Blackberry coconut lime protein smoothie recipe!

Blackberry coconut lime protein smoothie recipe!

• 6.05.2017

It's almost berry-picking season here in Oregon and I'm pumped!! But we still have some frozen berries in the freezer from last year and the Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission asked me if I had any ideas for a blackberry smoothie with some new flavors. Well, I do!

I make a lot of ice cream-ey natural protein smoothies/protein shakes and I love to play with add-ins and base flavor variations. Frozen bananas make this one extra creamy, but the dominant flavors are fresh-tasting blackberries. Using canned coconut milk gives it extra coconut taste, and the lime juice makes it tangy and SO summery!

This smoothie has me excited to get out picking again this summer and freeze more berries for the year! If you don't have access to a u-pick farm, check out the freezer section of your grocery store and you may find Oregon berries there any time of year. Berries freeze super well and don't lose any flavor, and are great in smoothies and other uses right out of the freezer.

The Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission supports hundreds of Oregon growers of raspberries, blackberries, Marionberries, and other caneberries and wants to spread the word that we can eat Oregon berries all year long!

I use unflavored protein powder so there are no mystery ingredients, and you can make it dairy-free and legume-free for strict Paleo or nut-free!

Blackberry-coconut-lime protein smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c. canned coconut milk
• Juice from 1/2 lime
• 1 serving unflavored protein powder (whey or collagen)
• Sprinkle sea salt
• 2/3 c. frozen blackberries
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 tsp. xylitol (optional--use if you want it sweeter or if your banana wasn't super ripe)
• 1 big handful (about 1 c.) ice cubes

Instructions:

1. Measure milk using guides on blender pitcher. Combine all other ingredients into blender.
2. Blend on low (on a Vitamix or other high speed blender) until smooth.

It's done when it looks like this!

Makes 1 serving or 2 small servings. I usually eat mine in a way oversized coffee mug!

Optional: top with unsweetened coconut flakes and more berries!

Great optional add-ins:

I have some fave add-ins to these slushy protein shakes/smoothies! Here are some easy ones I do a lot:

• Couple handfuls of fresh spinach. It'll make a funny color but is tasteless!
• 2-4 dates instead of xylitol if your bananas aren't sweet enough

If you don't have a quality unflavored protein powder on hand, I highly recommend getting some! Grassfed whey is great but this is a budget-friendly option. If you don't do dairy or want some extra skin, nail, and muscle health benefits, this grassfed collagen protein is amazing. These and other faves used in this recipe linked below!

Thanks to the Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission for sponsoring this post!