I’ve created this delicious watermelon and blueberry smoothie that’s bursting with nutrients and satisfyingly thirst-quenching. I’ve combined watermelon, blueberry and oranges to bring freshness and zing and a hit of ginger to add just a hint of spice. This tantalizing watermelon and blueberry smoothie is packed full of ingredients known for their immune system and digestive system benefits.
Watermelon and Blueberry Smoothie Ingredients
Watermelon
Watermelon has a high water content – 92% in fact, meaning that it is low in calories. It has a mild but distinct sweetness and is said to have the highest cancer-fighting properties of any fruit.
If your watermelon has seeds, you’ll need to take them out for this recipe as they don’t particularly blend well in a blender or liquidiser. You could of course buy ready-prepared watermelon if you’re short on time.
Watermelon seeds make a tasty snack too. They are nontoxic and can be eaten raw, straight from the fruit itself. Just like chia seeds and flax seeds, watermelon seeds are a great source of healthy fats and protein.
Ginger
Ginger has been used for centuries to help with digestive system problems and nausea. I really love the spicey warmth that comes with eating ginger so I’m more inclined to add more when making this smoothie for myself. My kids on the other hand are less keen on the taste. I just adjust my ginger quantities depending on who I’m making the smoothie for.
As just a small amount of ginger is called for in this watermelon and blueberry smoothie recipe, you could easily freeze any leftovers for another time. Ginger freezes really well. You can either peel and grate it before putting it into a freezer-proof plastic container or you can leave it whole as it’s easier to peel once it’s frozen.
Blueberries and Oranges
The blueberries and orange add a familiar sweet and sharpness to this watermelon and blueberry smoothie and are loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants, that will not only boost your immune system but are great for the health of your skin too.
All-round this is a great detoxification smoothie to flush your system of unwanted toxins.
How To Make Watermelon and Blueberry Smoothie
This is a great make ahead smoothie recipe that can kept in an airtight container and stored in the fridge overnight. The watermelon takes some preparation if you’re using fresh watermelon rather than ready prepared or frozen chunks.
I tend to chop the whole thing up and keep the chunks in an airtight container in the fridge until needed. Make sure you have a sharp knife and a sturdy chopping board. It’s also a good idea to cut a thin slice of the outer skin to create a flat surface then rest the watermelon on the flat side to ensure you have a steady base. You’ll find it much easier to slice it and prevent it from slipping this way.
I also recommend removing the watermelon seeds. This is a job I get my kids to do. Somehow they seem to enjoy it! See my notes below on eating the raw seeds.
You’ll also need to peel and grate the ginger. Again, this is something that can be prepared in advance. Left over ginger can be frozen either in it’s whole state or grated and then used at a later date.
To get maximum orange flavour I’ll zest the oranges and squeeze out as much juice as possible, scraping out any pulp and adding that to the blender too. I’m fine with a few bits here and there in my smoothie but feel free to leave out the pulp if you prefer a smoother texture.
Add all of the ingredients to the blender. Blitz until smooth and then check the consistency. If you find the smoothie is too dense or pulpy then add a dash of water until you have a consistency that you are happy with.
Pour into a serving glass, add a couple of ice cubes and enjoy!
Watermelon and Blueberry Smoothie Recipe Variations
Watermelon Spinach Smoothie
On days where I’m feeling tired or low in energy I might add a handful of spinach leaves to the blender just before I blitz the rest of the watermelon smoothie ingredients. If I need to cram a few extra nutrients into my kids and want to serve this smoothie to them, I just make sure that I give everything an extra blitz before serving into glasses.
Tip: The blueberries are a great way of disguising the colour and taste of spinach if you have children with veggie-adverse tendencies!
Watermelon and Banana Smoothie
If you don’t have blueberries to hand – either fresh or frozen or you’re not keen on the taste, then you could easily substitute the 130g of blueberries in this recipe for 130g of your favourite fruit.
