Smoothies are a way to drink your calories. There is so much surrounding the use of smoothies, how they are made and consumed. It’s used in intestinal disorders as easily digestible food to provide calories. It’s a rich blend of sweetness to provide healthy nutrition, and on goes the list of valuable benefits smoothies bring.
It’s little wonder that this liquid food is used so often. Now here’s the thing, smoothies are made by crushing fruits and vegetables into a purée (thick liquid). Usually, there’s a liquid base such as milk or yogurt.
Bananas are ubiquitous fruit used in many smoothie recipes, and it is used as a sweetener and give a creamy feel to the smoothie. One way bananas are typically used in smoothies is by freezing them ahead of time to be blended into the mixture of fruits. If you’re such a huge fan of bananas, then a substitute wouldn’t be on your mind.
However, being allergic to bananas is a real condition for several people, who might have difficulty making smoothies as many of them are often made from bananas. Well, there are several substitutes to still give that smoothie the creamy sweetness you want without using bananas. Here, we will explore those options.
What are Bananas?
There is believed to be a wide variety of bananas in over 150 countries in the world. However, the Cavendish banana, a yellow variety, is the most commonly exported and used. Bananas that we consume presently are mostly sterile, so there are no seeds to be found within when we eat them.
This is due to years and years of genetic modification to produce seedless and commercially marketable bananas for the market. The Dwarf Cavendish banana is the most common right now, mostly used in smoothies. There’s another species of this fruit that is typically used in cooking called Plantains.
An interesting fact about bananas is that many people are conflicted about bananas as a fruit or a berry. For example, the “banana tree” does not have a woody stem and can easily be classified as a herb, making the banana fruit a berry. There are several speculations about bananas as a treatment for several ailments. However, asides from their nutritional benefits, the sweet taste of bananas makes them desirable as flavoring agents in many meals.
Banana Nutrition Facts
Uses of Bananas in Recipes
Many sweet and savory meals use this potassium-rich fruit as an important ingredient to achieve that creamy and sweet taste. Bananas in smoothie recipes come with nutritional benefits as bananas are packed with protein, magnesium, fiber, and potassium, which are all very good for your body.
The bananas used in smoothies are often cut up into slices and blended with the rest of the smoothie ingredients. Frozen banana slices make for an even better smoothie. However, be careful not to use too much, as bananas have a lot of sugar in their composition. One thing to note is that in making smoothies use as much quantity of the fruit that you would be able to eat in one serving. Banana smoothies often make for a healthy breakfast meal. Here are a couple of other recipes where bananas are used.
- Banana vanilla smoothie
- Peanut butter banana smoothie
- Strawberry banana smoothie
- Apple banana smoothie
- Avocado and banana smoothie
- Banana milkshake
- Banana yogurt smoothie
- Key lime– banana smoothie
- Banana and honey smoothie
- Chocolate-banana smoothie
- Banana caramel smoothie
- Banana and Date Smoothie
- Homemade banana-berry smoothie
- Pomegranate-banana smoothie
- Pumpkin banana smoothie
Substitutes for Bananas in Smoothies
Whether you’re allergic or want to try other fruits and ingredients that can conveniently replace bananas in your recipe, then we certainly have a couple of easy-to-find replacements for your amazing smoothies. These substitutes easily cater to your nutrition needs and give your smoothie creaminess and sweetness.
Avocado
Suppose you do not mind a change in the flavor and color of your smoothie. In that case, avocado makes a perfect substitute in your smoothie for banana. It makes your smoothie creamy and thick, just as using bananas would have done. Although, unlike bananas, your smoothie doesn’t get a sweet taste. To supplement that, you can add a date or any other sweetener.
Avocados can only be used as a substitute when making a smoothie using greens, like spinach. Using ½ of an avocado should do it, although you can add more than that depending on how much is needed for you. But usually, ½ – 1 avocado per smoothie should do it.
Oatmeal
- 18 ounces of Happy Belly Quick Cook Oats
- Whole Grain Rolled Oats
- Low in saturated fat and 0 mg cholesterol
- An Amazon brand
Rolled oats make an excellent complementary substitute because their rich fiber content in your smoothie is quite good for the body. Blend the oatmeal into fine powder particles, and add this to the blender before adding other ingredients. This addition gives your smoothie a rich, thick, and creamy texture. ¼ a cup of rolled oats per smoothie makes a good substitute for banana.
Yogurt
The natural creamy nature of Yoghurt makes it an excellent replacement for bananas in smoothies. Greek Yoghurt gives your smoothie a creamy feel and thickens it. However, coconut yogurt is also an available option for those who would rather have a vegan-based diet. Most Yoghurt comes with added sugar, be careful with how much is being used or opt for low sugar yogurt.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is a flavor similar to the banana?
Fruits that have similar flavors to banana include:
Jack fruits that do not look like bananas but have a similar taste to them. Plantains often mistaken for bananas look alike and have the same flavor.
Conclusion
If there’s a healthier way to take fruits, it’s in a drink. Homemade smoothies are such a delicacy while providing you with so many nutrients. Going on a diet hasn’t been much better with a smoothie, and if you’re looking for a healthy breakfast meal, you can’t go wrong with one.
Bananas are essential to give our smoothies a creamy and sweet feel. Other substitutes mean you don’t have to skip your smoothies in their absence. Using any of the above substitutes gives you a great smoothie. So why not try them today!
Last update on 2023-06-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API