The smoothie has grown to iconic status across the globe, primarily on the shoulders of fitness buffs and dieters looking for a flavorful, yet nutritional, way to get the calories they need. One of the most ubiquitous recipes is the strawberry banana smoothie, which turns those two complementary fruits into a creamy, rich and potentially protein-packed drink. This diversity of nutrients comes not just from the fresh produce but also from any dairy, fruit juice and protein powder that is used to round off this meal in a cup.
Some like their strawberry banana smoothie with more banana and less strawberry, or the opposite. What is used to liquefy these fruits in the blender is up to the chef, too. For a creamy, milky texture, many use ingredients like low-fat yogurt, skim milk and even ice cream — depending on the calorie consciousness. Others stick with fruit juice, from apple or orange to specialty juices made from strawberries and bananas. One recipe recommends adding strawberry and banana yogurt or strawberry ice cream to strawberry banana fruit juice for a perfectly balanced drink.
Making a smoothie is as hard as loading a blender. Some use a little ice to chill the drink and add a milkshake effect, while others simply freeze the banana and strawberries. Most people make a strawberry banana smoothie without ice, though. Into the blender, on average, goes about a half-dozen strawberries to every banana, then the liquids. One recipe calls for 0.5 cup (about 120 ml) of milk and 1 cup (about 240 g) of strawberry banana yogurt; another calls for 0.5 cup (about 120 ml) of orange juice to 0.5 cup (about 120 g) of vanilla yogurt.
Many people make or order a smoothie as a delivery system to ingest protein powder after a workout. Some of these powders come from dairy sources, such as whey or casein, while others come from eggs. Varieties like soy and rice are fully vegan. When used in a vegan strawberry banana smoothie, they might be accompanied by ingredients like orange juice and other protein sources like coconut milk and peanut butter.
The strawberry banana smoothie is often among the first a person will try before graduating to other blends. Also common at storefront smoothie stands are orange Creamsicle®, Oreo® cookie, and peanut butter and jelly varieties. For as many types of fruit as there are to eat, just as many can be made the star of its own smoothie. Other popular combinations of fruits include mango, pineapple and coconut, or a medley of seasonal red berries.