BLACKBERRY ZINGER SMOOTHIE

Blackberry Zinger Smoothie made with part coconut milk topped with fresh blackberries, grain-free granola, and bee pollen.

This vibrant blackberry smoothie is super simple to make and gets a fresh healthy zing from ginger root and lemon!

Blackberries have a wonderful sweet-tart taste.  They are rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre, as well as chronic-disease and age-fighting antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin.

Fresh ginger pairs beautifully with the berries.  Ginger has amazing anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, analgesic and pro-digestive benefits.  Research also suggests that consumption of ginger may boost immunity and reduce the risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.

For 2 servings, blend together until smooth:

• 2 cups fresh or frozen blackberries

• juice from 1/2 lemon

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice (I often use a combination of almond milk and canned coconut milk)

• 1 Tbsp or more fresh grated ginger, adjusted to taste

• 1 cup ice if using fresh berries (optional, to make cold and frothy)

• Lakanto sugar-free monk fruit sweetener, raw honey (non-vegan), or sweetener of choice, adjusted to taste

• optional toppings: fresh blackberries, granola, bee pollen, or toppings of choice

Note: Unlike most of my smoothie recipes, this is more a summer “refresher", not a “full meal deal”.  For a complete meal, I would either serve it with or add some healthy fats and protein. Good smoothie add-ins include 1/2 to 1 cup Greek yogurt (non-vegan) or 1/2 cup silken tofu or 2 tablespoons Nuzest Clean Lean Just Natural or Smooth Vanilla protein powder or 2 tablespoons Further Food collagen (non-vegan) and 1/4 to 1/2 ripe or frozen avocado.

This recipe was first published August 2018. It was updated in May 2021.