A whole banana (ideally frozen) and chopped into chunks would make a deliciously creamy watermelon and banana smoothie whilst still retaining the zingy freshness of the oranges and ginger. Alternatively, use other soft fruit such as strawberries, blackberries, cherries or raspberries. Better to include ingredients that you love and enjoy!
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 frozen fruits. 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. Head over to my blog for more smoothie inspiration or check out some of my favorites by clicking these links: Healthy Blueberry Banana Smoothie, Indulgent Cherry Smoothie, Easy Raspberry Smoothie, and Healthy Blueberry Spinach Smoothie with Ginger.
Watermelon Smoothie
Equipment
- Blender or Food Processor
Ingredients
- 260 g watermelon seeded and cubed
- 130 g fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 thumb sized piece of ginger peeled and grated
- 2 oranges peeled and zested
- Ice cubes to serve
Instructions
- Place the watermelon and blueberries into a blender or food processor
- Zest the oranges then add both the zest and juice to the rest of the ingredients. I like to add the pulp too.
- Peel and grate the ginger then add this to the other ingredients
- Blend until smooth
- Pour into two glasses
- Pop in a couple of ice cubes if you prefer your smoothie ice cold
Watermelon and Blueberry Smoothie Ingredient Substitutes
Watermelon Cucumber Smoothie
For a thirst-quenching and hydrating alternative, why not replace the blueberries and ginger for cucumber and mint? I’ve served this to guests at a summer BBQ with a splash of sparkling water and an extra sprig of mint for decoration as an aperitif. I also used to make it and serve it in jugs at my children’s birthday parties when they were younger.
To make a watermelon cucumber smoothie, simply add half a cucumber to a blender. You can peel and deseed it if you have time but I don’t find it necessary as it blends well. Add a quarter of a watermelon – flesh only and seeds removed. Blitz until smooth then pour into glasses, add a couple of cubes of ice and a sprig of mint and serve.
For extra drama, fill a glass halfway with the smoothie then top up with sparkling water before adding the ice and mint sprig.
Watermelon Smoothie Recipe with Yogurt
If you prefer a creamier texture to your smoothie but love the great taste and nutrient-packed deliciousness of watermelon then I urge you to give this watermelon smoothie recipe with yogurt a try. Substitute the orange and ginger for 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt and add this to the remaining ingredients. Any leftovers can be popped into ice cube trays or lollypop molds and left in the freezer for a couple of hours. The end result is a delicious individual frozen watermelon smoothie. Great for hydrating and keeping little ones cool on a hot day.
Watermelon Protein Shake
A further variation on the watermelon smoothie recipe with yoghurt would be to add a scoop of good quality vanilla protein powder and 100ml milk to the watermelon, blueberries and Greek yoghurt. Blitz until smooth and then check the consistency. Add a splash of milk, water of more Greek yogurt to get the texture that you prefer.
I made this for a friend after we went for a run recently. She had been complaining that her muscles were sore and she felt generally fatigued. Since watermelon has a high water and electrolyte content and Greek yogurt has a high level of protein, I whipped up this watermelon protein shake for her after our run. These days she makes it for herself – watermelon availability permitting!.
Watermelon Avocado Smoothie
If you don’t fancy the fruity zing that adding oranges brings to this smoothie, then why not give a watermelon avocado smoothie a go? Or even a watermelon and banana smoothie? Adding avocado or frozen banana is a sure-fire way of incorporating more of a creamy, smooth texture to your smoothie. Just substitute the oranges and ginger for either half an avocado or a frozen banana that’s been broken into chunks. Place in your blender with 100ml of milk of your choice plus the watermelon and blueberries. Blitz until smooth before pouring into a glass and serving.
Tips:
– Watermelon freezes really well and is a great way to use up leftovers. Using frozen watermelon helps create that creamy texture that is synonymous with smoothies. It also means that there is no need to add extra ice cubes just before serving.
– The best way to freeze watermelon is to simply place a single layer of the fruit in bite-sized chunks on a baking sheet or tray, pop it into your freezer and allow to freeze for 2-3 hours. Once frozen, you can place in handy freezer bags or plastic storage containers until required.
