Mango Pineapple Protein Smoothie

Frozen mango is the best base fruit for a protein smoothie because it is dense, low in water, and sweet enough that you can skip most added sugar. Pineapple brings the acid that keeps it from tasting like baby food. One catch worth knowing: raw pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that slowly turns dairy protein bitter, so this is a drink-it-now smoothie.

Ingredients

• 1 cup frozen mango chunks
• 1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
• 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk, cold
• 1 scoop (30 g) vanilla whey protein isolate
• 1/2 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt or skyr
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 pinch fine sea salt

Instructions

1. Pour the almond milk and lime juice into the blender, then add the Greek yogurt, protein isolate, honey, and salt.
2. Blend on low for 15 seconds so the powder hydrates in liquid before it meets anything frozen.
3. Add the frozen mango and pineapple and blend on high for 40 to 50 seconds, using the tamper to push the fruit down into the blades. Stop when the vortex closes and the motor sound evens out.
4. If the blender stalls, add almond milk 2 tablespoons at a time. Pouring it all in upfront gives you a thin smoothie you cannot thicken back up.
5. Pour and drink within 15 minutes. If you have to hold it, keep it in a jar filled to the rim in the fridge for no more than 4 hours before the pineapple enzyme starts turning the dairy protein bitter.

Tips

• Buy frozen mango rather than freezing fresh. Commercial fruit is frozen at peak ripeness in small pieces, while home-frozen mango becomes a fibrous block shot through with ice crystals.
• A pinch of salt does more for tropical fruit than more honey does. It pushes the mango forward and takes the sharp edge off the pineapple.
• For a spoonable smoothie bowl, cut the almond milk to 1/4 cup and add another 1/4 cup of frozen mango. Top with toasted coconut and eat it with a spoon.

FAQ

Can I use fresh fruit instead of frozen?

Only if you add about a cup of ice, and it will taste diluted. Frozen fruit is the entire texture strategy in a smoothie, not just a convenience.

Why did my smoothie turn bitter after sitting?

Bromelain from raw pineapple breaks down dairy protein and leaves a metallic bitterness. Drink it fresh, or use canned pineapple, which is heat treated and has no active enzyme.

Can I make this dairy free?

Yes. Swap the Greek yogurt for 1/2 cup of coconut yogurt and use a plant protein blend. Protein drops to around 28g and calories rise a little from the coconut fat.

What protein powder flavor works best in fruit smoothies?

Vanilla or unflavored. Chocolate fights tropical fruit, and most strawberry powders taste artificial sitting next to real mango.

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