Pumpkin Smoothie Made Even Better with Roasted Chestnuts!
October is full of falling leaves, cozy sweaters, and fallen chestnuts! Now add those roasted chestnuts to a pumpkin smoothie and you have the ultimate fall smoothie.
I am in love with this new Pumpkin Chestnut Smoothie recipe. Rocket City Chestnuts gave me a bunch of their Chestnuts and I am having a blast experimenting with chestnuts in some of my favorite recipes. I just had to share!
This Pumpkin Smoothie with Chestnuts is a spin-off of my Pumpkin Chestnut Soup. Pumpkin and chestnut flavors go so well together in so many dishes. In this smoothie, I bring the flavors of fall alive with cinnamon, dates, pumpkin, and chestnuts. Now, let’s dive into the ingredients!
The Star Ingredients
Chestnuts: These chestnuts came straight from a local Huntsville Small Business, Rocket City Chestnuts! They are a family-run orchard offering already-picked fresh local chestnuts. I roasted and shelled my chestnuts, and even snacked on a few before they hit the blender!
Pumpkin: Around this time of year, I love adding pumpkin to smoothies. It’s festive and makes for a healthy pumpkin smoothie.
Option to use homemade pumpkin however, I use leftover pumpkin puree. I like to use the canned pumpkin puree leftovers to make pumpkin chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, pumpkin pie, or even a pumpkin spice latte! You can also freeze pumpkin puree.
Banana: I always have bananas on hand. Usually, they are very ripe, kept frozen, and already cut. Frozen banana is my go-to fruit addition to any pumpkin smoothie.
Other Pumpkin Smoothie with Chestnut Ingredients
MCT Powder: I love adding MCT powder to smoothies. MCT Powder is a creamy ingredient but has lots of nutritional benefits. I talk more about this ingredient in the Sharper Nutrition Fix section of this post, so keep scrolling down!
Dates: I almost always add a touch of sweetness to a smoothie and I love using dates. The flavor can’t be beat, especially in a smoothie like this. Even though the smoothie is cold, the pumpkin, chestnuts, and banana paired with dates make you feel warm and cozy.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is another example of a “cozy” ingredient. Cinnamon + pumpkin = cozy! This is a must in this recipe.
Soy Milk: I use soy milk because it has 8 grams of protein per 1 cup. You can use any milk for your smoothie, like almond milk.
Yogurt (or Ice): Use plain Greek yogurt, vanilla Greek yogurt, another type of vanilla yogurt, or dairy-free yogurt to make your smoothie extra thick. Ice works as well.
Smoothie tip: You can also freeze soy milk or another milk in an ice cube tray. Add those frozen milk cubes to thicken up the smoothie.
Optional Ingredients: Maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, peanut butter, or even pumpkin seeds.
The Smoothie Blueprint
How to make a pumpkin Smoothie
Just like with my other smoothies and breakfast smoothies, I follow this Fruit Shake Blueprint. A fruit base, liquid, sweetness, fat, and “additional”. The lovely pumpkin and chestnuts count as both the fruit and the “additional” ingredient!
I love this smoothie recipe because it is so different from my usual smoothie concoctions but just as delicious.
Sharper Nutrition Fix: MCT Powder, a secret ingredient?!
What is MCT powder?
MCT stands for Medium Chain Triglycerides. MCT powder is most commonly extracted from coconut oil. I use nutiva organic MCT powder.
About 4 years ago, I discovered how wonderful MCT powder was in my morning coffee. It is plant-based, creamy, and not at all overwhelmingly coconutty. I originally started using MCT powder in my coffee because it is shelf-stable. I needed a creamer Finally, I found MCT powder! The taste is simple, not too flavorful, just the right amount of creaminess, and I love it. Bonus! Specifically for my plant-based peeps, This recipe (including MCT) is 100% plant-based
After discovering this MCT creamer, I have added it to many smoothies, chia pudding, and oatmeal recipes. And did you know?! Based on current research, possible benefits of MCT powder include but are not limited to;
A great energy source, fuel for the day!
It may help optimize the growth of good gut bacteria
It may play a role in weight management, and heart disease prevention
Seizure control
May aid with digestive issues
As usual in science and research, more research is needed. Check out these articles on WebMD and FCER.org if you want to learn more.
If you're using raw chestnuts, you'll need to roast or boil them and then peel them before using in the smoothie. Alternatively, you can use store-bought pre-cooked and peeled chestnuts.
Add all of the ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
If it's too thick, you can add more soy milk in small increments until you reach your desired consistency.
Taste the smoothie and adjust the sweetness and spice level by adding more honey or spices if needed. Enjoy!
Tired of spending $10 or more on a green smoothie from your local café or juice spot? Same, that is why I make my own Green Smoothies!
Elevate your smoothie game with the power of healthy greens for smoothies, infusing your blends with a burst of flavor, color, and unparalleled nutritional benefits.
I love to use a variety of greens in my green smoothie creations. I have my favorite combinations of flavors however, the beauty about making your own smoothies at home, you can customize them to your flavor preferences!
Why I Make Green Smoothies
I would be lying if I said I had no problem eating enough greens all the time. Green smoothies are a wonderful way to get a quick and easy jolt of nutrition, especially on days when sitting down and taking the time to prep and eat a healthy meal seems unfathomable.
Moreover, I LOVE the taste of green smoothies. I make my green smoothies with the perfect balance of earthy greens, sweet flavors, and a tart, lip-puckering punch.
I’ve always loved vegetable juices. When I was a kid, I would order Virgin Bloody Mary’s when we would go out to breakfast. What can I say, I love my veggies!
