The 3-Ingredient Smoothie I Make Almost Every Day

While some reach for smoothies as a health or convenience choice, I reach for them out of pure love. The rest is just a bonus. I love a good creamy, fruity smoothie and will drink one for breakfast or as a snack any day of the week. The fact that they are quick to make and portable means I end up making a lot of smoothies.

Even though I mix things up, throwing all sorts of things into a blender and seeing what happens, I have my tried-and-true smoothies I return to again and again. The one I probably make the most is also the simplest. It requires just three ingredients and takes less than five minutes to whip up. Plus, you can add extras as you see fit.

A Perfect Mix of Ingredients

Since this smoothie only has three ingredients, all three are key and picked for specific reasons. I love to use kefir for smoothies since it has the creaminess and tang of yogurt with a more liquid consistency. By adding a cup to this smoothie, it’s the only liquid you need. That being said, if your blender isn’t high-powered, you may need to add a splash of water and give it a stir.

I use plain kefir because I don’t like my smoothies too sweet. Depending on your sweet tooth, you have options! Kefir comes in various flavors, including vanilla, which is a great choice here for a less tart smoothie. Blueberry or strawberry would be good, too.

A mix of frozen berries means you get more flavor in one convenient package. You can always swap for all one berry, like strawberries or blueberries. Frozen, ripe banana adds natural sweetness and tons of creaminess. I never make a smoothie without it. I like to let a bunch of bananas ripen until they have lots of spots (but before they get mushy), peel and divide them into 1-inch chunks, and freeze them on a baking sheet. Transferred to a bag, they’ll keep for six months.

Read More: How to Freeze Bananas

How To Make My 3-Ingredient Smoothie

For one large smoothie or two small smoothies, you’ll need:

• 1 cup vanilla kefir

• 1 medium ripe banana, cut into 1-inch pieces and frozen

• 1 cup frozen mixed berries

Add the ingredients to the blender in this order: kefir, then banana, then berries. Start on low speed for several seconds, then very slowly increase the speed until a smooth and creamy mixture forms. Stir once or twice if needed. If your blender can’t quite do it, add water or milk, a small splash at a time, until the mixture comes together.

Fun Additions

This smoothie has plenty of flavor on its own, but depending on my mood, I’ll add an extra ingredient or two just to mix things up. Here are some of my favorites:

• A spoonful of nut butter (I like salted, smooth almond butter best)

• A small scoop of ground flax or hemp hearts

• If you’re okay with a weird color, add a handful of baby spinach or kale

• A splash of orange juice

• For protein lovers, a small scoop of protein powder plus a bit of water
  

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