I’m not really sure where I got the inspiration for this ‘green smoothie’ recipe, but I think it was the multitude of magazines and sites online talking about detoxing. I am not big on fad diets or any kind of dieting at all, really- just overall healthy eating as a lifestyle and something that is committed to through a definite change in habits.
And the detox regiment that comes with Ramadan with full instruction: fast from dusk until dawn, not even a sip of water. If that’s not giving the body’s digestive system a rest, i don’t know what is.
Combine that with eating super healthy real food when you actually are eating, and you’re giving your body a whole lot of TLC. That’s why I love this smoothie and would have it either for suhoor or iftar as a starter. Either time of day when you’re fasting for about 17 hours, as we are now, is going to be really nice.
Here are some of the super healthy ingredients I used:
I use frozen strawberries, but you can use fresh strawberries and then some ice. I also use fresh spinach, fresh pineapple, mango and banana.
First add the most difficult to break apart- whether it’s ice or something frozen, in this case the strawberries. You technically could also use frozen pineapple, banana, spinach, etc. Just adjust the ingredients amount a bit because if more than one item is frozen, it’ll be a lot more watery than this recipe.
So, in go the strawberries first. Aren’t they beautiful?
I love them also because they’re organic (thank you, Costco).
Next add the second most difficult to break up, the pineapple.
The pineapple should be diced, to make it easier. It’s such a fibrous fruit, subhanAllah. And oh, so good for you since it has all those wonderful digestive enzymes. Great for a fasting person since it aids in the digestion of other foods you’ll have during non-fasting hours, insha’Allah.
Add the mango, which should be chopped or diced. We’re getting to the softer ingredients, as you can see.
Next the bananas. I love how they just slide right in…
They are there for the taste and texture, making it sort of thick.
Add the spinach leaves are last, but not least. It’s what makes this drink so…special. I know you might not want to put spinach in this, but you must. Seriously, you have to try it if you’ve never done this before. I promise you it won’t taste like you’re eating grass.
Doesn’t it all look so pretty in the blender? That makes it more appealing, for sure. And the leafy greens are just hiding innocently at the top hoping you don’t take them out at the last minute.
Blend away, blend away. It gets greener…it does. I just wanted to show you the pretty pink color first.
Because this is the final result. Definitely a green smoothie.
- 1 cup frozen strawberries (or fresh strawberries and 1/2 cup ice)
- 1 cup diced pineapple
- 1 cup diced mango
- 1 banana, chopped or sliced
- 1-2 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 1/4 cup water
- Prepare the ingredients by chopping what's necessary.
- To a blender, add the frozen strawberries first, followed by the pineapple then mango, banana and spinach. Add water.
- Blend until smooth, about 1-2 minutes on high speed. Add more water if necessary, or desired, for a thinner consistency.
- Serve immediately.
- Cut and prepare ingredients ahead of time then freeze or refrigerate so that it's quicker and easier to prepare during your morning and/or suhoor regimen.
- Prepare the smoothie as close as possible to consumption time, as it will keep in the fridge for about a day, but ingredients may begin to separate.
The post Strawberry, Pineapple, Mango and Spinach Smoothie: A Healthy Suhoor or Iftar Recipe appeared first on My Halal Kitchen | Inspiration for Wholesome Living