Coconut and Berries

Healthy, Vegan Recipes by Emma Potts

  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Beverage
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Dips and Sauces
    • Main Dish
    • Salads
    • Snacks
    • Sides and Starters
    • Raw
  • Press
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
    • Product Reviews
    • Restaurant Reviews
    • Cookbook Reviews
    • Recipe Reviews

Apricot & Almond Smoothie (with a hint of cardamom)

Apricot & Almond Smoothie (with a hint of cardamom)

I adore nuts of every kind, but it’s probably only since going vegan that I’ve actually really started eating them regularly, and certainly that I’ve discovered their versatility. In the past, my encounters with nuts were probably mainly limited to chocolate coated peanuts, salted + roasted peanuts, peanut butter (the kind with sugar and preservatives…), and that’s about it.

Wow was I missing out.

Dried Apricots and Almonds

They’re well and truly a staple in my kitchen now: A handful of nuts is a great snack- cashews, almonds and walnuts are my favourites; nut cheeses (see my courgette galette with cashew chèvre); an ingredient in salads and stir-fries; a key component of raw desserts; a lovely addition to baked goods,  and of course nut creams and milks, among many other uses.

I’ve been buying almond milk for a long time, but only very recently started making my own at home. If you haven’t tried it yet you really must. It’s far creamier and tastes so much more like the actual nut than any stuff you’ll find pre-packaged. It’s hardly any effort either.

Apricot & Almond Smoothie (with a hint of cardamom)

I’m not usually a big smoothie drinker but the warm weather has made me fancy a lighter start to the day. This cool, creamy smoothie is ideal for breakfast ( I enjoyed it alongside a little homemade chamomile muffin I found lurking in the freezer), or makes a perfect afternoon pick-me-up, or would even be a delicious dessert.

I’ve just got back from a week in Spain and enjoyed tonnes of gorgeous stone fruit- peaches, nectarines and apricots galore. What we get over here is mainly imported and of course nowhere near as good as the fresh stuff. I found a bag of the soft dried type, and although very different they worked really well in this smoothie, their concentrated sweetness making it feel rather decadent.

Dried Apricots come in two varieties: sulphured, and un-sulphured. Sulphur dioxide is often unnecessarily added to dried fruits as a preservative and is what retains the bright orange colour of the apricots. I prefer to use organic dried apricots with no added preservatives or other added ingredients. This means that they are not bright orange, but are naturally dark instead. In my opinion these are far more delicious and fruity-tasting than the artificially-preserved variety.

Apricot & Almond Smoothie (with a hint of cardamom)
2014-03-25 15:56:55
Serves 1
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
Ingredients
  1. 3/4 C Almond milk (preferably homemade)
  2. 1/2 Frozen banana ( I freeze peeled, halved bananas when they’re turning brown)
  3. 4 Soft dried apricots (organic, unsulphured)
  4. 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
  5. 1/8 tsp Almond extract
  6. 1/8 tsp Ground cardamom (optional)
Instructions
  1. Blend all ingredients together until thick and smooth. Serve immediately.
Coconut and Berries http://www.coconutandberries.com/
I’m submitting this to the Weekly Blog Hops: Raw Foods Thursdays, Healthy Vegan Fridays, and Wellness Weekends

Apricot & Almond Smoothie (with a hint of cardamom)

Do you make your own nut milk? What’s your favourite kind of nut?

If you’re new to Coconut and Berries, Please sign up for email updates and join me elsewhere: I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram (@coconutandberries), Google + and Twitter!

Share

July 1, 2013 —

← Rhubarb-Berry Compote, Yogurt & Granola Parfait Tempeh Pasta alla Carbonara →

Comments

  1. Heather @Gluten-Free Cat says

    July 2, 2013 at 2:49 am

    I do make my own almond milk and love it! I’d have to say that almonds are my favorite nut to munch on, but cashews are my favorite for making raw cheeses, desserts, dressings, sauces, etc. I love the sound of this smoothie. I’ve just recently started putting two dates in my smoothies I’m using a new raw protein powder that’s lacking in the flavor department. I’m going to try dried apricots next!

    • coconutandberries says

      July 2, 2013 at 2:29 pm

      Cashews really are a magical nut! It’s pretty fun to see people’s amazement when I announce that a creamy sauce or dessert is made from nuts and no dairy whatsoever :)

  2. sonja@vesenmork says

    July 2, 2013 at 8:02 am

    I would defintely have to go with cashews, I loooove cashews, with macadamia’s and almonds on a shared second place. And during fall/winter I look more to pecans.
    This smoothie looks really nice, never thought of using dried apricots.

    • coconutandberries says

      July 2, 2013 at 2:31 pm

      Oooh pecans, they’re probably my top “treat” nut as they’re a little more pricey than most. Perfect in wintry salads.

  3. Joanne says

    July 2, 2013 at 11:47 am

    I haven’t yet dabbled with making my own almond milk but I really need to try! That smoothing sounds so refreshing!!

    • coconutandberries says

      July 2, 2013 at 2:32 pm

      You really must! I want to branch out to other nut and seed milks now and play around with a few different flavours.

  4. Mihl says

    July 3, 2013 at 8:43 am

    I love nuts! I trown them into practically every dessert I make. Lately I have been making a lot of smoothies for me and my daughter. I am trying your recipe, I bet she will enjoy it.