11 Healthy Greens For Smoothies
From leafy greens to fresh herbs to other green veggies, healthy greens in smoothies are just one way you can bump up your daily nutrition! Here are my recommendations for healthy “greens” you can add to smoothies. When I think, “What are some healthy greens for smoothies?”, I think of these greens, herbs, and veggies!
Leafy Greens
Spinach or Baby Spinach
Spinach is probably one of the easiest green leafy vegetables to add, Why? Because most grocery stores sell frozen spinach, my preferred way is to add some spinach to a smoothie.
But, if you have some beautiful fresh spinach you picked up from the farmers market or better yet grew in your backyard, fresh spinach is also super delicious.
01. Kale or Baby Kale
Another great option for a healthy green is kale. Kale is a good source of plant-based calcium and Vitamin K. Choose baby kale for more of a mild taste.
02. Lettuce greens (romaine, butter, and green leaf lettuce)
For when you have leftover lettuce you don’t want to go bad or you just have a lot of lettuce in your produce drawer, or if you just like lettuce!
03. Microgreens
Microgreens have a delicate flavor and are often seen as a colorful garnish to dishes like avocado toast, and grain bowls, and served in sandwiches. You can also use up your microgreens in a green smoothie.
I get my microgreens locally from Gorge Greens!
Fresh Herbs
04. Mint
Easy to grow in pots, mint is an excellent green for smoothies and most beverages from refreshing waters to cocktails and mocktails.
05. Parsley
Loaded with Vitamins A, C, and K, parsley is another herb you can add to your green smoothie ingredient repertoire.
06. Basil
Think Strawberry Basil cooler, but in a smoothie. Try the combination of frozen strawberries, a bit of basil, and some coconut milk. Looking for more green? Add some frozen spinach to the mix!
07. Lemon Balm
One of my favorite plants to grow and drink in teas, lemon balm has many medicinal properties.
Known for its delightful lemon aroma, lemon balm may assist in combatting anxiety and enhancing mood while supporting focus and sleep.
Other Veggies and Green Ingredients
08. Celery and Celery Tops
Got celery tops? I enjoy freezing them alongside leftover onion peels and ends to make a delicious vegetable stock. However, you could also use those bits in your green smoothies!
09. Cucumber
Cucumbers might not be a leafy green but hey, most cucumbers are green, right? So, I am including cucumbers on this list.
Plus, cucumbers are my favorite addition to a green smoothie. Cucumbers are mild in flavor and blend beautifully. Additionally, they make for a super hydrating and refreshing smoothie.
10. Matcha Powder
I love adding matcha powder to strawberry smoothies. Using Macha powder was my very first introduction to a green smoothie. I make a copycat Matcha Man smoothie from Smoothie King’s old menu. The combination of strawberries, soy milk, matcha, and dates makes for a delicious breakfast smoothie.
11. Other Greens
Some other leafy green vegetables you could add to your smoothie recipes that I don’t talk about include, beet greens, bok choy, swiss chard, dandelion greens, and collard greens.
Other Ingredients In Green Smoothies
My favorite combination of flavors for a green smoothie recipe is in my Green Juice Smoothie. However, get creative! Explore your tastes for your ultimate green smoothie experience! Try these fruits, veggies, sweeteners, milks, and additional add-ins.
Banana
Mango
Apples or apple cider/juice (Remember, if you don’t like the taste of the apple, you probably won’t like the taste of it in your smoothie)
Pineapple or pineapple juice
Tart Cherries or cherry juice
Citrus and Citrus Juice (lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange)
Shredded Carrots
Shredded beets
Ginger
Dates
Honey or Maple Syrup
Nut butter
Protein Powder
Cacao
Maca Powder
MCT powder (p.s. this also works as a shelf stable coffee creamer!)
Flax Meal
Yogurt or coconut yogurt
Milk (cow milk, nut milk, oat milk, coconut milk)
FAQ (Ask a Dietitian!)
What are the health benefits of green smoothies?
The nutritional advantages of smoothies can vary based on the types of greens and other ingredients incorporated.
Usually, green smoothies will have many vitamins, minerals, fiber, and even protein to add to your daily nutrition needs.
Why add greens to smoothies?
Adding greens to smoothies is a matter of personal preference. Some people consider adding greens for the nutritional benefits, whereas others want a healthy breakfast to kick start the day, or even a healthy snack to keep you going through the after-lunch slump.
I enjoy greens in smoothies for the above reasons and more! I enjoy the hydration greens smoothies provide, and they also add variety to my smoothie-making.
Most of the fruit smoothies I make are creamy. I use milk, banana, Greek yogurt, nut butter, and MCT powder to achieve a creamy consistency. Whereas, when I make smoothies with greens, I keep them light and refreshing using citrus juice, apple juice, or water as my liquid base.
What is the healthiest liquid to put in a smoothie?
Defining what constitutes a “healthy” diet and understanding nutrition revolve around individualized nutrition and health goals. So, in my opinion, as a registered dietitian nutritionist, there is no “healthiest” liquid to put into a smoothie.
However, below I provided a list of “healthy” liquids you might consider adding to your smoothie.
Water
Cows milk
Coconut milk or coconut water
Nut Milk
Oat Milk
100% Fruit and Vegetable Juices
Tea & Coffee
Bottom Line
Hopefully, this article gets you thinking about different ways to add greens to your diet, or even a bit more about nutrition. And, if green smoothies aren’t your thing, that’s okay!
I’ll conclude with this question, just some food for thought;
What are some of your favorite ways to eat some greens!?
Recipes and Articles
If you enjoy smoothies, check out some of my smoothie recipes!
