Tropical Mango Banana Smoothie for Sunny, Happy Days

If you’re tired of having smoothies that seem to fall on the Western side of the flavour spectrum, our mango banana smoothie recipe may be just what you need to bring your taste buds back to the tropics. Made with only five simple ingredients, the only real ‘work’ you need to do is to make sure you freeze your bananas and mangoes overnight… without forgetting to remove the skin and cut them up into smaller pieces before popping them in the freezer, that is. Once you’ve got that sorted, all you need is a few minutes the next day and you’re good to go.

Banana and milk makes for a great smoothie base. Banana adds that rich and creamy flavour and texture, while milk liquifies it just enough to ensure all the ingredients come together nicely. That said, this mango banana smoothie has a thicker texture. It’s still drinkable, but is solid enough to make a great smoothie bowl base if you feel like having this as a meal instead. Just top the smoothie up with some granola, chia seeds, extra fruit or nuts and you’re all set. However, if you prefer a thinner consistency, feel free to add a little bit more milk. Not too much though or not only will you end up diluting the mango banana smoothie’s texture, but its flavours as well.

The good stuff

It’s always a good idea to keep your smoothies nutritious, and this mango banana smoothie still packs a punch despite its short and simple list of ingredients. Bananas are low in fat and calories yet help you keep full longer, and it is also a great source of potassium and vitamins.

Milk is a great source of calcium and vitamin D, both of which are very good for the prevention of osteoporosis. Besides containing potassium which is great for reducing blood pressure, the vitamin D in milk also produces serotonin, which helps lift the mood, can reduce chronic fatigue and reduce the effects of PMS. However, milk also contains saturated fat and cholesterol, so if you’re looking after your cholesterol levels or are lactose intolerant or vegan, you can swap this ingredient for one that suits your diet better.

Besides being delicious, especially when ripe and sweet, consuming mangoes can also be pretty healthy for you. Rich with antioxidants, mangoes are believed to have properties that can help our bodies protect itself against certain types of cancer. The high levels of vitamin C in this fruit is also great for controlling cholesterol levels while helping you strengthen your immune system, and the high iron content in mangoes are also great for anaemics! And here’s a little bonus you may have not known about before, besides being an aphrodisiac, mangoes are also good for eyesight and can help prevent heatstroke as eating it will cool you down instantly. Perfect for our hot Malaysian temperatures!

A little sweet and spice

A little bit of cinnamon truly makes this drink. Plus, it’s also really good for you. Cinnamon has tons of antioxidants while also being anti-inflammatory. It can help reduce the risk of heart disease, fight infection, diabetes, may inhibit cancer growth, promotes healthy skin, helps with allergies and may even benefit those with neurological disorders. If that isn’t impressive enough, consuming cinnamon can help freshen your breath while promoting good dental health. And on top of that, cinnamon also tends to make things taste a little sweeter!

Raw honey is also really good for you – and you should really only use raw honey and none of the others that include sugar in its list of ingredients. We all know that honey can soothe a sore throat, but it also has antifungal and antibacterial properties while having lots of antioxidants. Eating honey can also help with digestive issues. Now, the level of nutrients and health properties of honey varies from one type of honey to another, so stick to raw, 100% organic honey and you should be fine. However, diabetics should consume honey with caution, as it still contains a significant amount of sugar.

Let’s get our mango banana smoothie on.

Ingredients

• 100g (1) frozen banana
• 100g frozen mango
• 120ml (1/2 cup) milk
• 25g (1 tbsp) honey
• 1/8 tsp (pinch) cinnamon powder

Making mango banana smoothie

1. Place all smoothie ingredients in a high powered blender, starting with the frozen banana and mangoes, followed by the rest of the ingredients. Blend until smooth.

2. Serve immediately while still cold.

Extra tips

1. Get all your ingredients ready before bringing out your frozen banana, mangoes and milk or they will warm up and your date banana smoothie won’t be as delicious.
2. Temperature is key to making delicious smoothies – you want it cold! If you can’t get your ingredients cold enough, add a little bit of ice during the blending process. Don’t add too much or it will water down your smoothie. Alternatively, serve your smoothie in a cup or glass filled with ice to keep it cool.
3. Different types of honey vary in sweetness. Adjust the amount as needed. And if your mango and/or banana is very sweet, you may not need any honey at all.
4. Vegan? Feel free to swap milk with any vegan milk that you like.
5. It’s best to add the hardest ingredients at the bottom of the blender so they are closest to the blades.
6. A high-powered blender will make the process of blending your smoothies faster, ensuring it remains cold once the blending process is complete. However, not everyone can afford to fork out a pretty penny for one those blenders. We used the Philips ProBlend 5, which crushes ice faster than your usual blender. This makes them perfect for ice-based frozen drinks, and a pretty good option for non-ice-based smoothies as well. You will need some liquid to get the blender moving smoothly though.
7. Blender cleaning tip: add a drop of dishwashing liquid into the blender and fill it with about 1/5^th to ¼ of water. Give it a few pulses to clean your blades and the bottom of the blender much more easily. Don’t ‘blend’ the water for too fast or for too long though or you may end up with overflowing foam instead!