August 20, 2013
Smoothie Tips
Smoothies are supposed to be quick, easy, and simple, but one mistake can cause BIG problems for your smoothie or milkshake. Here are some tips that may possibly prevent a total catastrophe.
Tip 1: DON'T ADD ICE!
Try to avoid adding ice to a smoothie or shake, as it will dilute the flavor of the beverage. Instead, freeze the fruit or other ingredients (such as milk) in your recipe to build up the drink, without diluting the flavor.
Tip 2: Add Xanthan or Guar Guar Gum
If your smoothie is too liquidy, a great way to thicken up a shake and give it a more pudding-like texture is by adding xanthan or guar guar gum. However be warned, a little bit goes a long way. I would start off with 1/8 tsp and add more as needed.
Xanthan gum and guar guar gum are both very expensive. Guar gum is about $5 less than xanthan gum. If you don't want to spend the money on these optional ingredients, you can always decrease the amount of liquid in a smoothie recipe for a thicker shake.
Tip 3: Frozen Bananas
Adding a frozen banana to your smoothie recipes is always a good idea. The frozen banana will give your shake an ice cream-like texture with lots of flavor.
Other recipes: