Healthy Pistachio Matcha Smoothie

Embrace the goodness of green with this filling antioxidant-packed smoothie that delivers energizing slow-release caffeine. Nutty pistachios and earthy matcha are a spectacular flavor pairing. Avocado makes it seductively creamy, a banana adds sweetness and spinach ties everything together with plant-forward flair.

A GROWNUP SMOOTHIE EXPERIENCE

I’m a grownup with grownup smoothie needs. Don’t get me wrong, I still love brightly colored smoothies that look like they could be served in Barbie’s townhouse. We all do! But I also embrace robust highly aromatic flavors delivered in deep shades of green. Matcha is an intensely aromatic chlorophyll-packed ingredient that pairs exceptionally well with the quirky nuttiness of pistachios, a nuttiness that’s delightfully intensified by a little almond extract. Those are the flavors that this smoothie is all about. This mature smoothie experience includes the subtle sophistication of creamy avocados and the refreshing grassiness of fresh spinach. It’s not a dessert-like smoothie. Subtly sweet banana along with a little optional maple syrup is used to ground the other flavors and balance slight hints of bitterness. But there’s more to my grownup smoothie needs than mature tastebuds and color preferences. I’m a busy grownup person with an exhausting list of commitments and ambitions. As such, I need a grownup smoothie that helps me power through the day. That’s where this smoothie stands out. It’s high in fiber, protein, healthy fats and contains a dose of matcha powered slow-release caffeine that satiates my appetite while energizing my brain.

ADJUSTING QUANTITIES

Like almost all smoothie recipes, the quantity of the ingredients in this smoothie can be adjusted to your personal preferences. Most of the ingredients in this smoothie have subtle flavors and the exact amounts won’t make much of a difference. For example, doubling the avocado because you love the creaminess or using more spinach as a way to get more greens in your body are both fine. My only notes of caution are with regards to the matcha and almond extract. Too much matcha may make this smoothie unpleasantly bitter. So if you want to increase the matcha, add a tiny bit at a time, tasting it after each addition. Similarly, no matter how much you love the aromatic amaretto-like fragrance of almond extract, using too much in a recipe can be disastrous. Almond extract is just a very potent flavoring. If you want more, increase the quantity by a couple of drops at a time.

RAW VS ROASTED PISTACHIOS

For this recipe you can use roasted or raw pistachios. Both work equally well. In my experience, roasted pistachios are easier to find, have a longer shelf life, may taste a little better and are only slightly less nutritious than raw. The only downside to roasted pistachios is that they aren’t as green. For this smoothie that’s not much of a problem since the matcha and spinach ensure a vibrant green smoothie. If you prefer to use raw pistachios I recommend storing them in the freezer to extend the shelf life. I used raw pistachios for the smoothie in the photo corresponding to this recipe because I wanted to get the color as green as possible.

FROZEN INGREDIENTS

Many people add ice to their smoothies to make them thicker and more refreshing. In this recipe you can substitute part of the plant milk with ice if you like, but what I prefer to do is to use frozen banana slices and avocado. I like to chop my bananas and freeze them so I can have them on hand for making smoothies and nice cream. Frozen bananas can also be thawed and used in baked goods. Recently I’ve discovered packaged chopped frozen avocados and I absolutely love the quality and convenience. Using frozen spinach is also a possibility though I haven’t tried it myself. A thick ice-cold smoothie isn’t always necessary or even desirable. If you want to use all room temperature ingredients, that’s perfectly fine as well. The smoothie will still be delicious.

HIGH SPEED BLENDER RECOMMENDED

This recipe was designed to be made with a high speed blender, aka a blender with a motor of 1000 watts or more. If you don’t have a high speed blender, you can still make this smoothie but you’ll need to soak your pistachios in the plant milk for at least a 30 minutes before blitzing the ingredients. Keep in mind that even when using soaked pistachios, the results may still be a little gritty compared to what you’d achieve with a high speed blender.

SUBSTITUTIONS & VARIATIONS

• Use Dates as a Sweetener: In most of my recipes I prefer using whole dates over almost any other sweetener. Dates have a deep caramel-like flavor, they help thicken a smoothie, they’re a whole nutrient-dense plant food and they’re just as sweet as maple syrup. I didn’t include dates in this recipe because I was trying to achieve a bright green color and dates will make this smoothie less green and more brown. But if you don’t mind a slightly muddier looking smoothie, you can use 1 to 4 dates instead of maple syrup. Dates vary a great deal in size so think in terms of 2 to 4 tablespoons chopped.

• Use a Different Green Leafy Vegetable: Spinach was my choice for this recipe because it has a mild flavor and is easy to find. Other green leafy vegetables such as kale or arugula would also be delicious, and some would improve the overall nutrient content of the smoothies. Keep in mind that your smoothie may end up being a little more bitter with some green leafy vegetables.

• Use Vanilla Extract: Instead of almond extract you can use vanilla extract in this recipe. Keep in mind that you need at least double the amount of vanilla extract so use about a half teaspoon or a little more. Vanilla would complement all the other flavors beautifully. The reason I chose almond extract is that I like how it intensifies the nutty flavor of the pistachio, but vanilla is great in its own way. You can also use a half teaspoon of vanilla extract in addition to the almond extract and get the best of both worlds.

• Add Fresh Mint Leaves: A small handful of fresh mint leaves would be absolutely lovely in this smoothie. I wouldn’t go over a quarter cup.

• Use a Different Sweetener: Just about any sweetener would work in this recipe. My top pics are agave syrup, coconut sugar or whole dates (as described above).

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