No bananas today: Make rich and flavorful smoothies without them

It’s tough being a banana-hating smoothie-lover.

Bananas add creaminess, giving smoothies an almost milkshake-like quality. And they’re tucked into most smoothie recipes or smoothies at juice bars.

But other ingredients could work, too – avocado, mango, apple, frozen fruits and berries, Greek yogurt, silken tofu, nut butter, or soaked cashews or almonds, oats or chia seeds or a combination.

Start with a liquid base – about 1 cup – of fruit juice, cold tea, coconut water, milk or nut milk, even plain water. Toss in a couple of fruits and veggies: spinach, kale, pear, pineapple, peach. Then thicken it up, and – if you’d like – use honey, maple syrup, agave or dates to sweeten it up.

For added brightness or flavor, consider lemon or lime, vanilla or almond extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, mint, parsley or cilantro.

Almond Avocado Matcha

From greenblender.com

This nutty green smoothie is said to help reduce inflammation.

1 cup vanilla almond milk

1 cup ice

1 1/2 ounces red lettuce

1 pear, chopped

1/2 avocado, pitted

1 tablespoon almond butter

1 teaspoon matcha

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Yield: 1 serving

Easy Strawberry Smoothie

From popsugar.com

If your berries are on the tart side, you may need to amp up the sweetener.

3/4 cup vanilla almond milk, plus more if needed

8 fresh or frozen strawberries

1/4 cup Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla)

Honey, to taste

Ice, optional

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Adjust with more almond milk and honey if needed.

Yield: 1 serving

Lavender Blueberry Smoothie

From sayyes.com

2 cups blueberries

1 apple, chopped

1 teaspoon dried lavender buds

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted

1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice

2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar (for vegan option)

1 cup ice

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses, drizzle some honey on top.

Yield: 2 servings

Chia Berry Smoothie

From popsugar.com

1 cup frozen mixed berries

1/2 cup unsweetened pomegranate juice

1/2 cup water

1/2 tablespoon chia seeds

Combine all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth. Top with an extra sprinkle of chia seeds if you wish.

Yield: 1 serving

Berry Mango Kale Smoothie

From goodlifeeats.com

2/3 cup orange juice

1 cup fresh kale leaves

1 1/2 cups frozen mixed berries

1 cup frozen mango chunks

1/2 -1 cup water, as desired

1 1/2 tablespoons chia seeds

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Divide mixture into 3 glasses and serve immediately.

Yield: 3 servings