Am I the only one who roasts too much pumpkin? Autumn seems to be all about beta-carotene, and every few days I bake another batch of orange awesomeness. I’ve already used it in salads, curries, soups, and oatmeal, so I had to come up with something new to refresh our autumn menu. This lovely idea came to me this morning, when I was preparing the hemp milk for our smoothies. How about replacing the banana with pumpkin puree to make a delicious smoothie with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits?
It turned out to be a really good idea – the pumpkin added a discrete sweet taste and a creamy texture to our smoothies. I don’t like a super-sweet combination, but I always use fruits and bananas to hide the taste of some of the superfoods I add. This time, I added spirulina and maca powder, so I needed an ingredient with personality to overwhelm their flavors, and I think pumpkin was the best choice.
This smoothie is a meal itself, and will keep you full for quite a long time. Besides the health benefits of pumpkin, the superfoods I added to my smoothie created a real powerhouse cocktail – antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, proteins, and essential fatty acids:
Pumpkin – is great source of carotenoid antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and anti-inflammatory compounds.
Spirulina – is more than 65 percent protein and amino-acids, contains essential fatty acids (omega-3, 6, and 9), chlorophyll – a powerful detox catalyst and a booster of the immune system, minerals (especially calcium), and vitamins (especially the B-complex).
Maca powder – relieves menstrual issues, balances hormone production, and energizes.
Hemp milk – contains quality protein, calcium, and essential fatty acids.
You can replace hemp milk with any other vegan milk you prefer – I think the sweet flavor of coconut milk would be a wonderful addition to this combination. You can also add other superfoods, like pollen.
Other super smoothies to try:
- Avocado Banana Smoothie
- Rejuvenating Green Smoothie Bowl
- Kale and Pineapple Smoothie For Radiant Skin
If you make any of these recipes don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @theawesomegreen so I can see them and share with the community!
Layered Pumpkin Spirulina Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups hemp milk
- 1 cup pumpkin puree homemade or canned
- 1 tbsp spirulina powder
- 1 tsp maca powder
- 1 tsp organic raw honey
- 1 tsp Chia seeds to garnish
Instructions
- Blend 1 cup hemp milk with pumpkin puree to obtain a smooth liquid.
- Distribute evenly into the serving glasses.
- Add the rest of the milk in the blender together with the spirulina, maca and honey, and pulse to combine.
- Pour over the pumpkin layer, sprinkle chia seeds on top and serve.
- Mix to combine before consuming.
Notes
Just came across your food blog and I had to leave a comment because I posted almost all your recipes on my pinterest account and your food looks just delicious!
Also, your pictures are wonderful!
I look forward to more vegetarian recipes 🙂
Sincerely,
Alma <3
Awww, thanks so much, I’m really happy you liked my photos!
Wow! This just looks and sounds amazing! I’ve never worked with hemp milk or spirulina but now I’m curious! Yum!
Aubrie, you definitely have to try the hemp milk, it’s delicious! Thanks for your visit!
LOVE the colour combination!! As mentioned above, all of your recipes are mouth watering! And I love all the pumpkin!! 🙂
Thanks Ariana, your recipes are also an inspiration! XO
Cat de bine arata!
Multumesc, Natalia!