Do you crave chocolate and the filling goodness of a smoothie without too much sweetness or extra calories? Then, come on in!
Today I’m sharing a delicious Chocolate Avocado smoothie recipe with three different options, depending on your personal preference. I started with a base recipe that called for half a banana, which is a typical ingredient to add creaminess and natural sweetness.
From there, I tried two substitutions for the banana — one being blueberries and the other cauliflower. Choose whichever ingredient you have on hand or whatever appeals most to you. I liked it all three ways!
Cauliflower in a Smoothie?
Cauliflower is a little unusual (though not unheard of) in a smoothie, so I was curious to try it. I steamed the cauliflower to make it easier to blend, but I’m pretty sure you could add it raw, too.
I didn’t detect much cauliflower taste at all. But there was just a hint of bitterness, so I added a bit more sugar. You can easily adjust the amount of cauliflower or sweetener to suit your taste.
Why add cauliflower at all? Cauliflower is packed with antioxidants and fiber and is low in calories. Plus it’s a good source of folate (a B vitamin) and an excellent source of Vitamins C and K.
A Quick Look at the Ingredients
- Avocado
- Unsweetened Cocoa or Cacao Powder
- Brown Sugar or Medjool Dates
- Unsweetened Almond Milk (or other milk of choice, preferably non-dairy)
- Choose one: banana, blueberries or cauliflower
Here’s a nutritional comparison of the three options. This smoothie is chocolate-y and filling, no matter how you make it!
Bananas: Are high in potassium; They are similar in fiber, sugar and protein to blueberries. Both bananas and blueberries are low in saturated fat. They have similar amounts of calcium and iron.
Blueberries: Have 36% fewer calories and 37% fewer carbohydrates than bananas. Blueberries and bananas have similar amounts of vitamins A, C, E and K.
Cauliflower: Has 56% fewer calories and 66% fewer carbs than blueberries. It also has four times less sugar and a similar amount of fiber.
Note: These nutrition tidbits come from soupersage.com and are for general information purposes only. It’s not a calorie-for-calorie comparison of the three different recipes.
On a quick note — I’m not a smoothie expert at all. I went on a “smoothie kick” about two years ago, but I was using protein powders with fillers at the time. Now I skip the powders and aim for antioxidants, protein and fiber from natural sources, plus vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables. I also try to limit (not eliminate) sugar from all sources.
Chocolate Avocado Smoothie 3 Ways
Course: Beverages1
servings10
minutesThis simple chocolate avocado smoothie is perfect for when you’re craving the richness of chocolate. It’s gluten-free and dairy-free, too.
Ingredients
1/2 Avocado, peeled and chopped
1 TBSP. unsweetened cocoa or cacoa powder
1 TBSP. brown sugar or 1-2 Medjool dates, to taste
3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or other non-dairy milk of choice)
- Choose Your Add-In:
1/2 banana, preferably frozen OR
1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen OR
1/3 cup cauliflower, preferably steamed until tender and brought to room temperature. You can also add uncooked cauliflower, but I didn’t try it this way.
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Add more milk if necessary to reach your desired consistency. Note: You can also add a few ice cubes if you didn’t use a frozen banana or frozen blueberries.
I am not a licensed nutritionist, medical professional or cosmetics expert. The information provided on Honest + Simple is for general informational purposes only. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food + Drug Administration and are not intended to treat, prevent or cure any disease. Before making decisions about your health or other concerns, please consult a qualified professional and do not rely on this website for medical advice.
