Since canning several pints of beets this year, I’ve been on a quest to find tasty ways to use them. Smoothies are a perfect option, whether you like the taste of beets or not. Because of the combination of ingredients in this recipe, no one flavor dominates. It’s a sweet, fresh-tasting drink.
Beets have a high sugar content, so this smoothie really doesn’t need additional honey or other sweetener. Of course, it’s also good for you. The beets offer a great source of folate and betaine, while the orange packs plenty of potassium and vitamin C. And blueberries and spinach aren’t considered super-foods for nothing. Blueberries have been shown to be a effective inhibitor of certain types of cancer, plus they contain compounds that can help prevent urinary tract infections.
Spinach is always a great choice for green smoothies because of its mild taste. It’s also an excellent source of fiber and vitamin K and a rich source of minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium and manganese.
I always suggest using organic fruits and vegetables, if at all possible. This is especially true in smoothies because, in many cases, you’re going to be using the entire fruit, peel and all. You’ll definitely want to use the entire apple, because most of the fiber and almost all of the antioxidants in apples are actually found in the peel.
Ingredients:
1 orange, peeled and seeded
1 TSP orange zest
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 banana (fresh or frozen)
1 handful spinach
1 apple, unpeeled and cored
2-3 small beets or 1 large
1-2 cups water
ice
Directions:
Add water, spinach, fresh fruits and vegetables, orange zest, frozen fruits and ice to a high-speed blender. Mix for 30 seconds or until you reach the consistency you desire.
Enjoy!