Good evening all,

If you follow The Pickled Gingers on Instagram you will know that I love a smoothie in the mornings, for me it is a dream breakfast. I can’t eat much in the mornings so a smoothie is refreshing, nourishing and keeps me going until lunchtime, they’re also delicious.

Smoothies are such great vehicles for packing in vitamins, vegetables and fruits and a few extra, and sometimes unexpected ingredients can not only boost the flavour but also the benefits.

Some of my go to additions include ginger, coriander, mint, turmeric, dates, cayenne pepper and jalapeños. I hadn’t considered using chillis before but when I was in San Francisco I had the nicest juice from Juice Shop with jalapeño and it opened up a world of possibilities.

I keep a lot of fruit and vegetables in the freezer so that they can be easily added to smoothies, soups and curries. They are especially good in smoothies as the cold makes them even more refreshing and you don’t have to add ice which might dilute the flavour.

I use a NutriBullet and it breaks everything down really well. I have had it for five years and I am definitely in need of an upgrade but it still does a good job. I also use the small cup but if you want a larger drink, just use the tall one.

I have many go to smoothies depending on my mood and in recent times I have definitely been winging it depending on what I have stocked. The three smoothies below are my current favourites and you will see that there is a fair amount of crossover with the ingredients and everything used is really versatile.

Sunshine smoothie

This is probably my favourite smoothie right now, the colour just makes me think of summer. The heat in contrast with the sweet taste of the pineapple makes for a really invigorating drink, I also love how frothy it is thanks to the pineapple.

1 cm turmeric ○ 2 cm ginger ○ 2cm ring of pineapple (half a cup if using chunks) ○ Half a handful of frozen carrots ○ Half a teaspoon cayenne pepper ○ Coconut water filled to the line.

Add everything to the blender, blitz and enjoy.

Berry cacao smoothie

This is so delicious, it is packed with superfoods and tastes of chocolate, what more could you want?! I love the sharp flavours contrasted with the creamy coconut and cacao. Raw cacao is also a great source of magnesium, potassium and protein, it is also known to be a great mood lifter. The addition of a date also creates a really nice sweet sticky flavour, kind of like a superfood milkshake.

1 cm turmeric ○ 1 teaspoon raw cacao powder ○ Half a banana ○ 1 teaspoon peanut butter ○ 1 date ○ Handful frozen blueberries (If you have any other berries around feel free to add those in as well) ○ 1 tablespoon coconut yoghurt ○ Oat milk filled to the line.

Chop the date and remove the pip, add everything to the blender, blitz and enjoy.

Note: I’m fairly sure that any dairy alternative milk would be suitable and create the same creamy effect. These are the ingredients that I always have on hand as I use them often but go with whatever you prefer.

Happy greens smoothie

This is my go to smoothie when I want to feel super virtuous. This green smoothie is light, sweet, super fresh and delicious, it sets me up nicely for the day and is really energising. It is perfect for sipping on a sunny morning in the garden, at your desk or on the go.

Handful of spinach ○ 2 inches of cucumber ○ 2cm ring of pineapple (half a cup if using chunks) ○ 2 cm ginger ○ 5 mint leaves ○ Coconut water filled to the line.

Add everything to blender, blitz and enjoy.

I’m always on the lookout for new combinations so let me know in the comments or over on Instagram if you have any favourites of your own.