Vegan Mango Ginger Protein Smoothie

Mango is sweet and acidic enough to hide vanilla plant protein completely, which is more than most fruits manage. Fresh ginger and lime keep it from tasting like melted candy. Hemp hearts add about 7g of protein and a soft, creamy body with no yogurt anywhere in sight.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups frozen mango chunks
• 1 cup unsweetened soy milk
• 1 scoop (32g) vanilla plant protein powder
• 2 tablespoons hemp hearts
• 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 pinch ground turmeric
• 1 pinch fine sea salt

Instructions

1. Pour the soy milk into the blender, then add the protein powder and hemp hearts so they sink into the liquid instead of sticking to the lid.
2. Add the ginger, lime juice, turmeric, and salt, then add the frozen mango last.
3. Blend on high for a full 60 seconds, stopping once to scrape the sides, until the hemp hearts are no longer visible as flecks.
4. Taste and add another squeeze of lime if your mango was very ripe and the smoothie tastes flat.
5. Pour into a tall glass and drink within 10 minutes, or seal it in a jar in the fridge for up to a day and shake well before drinking.

Tips

• Grate the ginger on a microplane. Chopped ginger leaves fibrous strings that no home blender will fully break down, and you will find them.
• Frozen mango beats fresh here. Fresh mango gives you a thin, lukewarm smoothie unless you add a lot of ice, which just dilutes the flavor.
• If your vanilla plant protein tastes chalky on its own, add 2 tablespoons of coconut cream. The fat coats the starch particles that cause that texture.

FAQ

Can I use a different frozen fruit?

Pineapple and peach both work at the same volume. Berries are much less sweet, so add a pitted date or a teaspoon of maple syrup with them.

Why does my smoothie separate?

Plant protein does not emulsify the way dairy does, so separation after a few minutes is normal rather than a sign of spoilage. Shake and drink.

Can I make it without protein powder?

Use 1/2 cup of silken tofu and 2 extra tablespoons of hemp hearts. That gets you to roughly 30g of protein instead of 40g.

Is the turmeric necessary?

No, it is there for color and a faint warmth. Leave it out if you do not have it, and do not double it, because it turns bitter quickly.

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