    • coconutandberries says

      July 3, 2013 at 9:21 am

      I hope you and your daughter enjoy it! I bet smoothies are really great for getting some nutrition into little ones :)

  5. MyFatHeart says

    July 4, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    Looks lovely. You may want to soak the apricots in warm water before blending them. It will make it much easier to have them be fully incorporated. :) Love cardamom!

    • coconutandberries says

      July 4, 2013 at 8:41 pm

      Thanks :) My apricots were super soft and my blender’s pretty powerful so I didn’t need to soak them, but you’re right that doing so first can help get a really smooth smoothie!

  6. Erin says

    July 8, 2013 at 2:32 am

    Thanks for linking-up to 5-Ingredient Mondays. I haven’t had apricots for a while and I can’t think of a better way to enjoy them than in this smoothie. i’m featuring it this week- hope to see you back :)

  7. Heather says

    July 9, 2013 at 3:00 pm

    This smoothie looks sooo good! Im thinking I could try it with fresh apricots whenever I can get my hands on them.

    • coconutandberries says

      July 9, 2013 at 3:02 pm

      Fresh would be even more scrummy :)

  8. Marianne says

    November 10, 2013 at 9:44 pm

    This sounds so good :) I’m just starting to use cardamom more often, so finding this recipe is perfect timing!

    • coconutandberries says

      November 11, 2013 at 9:53 am

      Great! I love cardamom in both sweet & savoury recipes. It goes so so well with chocolate too :)

Trackbacks

  1. Mini Raw Cacao, Coconut + Raspberry Cupcakes | COCONUT AND BERRIES says:
    July 7, 2013 at 9:04 pm

    […] mentioned I’ve started making my own almond milk at home.  I was initially reluctant to try it given that […]

  2. 5-Ingredient Mondays: Apricot Almond Smoothie, Turnip Spinach Soup, Raspberry Carob Mousse, and Coconut Dark Chocolate | Sift, Stir & Savour says:
    July 8, 2013 at 2:01 am

    […] Apricot and Almond Smoothie from Coconut and Berries […]

  3. Candida diet, whole foods, sugar-free, vegan Wellness Weekend Event | Diet, Dessert and Dogs says:
    July 12, 2013 at 1:07 am

    […] Apricot and Almond Smoothie with a touch of Cardamom from Coconut & Berries. I love how cardamom adds a subtle sweetness to drinks. This one sounds fabulous! […]

  4. 10-Minute Raw Peanut Noodles | COCONUT AND BERRIES says:
    July 31, 2013 at 6:23 pm

    […] dishes are the best. I’ve got a few raw recipes on the blog so far, a couple of salads, a smoothie and desserts and wanted to post a super quick everyday recipe that I make variations on […]

  5. Smoothie OTW Link-Up (Week 2), November 17th, 2013 + - Om Nom Ally says:
    November 16, 2013 at 11:51 pm

    […] appreciate your support and loved all of your delicious recipes: I Spy Plum Pie, Girl on Greens, Coconut and Berries, Healthful Mind Body and Soul, Ragdoll Kitchen, Apples and Ginger, Made to Glow, A Harmony Healing, […]

  6. Mini Raw Cacao, Coconut + Raspberry Cupcakes - Coconut and Berries says:
    January 30, 2014 at 5:12 pm

    […] mentioned I’ve started making my own almond milk at home.  I was initially reluctant to try it given […]

I’m Emma, a passionate vegan foodie sharing my kitchen adventures and healthy plant-based creations. Hope you stick around!

Follow on Bloglovin

Make sure you never miss a recipe. Subscribe here!

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Tasty Food Photography eBook.
Froothie Optimum 9400
Vibrant Life Cleanse Program & Cookbook

Tags

Almond Milk Almonds Appetizer Avocado Baked Banana Basil breakfast Carrots Cashews Chickpeas Chocolate Cinnamon Coconut Coconut Milk Coconut Oil Coriander Courgette Dates Dessert Ginger Gluten-free Kale Lemon Lentils Lunch Main Dish Mint Oats orange Parsley Quinoa Raw Red Pepper Review Salad Salad Dressing Side-dish Smoothie Snack Tofu Tomatoes Vegan Vegan MoFo Walnuts

Follow Coconut and Berries on Instagram

Vegan Woman Top Vegan Blogs to Watch 2014 Winner

Latest Recipes

  • Update + Coconut and Berries in 2016
  • Courgetti Salad with Cherry Tomatoes, Grilled Corn & Herby Dressing
  • A Vegan Dinner Party with La Belle Assiette
  • Plant-Powered Families: Review & Double Chocolate Orange Banana Muffins
  • Red Lentil, Spinach & Potato Curry with Baobab [& a Giveaway!]

Popular Recipes Lately

Lemony Lentil, Potato & Pea Curry
Macro Bowl with Carrot-Ginger-Almond Sauce
Choosing Raw: The Book
Spiced Chocolate-Chaga Elixir
Cauliflower, Coconut & Lime Soup
Smoky Black Bean, Potato & Avocado Hash
Optimum 600 Juicer - Froothie
Ad
  • About
  • Contact
  • Inspiration
  • Recipes
  • All Recipes
  • Reviews
Copyright © 2013 Emma Potts and Coconut and Berries . Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Coconut and Berries is a participant in the Amazon Services Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Copyright © 2019 · Coconut and Berries · Designed By Beautiful Dawn Designs