Strawberry-White Beet Green Smoothie

Packed with vitamins, nutrients, & antioxidants, this thick & creamy Strawberry-White Beet Green Smoothie is the perfect way to get in those leafy greens...

This recipe first appeared on the Bridgeport Farmers Market Let's Get Fresh site.

I am on a mission once again this outdoor farmers market season to show you all how you can create a delicious recipe purchasing mostly locally grown & raised produce and meats at your local farmers market. I started this locally inspired recipe series in the summer of 2017, and I am thrilled to be continuing the series this year as well. Each month I will be sharing a recipe here to the blog inspired by and featuring some of my own personal favorite fresh & local finds from my local market. 

For the month of June, I am sharing the recipe for this vitamin & nutrient packed Strawberry-White Beet Green Smoothie. Since I started on my journey to a healthier lifestyle a few months ago, smoothies- especially green smoothies - have become an integral part of my diet. I start out most days with a creamy smoothie blended with lots of the good stuff- frozen fruit, leafy greens, green tea, & chia seeds. 

This particular smoothie recipe was inspired by some sweet, local strawberries & white beets I spied at my local farmers market a couple of weeks ago. I mean, look at how gorgeous those beets are! How could I resist? ;)

I know beets are probably not the first ingredient that comes to mind when you are thinking of throwing together a smoothie in the morning, but hear me out for a real quick second, okay? White beets happen to have a more mild flavor than traditional red beets, so that makes them perfect for pairing with other fruits in a smoothie. Plus when you roast them first, it brings out their natural sweetness meaning you won't have to add as much sweetener to your smoothie when blending it.

Now I will say that if you do not like the earthiness of beets, then this smoothie is not for you. Even though the taste of the roasted white beets is much more milder than the traditional red beet, it does have a distinct beet flavor that the sweetness of the strawberries does not entirely mask.

Let's talk about the nutritional benefits of this green smoothie real quick, shall we?

• Beets are a great source of fiber, folate, manganese, potassium, iron, & vitamin C. Beets have also been known to lower blood pressure, help fight inflammation, & improve your blood flow.
• Strawberries are very high in antioxidants. They are also an excellent source of vitamin C, manganese, potassium, & folate.
• Leafy greens such as kale & beet greens are are rich in vitamins A, C, E, & K. They also contain a high amount of antioxidants making them one of the best cancer-preventing foods.
• Greek yogurt gives this smoothie a nice protein boost to help keep you fueled throughout that morning workout or run. Plus, it is an excellent source of calcium & probiotics.
• Using locally sourced honey to sweeten this smoothie is ideal if you happen to suffer from seasonal allergies. Local honey also contains anti-inflammatory & antibacterial properties.
• Green tea is loaded with antioxidants & nutrients, and has been proven to aid in weight loss.

Yield: 1 smoothie

Author: Carrie Robinson

Strawberry-White Beet Smoothie

prep time: 15 min cook time: 1 hour total time: 1 hour & 15 min

ingredients:

• 2 generous handfuls of leafy greens, washed & torn (I used a mixture of beet greens & kale.)
• 1 cup of unsweetened chilled green tea (you could also use water, milk, or a dairy alternative instead)
• 1 cup of strawberries (hulled, sliced in half, & frozen)
• 1 cup of roasted white beets (can be chilled or frozen- see instructions below on how to roast them)
• 1/2 cup of nonfat vanilla or plain Greek yogurt
• 1-2 tsp local honey, to taste

instructions:

How to cook Strawberry-White Beet Smoothie

To roast the beets

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Cut the leafy tops off of each beet. Set aside & save to use in the smoothie or for other recipes that call for leafy greens. Wash & scrub the beets, then wrap them loosely with foil. Place on a baking sheet.  Roast the beets for 50-60 minutes, checking them for doneness every 20 minutes or so.  When a fork slides easily into the center of the beet, they are done. 
2. Once done, remove the beets from the oven & allow them to  sit until they are warm, but cool enough to handle. Place one of the beets in a paper towel, and use the edges of the towel to gently rub the skin away. Repeat for the remaining beets. Allow to cool completely and then chop each beet.
3. For this smoothie, you can chill the chopped beets in the refrigerator. Or for a frostier, thicker smoothie, place the chopped beets in a freezer safe storage bag in a single layer & lay flat in the freezer to freeze until you are ready to use them.

For the smoothie

1. Place the torn leafy greens & the  green tea (or the other liquid of your choice) into the blender. Blend until it forms a green juice with very little visible leaf pieces.
2. Add in the frozen strawberries, beets,  Greek yogurt, & honey. Blend until smooth. Enjoy immediately. 

Created using The Recipes Generator

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