The Kitchn: Banish smoothie boredom with this tasty coconut-mango mix
Three cheers for a brightly flavored breakfast smoothie that will energize those little ones right out the door! The silly name says it all -- the Coco Loco smoothie has a coconut base, a handful of cauliflower (trust us on this one!), and a silky-smooth texture from frozen mango. It's a super-simple, kid-friendly breakfast that's a nice change of pace from banana-based smoothies.
If your kids can't have bananas, you've run out, or you're simply looking for a change of pace, using frozen mango is an excellent option. Pick up a bag in the freezer aisle of your store, and keep it on hand until the craving for a tropical smoothie hits. The sweet fruit helps this smoothie have an incredibly smooth texture.
For the best coconut flavor, use canned light coconut milk here. (If your kiddo could benefit from a smoothie that helps with constipation, use full-fat canned coconut milk.) You can also use coconut milk from the dairy aisle in your store, or another non-dairy milk if you prefer, although the coconut flavor won't be as pronounced.
The cauliflower should be raw and either fresh or frozen. You can freeze florets yourself in a zip-top freezer bag so you always have some on hand for smoothies, or you can buy it in the freezer aisle. It might seem like an odd addition to a smoothie, but you honestly can't taste it and it's a good way to add in a veggie without causing the smoothie to turn green. (Since we know that some kids don't like that!)
You can add in some seeds or nut butter for protein to help this smoothie keep the kids full a little longer. I like the flavor of almond butter and/or hemp seeds in the mix here, but play around and see what your kids prefer.
If you have reluctant smoothie drinkers, encourage them to help you measure out the ingredients and push the button on the blender. I started doing that with my toddler when she was just over a year old, and now she routinely greets me in the morning with "Smoothie?"
Coco Loco Smoothie
Serves 1 to 2
1 cup coconut milk, preferably light
1 cup frozen mango cubes
1/2 cup fresh or frozen cauliflower florets
Optional add-ins: 1 to 2 tablespoons hemp seeds, ground flaxseeds, and/or 1 to 2 tablespoons almond butter
Place all the ingredients in a blender, and blend on high speed until very smooth, 30 to 60 seconds. Serve immediately.
(Amy Palanjian is a contributor to TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.)
