Cavolo nero is such a dark green vegetable that there’s no hiding it in this green smoothie. I promise you however that the addition of frozen banana and a drizzle of agave nectar stops it being too punitive.
Mornings are not the same for me lately without my therapeutic whizzing up of fruit, veg and seeds in the Vitamix but it’s my steady supply of frozen bananas that helps keep them nicely thick and cold. I kid myself I’m drinking burger bar milkshakes!
So we have been buying a lot of bananas lately. Double the bunches so we have some to eat straight away and a supply to bag up in the freezer.
I managed to recruit a little helper to peel the bananas. Ted is into jokes at the moment and chuckled to me yesterday, “Why did the banana go to the doctor?”
I don’t know Ted, why did the banana go to the doctor?
“Because he wasn’t peeling very well.” Bah-bum. Although rather obvious I must admit I’d not heard it before.
So we lay out our chunks of banana on the shallow ice cube tray that lives in the bottom drawer of my freezer – I use this all the time lately as it’s so handy to freeze bits of anything you are going to bag up without them all sticking together.
Cavolo nero banana smoothie
Makes 2 smoothies
Ingredients
2-3 leaves of cavolo nero
1 frozen banana in chunks
500ml milk – I actually used oat milk here so this smoothie is dairy free
Drizzle of agave nectar
2 heaped tablespoons sesame seeds plus extra to garnish
Directions
Tumble the ingredients into a Vitamix or power blender. Blitz. That’s it.
This is my entry to launch this month’s Simple and in Season which I am hosting for Ren Behan this month. If you have a recipe using seasonal ingredients you are welcome to link up and join in.
Here are Ren’s guidelines to take part:
- “All you have to do is come up with a dish using any seasonal produce you like (savoury or sweet) post it on your blog, add a link to this post mentioning Simple and in Season and linking to www.renbehan.com and then manually add the link to your post in the box on each month’s launch page (click the badge on my Blog sidebar to find the current host) – this month that’s ME so link also to this post.
- A round up post featuring all the recipes entered will be posted at the beginning of each new month.
- You can take inspiration from anywhere – adapt a recipe from your favourite cookbook, try something from a magazine, make up your own creation or share a family favourite. The usual rules apply when using someone else’s recipe, please either get permission from the author to post it or adapt it in some way stating how/why you’ve changed it.
- Include any seasonal produce you fancy including fruit, veg, herbs, meat or fish.
- Link as many recipes as you like. You can link posts entered into other blog events or carnivals as long as it involves a seasonal food item (and fits in with their rules).
- The linky-up is open to anyone, anywhere. I’m happy to post prizes abroad and although it will be nice to feature as much British produce as possible, it will be interesting to see what’s in season elsewhere.
- By entering your link, you are giving me permission to add your photograph to the round-up. I will link back directly to your post when I include you.
If you have questions or problems, email me or leave me a comment in the comment box at the bottom of the post. - If you are on Twitter, tweet your link adding the hashtag #simpleandinseason or add me @RenBehan and I will re-tweet it.”
Jan @GlugofOil says
I really need a power blender – I so need to get healthier! Great recipe Sarah.
Sarah, Maison Cupcake says
Wouldn’t want to live without mine now. No more bits!
Ren says
Thank you so much Sarah for launching and hosting Simple and in Season. Hopefully we’ll get lots of lovely and healthy seasonal entries! Loved Ted’s joke :-))
Sarah, Maison Cupcake says
Yes I like a good banana joke. I haven’t shared my all time favourite frog in a liquidiser one with him yet.
Janie says
Ahh, that joke phase! I remember going through it myself and driving my parents up the wall with a constant tirade of hilarious (to me) jokes. The smoothies looks seriously healthy, just the thing for a new year energy boost.
Janie x
Sarah, Maison Cupcake says
I used to sit in the car reading them out loud. So far Ted titters to himself so I’m kind of off the hook there.
Janie says
PS Sarah, is it OK to link up to old posts?
Kavey says
I need to incorporate veg into my fruit smoothies really!
Sarah, Maison Cupcake says
I find a dash of cocoa powder takes the edge of any chlorophyl-ly-ness although you would get used to the veg flavour before long.
Fiver Feeds says
This smoothie is something new for me but since it contains banana, I’ll give it a try, it must be good when banana is added
Sarah, Maison Cupcake says
Banana is definitely the magic ingredient for this one.
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
Hey Sarah – I am having to listen to the knock knock jokes constantly. And have to laugh again and again. Love the smoothie.
Sarah, Maison Cupcake says
Ah the dreaded knock knock jokes, Ted hasn’t really got into those yet but it won’t be long!
Jen @ Blue Kitchen Bakes says
The cavalo nero gives the smoothie a lovely green colour, less kermit green than spinach.
Sarah, Maison Cupcake says
You should see my kermit soup LOL
De Tout Coeur Limousin says
Bonjour! Thanks for hosting – looking forward to lots of new recipe ideas – as you can see from my entry i’m not on the new year detox just yet…
Sarah, Maison Cupcake says
Do you have plans?
Sally - My Custard Pie says
Love Ted’s joke. A bit of raw honey and milk does take the edge of strong brassicas!
Emily @amummytoo says
A smoothie combination I haven’t tried – fab. Adding to my list to try.