The smoothie recipe
for your table
Pour the liquid into the blender jug first, then add the frozen fruit and place the creamy ingredient on top. This way, the blades immediately spin in liquid instead of getting stuck in a block of fruit.
Run briefly on the lowest setting until everything starts moving, then switch to the highest. This draws the fruit down and prevents an air pocket from forming around the blades.
Blend for thirty to sixty seconds, until no pieces rise along the sides. Check how thick it is and adjust with small amounts: a splash of liquid makes it thinner, a handful of frozen fruit makes it thicker.
Pour the smoothie into a tall glass immediately and add a straw. If you leave it standing, the fruit will sink to the bottom and the liquid will rise to the top.
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The story
A smoothie gets its name from exactly one characteristic: it has to be smooth. This only works if there is enough liquid for the blades to spin, while at the same time there is so little that the mixture remains thick. That is where the one-to-two ratio comes from. The second point is the temperature. In the past, everyone added ice cubes to fresh fruit, but ice is water: as soon as it melts, it dilutes the flavor. Frozen fruit cools just as well and only adds fruit. That is why most people nowadays have a bag of frozen bananas or berries in the freezer instead of an ice cube tray.
The right glass
A smoothie is thick, so it looks best in a tall, straight glass where you can see the color all the way up. A long drink glass of around 50 cl holds a generous portion in one go, so you do not have to top it up while it is already beginning to separate. A straw should be able to stand upright without hitting the wall, and a straight wall is more practical for this than a curved one. Lower models in the same style can be found among the tumbler glasses.
RCR Ego Long Drink Glass 50 cl (6 pieces)
La Rochère Abeille Long Drink Glass 46 cl XL (6 pieces)
Both sets together € 69,90.
The right tools
For a smoothie, besides the glass, you need a straw that can handle a thick smoothie and a citrus juicer if you use fresh juice as the liquid. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 2 bar tools together € 52,85.
Which splash belongs in a smoothie?
A smoothie is alcohol-free on its own. If you want to add a splash for adults, rum is the classic choice with tropical fruit, just as in a frozen daiquiri. Malibu goes well with coconut and pineapple, while Baileys pairs with banana. On each drinks page, you can read the alcohol percentage, what it tastes like, which cocktails it goes with, and which glass you need.
Variations & twists
Banana and mango naturally make a smoothie thick and sweet, while berries make it sharper and thinner, so they call for an extra spoonful of yogurt. Coconut water makes a light smoothie, while full-fat yogurt makes a substantial one. A handful of spinach disappears behind sweet fruit flavor-wise but turns the whole smoothie green, and a spoonful of peanut butter with banana makes it so thick that the straw almost stays standing in it. Looking for more inspiration? Browse more than 100 cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
Pour the smoothie out immediately after blending, because letting it stand means separation: the heavy fruit sinks and the liquid rises to the top. Chill the glass beforehand if you are serving outdoors. If some smoothie remains in the jug, give it a brief stir before pouring more, so the second serving looks just like the first.
Good to know
Why frozen fruit instead of ice cubes?
Ice cubes are water. As soon as they break up in the blender and start to melt, they dilute the flavor and make the smoothie watery. Frozen fruit cools just as well, but only adds fruit, so the flavor stays full while the smoothie becomes thick.
Which liquid do you choose?
Milk and plant-based drinks provide a neutral, smooth base. Yogurt makes it thicker and adds a tangy note. Coconut water and juice keep it light and fresher, but also sweeter. Always start with less than you think you need; you can always add more.
Why does the liquid go to the bottom?
A blender draws everything toward the blades, and that only works if there is something movable at the bottom. If the frozen fruit lies on the bottom, the blades spin in a block and an air pocket forms in which nothing else is pulled along.
How thick should a smoothie be?
Thick enough to slowly slide off the spoon while a straw remains upright, but not so thick that you have to suck on it. Adjust it with small amounts at a time, because a splash of liquid has a faster effect than you expect.
Why does a smoothie separate after a few minutes?
The puréed fruit is heavier than the liquid around it and therefore sinks to the bottom. This is not spoilage, but it does not look appealing, and the first sip tastes different from the last. A brief stir restores it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the basic ratio for a smoothie?
One part liquid to two parts fruit, plus something creamy such as yogurt, quark, or avocado. For one glass, that is approximately 10 cl of liquid to 20 cl of frozen fruit and two tablespoons of the creamy part.
Why does my smoothie become watery?
Usually because ice cubes were added instead of frozen fruit. Melting ice dilutes the flavor. Use frozen fruit for cooling and add only as much liquid as the blender needs to run.
In what order do you fill the blender?
First the liquid, then the frozen fruit, and finally the creamy part. This way, the blades immediately turn in liquid, causing the fruit to pull itself downward instead of remaining on top.
Can you store a smoothie?
It keeps for a day in a sealed bottle in the fridge, but it separates and becomes lighter in color. Shake or stir it well before serving. Freshly blended, it is thicker and colder.
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