fruit that adds a slightly tropical vibe to this strawberry mango smoothie.

Pro tip: if you don’t have frozen fruit available, freeze some of your fresh fruit overnight! Bonus points for lining your reusable container with a little bit of parchment so you don’t need an icepick to extract (been there).

Now let’s talk add-ins. I suggest selecting two of these, or all 3 if you have ‘em around.

1. Peanut butter – peanut butter adds a slightly nutty flavor and creaminess to the smoothie plus a nice dose of protein. I always have PB around for smoothies, snacks, and toast.
2. Plant-based yogurt – Siggi’s vanilla coconut yogurt has blown me away recently, but use whatever plant-based yogurt you can find. I’ve found the coconut yogurts (e.g. Siggi’s, The Collaborative, So Delicious) taste the best, but there are good cashew options out there if you can find them.
3. Avocado – if you are looking for that perfectly creamy thick smoothie, you need to add avocado. Make sure it’s nice and ripe, but not brown. You won’t taste it, but it makes a huge difference.

Finally, the liquid. The first rule of using a blender is to make sure there’s enough liquid for everything to blend. If you don’t do this, worst case you could fry the blender’s motor or have a major electrical issue on your hands. Best case, your smoothie won’t blend. Best to avoid both scenarios and everything in between.

The good news is that you have some options! I prefer plain unsweetened plant milks so the strawberry and mango can shine, but use what you have.

1. Unsweetened plain oat milk
2. Unsweetened plain coconut milk
3. Other plant milks – if you can’t find plain unsweetened, try plain sweetened, then vanilla varieties.
4. Water – this is the last resort. If you only have water, make sure you add some yogurt to make up for some of the flavor. Also, half plant milk and half water is better than only water.

Frequently asked questions

But Eliza…

I don’t have that ingredient – help! See the above ingredients section for substitutes and options.

What’s the best blender for smoothies? I’ve been on the Vitamix train for the last couple years and use it every single day for my smoothies. This is a professional-grade blender, folks.

Before that, I loved the Nutribullet for single-serving smoothies. Worst thing about the Nutribullet is that there isn’t a great way to mix your smoothie when things get stuck, whereas some of the higher end blenders these days come with an “agitator” – that stick thing that helps you stir while the blender is going.

That said, this problem is easily solved by stopping the blender and stirring with a spoon.

I’m not vegan – can I make this smoothie with dairy milk and yogurt? Go for it. I won’t stop you. BUT this is a great opportunity to try some plant-based substitutes. Who knows, you might like them…

How do I get an extra creamy smoothie texture? It’s a combination of ingredients and blender speeds. We use creamy fruits like mango and avocado. This strawberry mango smoothie calls for frozen fruit instead of ice, and plant-milk instead of water.

When you blend your smoothie, start on the lowest speed, and work your way up when you see the smoothie moving well in the blender. If the smoothie isn’t moving, and you can hear the blade isn’t touching anything, stop and stir or use the agitator. It takes about 15 seconds for my blender to do the initial chopping of the larger fruit.

My blender is struggling to chop up the larger fruit pieces, what do I do? First, make sure your largest pieces of fruit start at the bottom of your blender so you’re not having to push them down as much. Second, chop up your fruit before freezing. If you’re buying frozen fruit from the store, try to buy in smaller chunks if possible. A strawberry is a good point of reference for the max size you’d want to blend whole.

What do I do when my blender stalls or stops blending the smoothie? First, stop the blender. Then, mix it up a little, then start again on low. Don't increase speed until you see good movement. Repeat as many times as necessary. If still struggling, you can always add more liquid.

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Make it with me!