caribbean smoothie

Here’s one of those drinks which is guaranteed to give you a boost of energy, especially during those draining winter months we experience in Canada. I was visiting mom and dad in Toronto a while back and I saw she had brought back a ton of Turmeric from our garden in Trinidad and Tobago. She went on to mention that she makes this drink for dad and my sister (who lives close to them), so I got her to share the concoction with me. I’ve been making this smoothie ever since then.

You’ll Need…

4 beets
2 apples
1 tablespoon fresh turmeric
2 slices ginger
3-4 cups coconut water (unsweetened)
1 tablespoon honey – optional

Important: Please wear gloves when handling the beets as the RED juice will stain your hands.

Basically all you have to do is peel and cube the beets (save the tops for salads or to cook as you would other ‘greens’) and core/cube the apples.

I also scrapped off the other skin of the turmeric with a spoon, but I didn’t bother to peel the ginger.

Add all the ingredients to your blender and puree until smooth. I’d recommend chilling everything before you make the smoothie, so you don;t have to add ice and water it down.

My intention was to post this recipe on ChrisDeLaRosa.com, but my mom mentioned that while one may not associate this smoothie with the Caribbean (because of the apple) this is made and enjoyed in one form or the other at ‘home’.

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Jackfruit Smoothie.

August 18, 2016August 17, 20163 Comments

As we continue with this week of smoothies, it’s time to use a very common but ignored Caribbean (tropical) fruit, Jackfruit. A sweet (like refined sugar) tasting fruit, with a sort of custard-like texture, but the scent can be a bit overpowering when it’s fully ripe. We had just driven through Fern Gully, Jamaica and had stopped for ‘refreshments’ at a road-side bar, when I gazed on a Jackfruit tree on the side of the building laden with some of the largest fruits I’ve ever seen. It’s funny how whenever I think about Jackfuit, it takes me back to that Jamaican trip and the roadside bar where I enjoyed some of the most refreshing Guinness I’ve ever had.

You’ll Need…

2 cups frozen jack fruit
8 ice cubes
2-3 cups yogurt
1 tablespoon honey

Though I can get fresh/ripe Jackfruit here in Ontario at the many Asian grocery stores, it’s somewhat expensive. Besides it being cheaper, I find that the frozen Jackfruit they also stock is already prepared and it works great in smoothies and drinks.

Basically all you have to do is place all the ingredients listed above in a blender and make into your smoothie.

Yes, you can use a fruit flavored yogurt if you like, but keep in mind that it will change the overall flavor of the completed smoothie. Additionally, due to the sort of creamy nature of this smoothie, a couple drops of vanilla or almond extract will work great as well.

I may have mentioned this before, but the drive through Fern-gully is a MUST when you visit Jamaica. There’s a sort of mystical aura to the area.. as if you’re in a fairy tail.

Drinks

Simple Energizing Green Smoothie.

August 15, 2016August 15, 2016Leave a Comment

When I was a kid on the islands smoothies wasn’t a ‘thing”, however we did have ‘punches’! With milk (in most cases) as it’s base, they included many of the exotic tropical fruits we are blessed with in the Caribbean. Today you can still see many punch vendors (known as the “punch-man”) in all the major cities and towns, but smoothies are just as common and many people include them as part of their daily breakfast or workout regime.

With all the requests I’ve been getting lately, I’ve decided to dedicate a full week to smoothies for your enjoyment!

You’ll Need…

1 stick celery
1 mango
2 cups spinach
2-3 cups coconut water
1/2 avocado
2 thin slices of ginger
1 banana

Wash the spinach and drain, then give the celery a rough chop and add them both to your blender. Go in with the ripe banana, ginger (I didn’t even bother peeling it) as well as the peeled avocado and diced mango.

Top with the coconut water and hit the puree or blend setting on your blender for a couple minutes (my blender had a smoothie setting). Feel free to add a few cubes of ice if you wish and frozen mango (pre packaged) will work just as well as fresh mango if that’s all you have access to.

I usually chill my ingredients, especially the mango and coconut water so I don’t have use ice cubes, which can water-down this smoothie. Please drink immediately or you’ll find that it will not maintain in brilliant color and may start to break down (separate) after it’s been sitting for a while.

* You can go in with a tablespoon or more of honey or agave, if you’d like to ad a bit more sweetness than what the banana and mango will already have.

Desserts Drinks Gluten Free Vegetarian

Refreshing Mango Raspberry Smoothie.

May 22, 2015May 22, 20152 Comments

Though not necessarily a “Caribbean” thing when I was a young fella’ on the islands, smoothies are making it’s way across the island chain as more and more people are looking for healthy ways to start their day, especially with the abundance of fresh tropical fruits we have available to us. Back then, you’d quicker find freshly made juices and punches with the same fruits, so I must confess that I’m not a huge fan of smoothies (it just wasn’t part of my diet). This mango raspberry smoothie only takes a couple minutes to make, quite refreshing and a wonderful meal in a glass.

You’ll Need…

2 cups mango juice (or nectar)
2 cups ripe raspberries (freeze them if you don’t plan on using ice)
1/4 cup orange juice

* Feel free to use fresh or frozen mango instead of the mango juice I used. If using dice mango, you’ll need a bit more orange juice. For a protein kick you can always go in with some protein powder from your local health store.

This is so simple – basically all you have to do is place all the ingredients in a blender and give it a good pulse to break everything down to the consistency you like and you’re done!

Important: If doing this recipe gluten free, do go through the list of ingredients to ensure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs. This recipe makes enough for 2 people so feel free to double up to make for a larger group. And if you’re making this during the summer months you can easily add a bit of rum, a tablespoon of lemon juice and a few drops of bitters for a more of a festive (big people) drink for your next BBQ gathering.

I know, raspberries are not native to the Caribbean.. this is just my take on a tribute to my homeland (the Caribbean) and the place I now call home (Canada)… ENJOY!

Energizing Apple Beet Coconut Smoothie.

Jackfruit Smoothie.

Simple Energizing Green Smoothie.

Refreshing Mango Raspberry Smoothie.

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