Pow! The classic Vietnamese avocado smoothie just got healthy. It contains all the buttery creaminess of avocados but with much less sugar. And here’s a recipe that shows you exactly how to recreate it.
It’s widely understood that Vietnamese avocado smoothie is traditionally made using condensed milk. I’ve got to say, condensed milk has never appealed to me because it’s just too sweet and quite honestly, it tastes over-processed. The production of condensed milk involves heating approximately one-part sugar to one-part full-fat milk until the mixture reduces to a sticky, sweet consistency. I have to admit, I find this is just too, too much sugar for my family’s diet and also my palette.
I had heard though that Vietnamese avocado smoothie has a deliciously creamy texture and as I’m all about the texture of food, I thought it only right that I create a healthy avocado smoothie – Vietnamese style! I think mine delivers on creamy texture but also hits the mark on the nutrient count too.
Vietnamese Avocado Smoothie Ingredients
Rest assured, this Vietnamese avocado smoothie won’t send your blood sugar levels out of the stratosphere. That’s because I use yoghurt and either maple syrup or honey to create a creamy sweet richness. My preference is for Greek yoghurt (it’s high in protein) but you could substitute for a plant-based version if you prefer.
I opt for frozen avocados too as this means even more creamy texture and no need to add ice before serving. It also avoids the ice crystals that are often formed if you add ice to the blending process of smoothie-making.
How To Make A Vietnamese Avocado Smoothie
Making my healthy Vietnamese avocado smoothie couldn’t be easier…
In advance: Cut the avocado in half and destone it. Carefully scoop out the avocado flesh from the outer skin. The outer skin can be composted by not the stone. Slice the avocados approximately 2cm thick. Lay them on a sheet in a single layer and freeze until firm. If you are preparing a batch you can transfer the frozen avocado to freezer bags or plastic containers for easier storage.
Combine: Add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor
Blend: Pulse Until Smooth. (Don’t worry if your smoothie seems thick. Vietnamese avocado smoothie is traditionally eaten as a dessert.)
Serve: Pour or spoon the smoothie into a serving glass
Enjoy: Feel the goodness nourish your soul
Vietnamese Avocado Smoothie Recipe Variations
Milk Variations
I use just a little almond milk for this recipe. You could opt for dairy, coconut or oat if you prefer. Just bear in mind that avocados are mild in flavour and can easily take on or be over-powered by the flavours of other ingredients. I want to keep the avocados as star of the show here.
Protein Supplement
If you are planning a training session with weights, you could add a scoop of good quality vanilla protein powder and 60ml extra of milk to this smoothie recipe to enjoy as a post recovery workout snack that will help to rebuild and repair muscle fibres.
More Delicious Smoothie Recipes
Smoothies can be a healthy and nutritious way to start your day and with so many ingredient options to choose from, it’s difficult to get bored. The great thing about smoothie ingredients is they can be used straight from the freezer. In fact, your finished smoothie will taste even more creamy if you use pre-frozen bananas and berries. Smoothies are also a great way to use up leftover fruit too and I often use up what I have available rather than going out to buy items for my smoothies. Here is a selection of my personal favorites:
Healthy Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Vietnamese Avocado Smoothie
Equipment
- Blender or Food Processor
Ingredients
- 1 large ripe frozen avocado
- 130 ml Greek yogurt
- 65 ml Almond milk
- 1-2 Tbsp sweetener – honey or maple syrup
Instructions
- Destone and scoop out the flesh of an avocado. Prepare this in advance and then freeze the avocado (see my notes on how to freeze avocado)
- Pour the Almond Milk into a blender or food processor
- Once frozen, add the avocado to the milk
- Add the Greek yoghurt
- Add the sweetener
- Blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy
- Check the sweetness and add more sweetener if desired
- Pour or spoon into a glass
Vietnamese Avocado Smoothie Ingredient Substitutes
This smoothie is nutritious and filling and will hit the spot if you need something sweet and indulgent without the calories or refined sugar. The recipe can be varied if you don’t have all the ingredients to hand or are catering for dietary restrictions. Here are a few alternative ingredient suggestions:
Greek Yogurt Substitute
You could substitute the Greek yoghurt that I have used for natural yoghurt if you prefer. Make sure you use a good quality brand. You want the yoghurt to add luscious creaminess rather than a watery consistency.
There are some great plant-based yoghurts available too. Coconut, oat and soy yoghurt are all readily available in supermarket aisles and not too difficult to come by. My preference here would be oat yoghurt because it is not highly flavoured and will not overpower the avocado.
Tips
How To Keep A Half-Eaten Avocado Fresh
You could easily half the ingredients in this recipe if you are catering for one. If you plan on eating a half-eaten avocado later the same day then a great little trick to prevent the avocado from browning is to rub lemon juice on its cut side. It can then be placed in the fridge until ready to use later the same day.
The best way to cut an avocado is with a specially designed avocado knife. They have a serrated plastic knife that makes cutting the fruit in half a doddle, a really nifty device to easy remove the large seed and a section that cuts through the flesh to create manageable slices. I got mine from Lakeland *******************
If you plan to freeze the avocado in advance as I have done in this Vietnamese avocado smoothie recipe then it’s a good idea to slice the avocados, place them in a single later on a sheet and freeze them until firm. This step is well worth the effort and time needed in advance to prep as it will give the smoothie the creamy decadence that is synonymous with Vietnamese avocado smoothie.
FAQ’s
What fruit goes well with avocado?
Avocado has a mellow flavor profile that tends to be a great carrier of flavor and adds a decadent creaminess to the texture of smoothies. The world is your oyster when it comes to adding fruit to a smoothie containing avocado. Choose your favorite or whatever you have available in your fridge, freezer or fruit bowl. Tropical fruit such as mango and pineapple go particularly well as do berries such as blueberries, strawberry and raspberries.
How does avocado taste in a smoothie?
Mellow. It’s real benefit come from the creamy mouth feels and texture, as well as the fantastic nutritional benefits.
