Although watermelon may not be the first ingredient you would choose to add to a smoothie, it is one of the most refreshing drinks.
This concoction combines sweet watermelon with yogurt, milk (or plant-based milk), and maple syrup for a thick, flavorful drink.
Watermelons are wonderful ingredients. Since they are 90 percent water content, they are low in calories with only 30 in a 100-gram serving. Although they do not offer significant amounts of fiber, they are a good source of vitamins C and B 1 .
Because watermelons have such an extremely high water content, the best way to ensure a thick and creamy smoothie is freeze the fruit beforehand.
You can dice the fruit and freeze it for an hour before blending, or better yet, dice the fruit, bag it into 3-cup portions, freeze it, and keep it on hand for when you want a glass of this easy and simple.
The third option is to use fresh watermelon but add crushed ice instead of using frozen fruit. You would get a juice-like consistency, not the texture of a creamy milkshake, but amazing flavor.
Ingredients
1 medium watermelon (or 3 cups of frozen fruit)
1 cup almond milk (or soy milk or whole milk)
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 small slices of watermelon
Decorate:
2 sprigs of mint
Preparation
Gather the ingredients.
You cut the watermelon into small pieces about 1/2 inch square. This size will be easier to mix into the smoothie. Reserve some cuts, with peel included, for the garnish.
Arrange freshly cut watermelon on baking sheet, leaving space between pieces. Cover with cling film and freeze for 1 hour.
If making watermelon ahead of time for smoothies later in the week, once frozen, transfer to plastic storage bags and freeze in 3-cup portions until ready to use.
Once frozen, measure out 3 cups of frozen watermelon and place in a blender. Top fruit with milk, yogurt, and maple syrup. Blend until smooth.
Serve watermelon smoothies immediately in chilled glasses. Garnish with a slice of watermelon and fresh mint, if desired.