This chocolate beet smoothie may be a stunning pink but it tastes like a frothy rich chocolate milk shake – such an interesting experience to be sipping on bright pink while your mouth registers deep chocolate. Plus the nutritional power in this smoothie soars, with antioxidants from both beets and chocolate, and tons of fiber so you feel full.
Red Velvet Chocolate Beet Smoothie
Wow. That’s my first sentence because this chocolate beet smoothie is a red velvet dream! And that’s just the taste. The nutrition soars, too, such a boost for your heart and mood!
Ingredients In A Chocolate Beet Smoothie
Cacao, of course, is full of antioxidants and mood boosters. One thing I learned recently is you should go with a high-quality cacao since it is a raw food, and needs correct packaging to be free of mold and fungus.
Are Beets Good for You?
Yes! Beets are low in calories, and high in folate, potassium, manganese and vitamin C. Potassium is great for muscles and the heart. And manganese is hard to find in food and is great for essential organs. And beets are full of antioxidants, those immunity-booster powerhouses. Finally, beets are high in fiber, so they help you feel full longer, a great situation for weight control.
How To Make This Chocolate Beet Smoothie
First you need to get some beets under your roof. I used fresh, they are inexpensive and easy to find. I was a bit intimidated about staining things, but if you are careful, it’s fine.
And one thing I was worried about is whether a beet smoothie would stain my blenders. I am here to report they do NOT stain blenders. Yay!
It might not matter to you, but I like my blender containers to look clear. Plus I have to photograph them.
How to Prepare Beets for a Smoothie
To prepare fresh beets, scrub off the dirt, chop off the greens and ends, and boil for about 20 minutes. Peel, and chop into dice for a high speed blender, and shred for a regular blender. I used 1/2 cup of beets in this smoothie, but you can use more. Beets are naturally sweet, but they do have a veggie flavor that some people prefer to minimize in a smoothie.
I also added cacao powder to mine. Cacao powder is raw chocolate powder that is the most nutritious form of chocolate. However, you can add cocoa powder – it’s definitely less expensive but because it is more processed, it is less nutritious.
Other additions to this smoothie include yogurt and milk – I used plant-based.
I also added coffee to enhance the chocolate flavor – only 1 tbsp so there isn’t much caffeine. I added cinnamon to balance blood sugar and add a spicy flavor. And I added maple syrup to sweeten it a bit. I don’t like things too sweet so be sure and taste-test my recipe and add more if you need it.
The Best Adjustments to This Beet Smoothie
You could definitely leave off the coffee and cinnamon without much impact. You could increase the yogurt to make it creamier; it is definitely just a drink as is. And you could add things like 1/2 cup of cauliflower or 1/2 of an avocado to increase creaminess and nutrition. It might impact the flavor a bit. The flavor as is is SO CHOCOLATE-Y. I can’t get over it. I definitely did not want to share with my husband, but I did, reluctantly, haha.
Looking for More Detox Recipes?
Another detox recipe you might enjoy is my Ginger shots, no juicer necessary!
And here are some delicious smoothies to try:
Cauliflower Smoothie
Peanut Butter Smoothie
5 Blender Wellness Shots
2-Ingredient Fruit Smoothies
Lemon Smoothie Jackfruit Recipe
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Red Velvet Chocolate Beet Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup milk I used almond
- 3/4 cup yogurt I used cashew
- 1/2 cup chopped beets raw or cooked
- 1 tbsp brewed coffee
- 2 tbsp cacao powder
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- pinch of cinnamon
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 cup ice cubes
Instructions
Prepare Beets
- If cooking beets, wash them, chop off greens and ends, and boil for 20 minutes. Peel and chop into chunks. If you are using them raw, wash them, chop off the greens and ends, and peel off the skin as you would peel a potato. Chop the raw beets into dice for a high speed blender; shred if using a regular blender.
Make Smoothie
- Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Taste-test for sweetness and add a touch more maple syrup if you need it sweeter. Best nutrition if you drink it right away, preferably the same day.
Nutrition
Dee Dine is founder of Green Smoothie Gourmet, a plant based recipe blog, and author of the recent cookbook, Crazy Healthy with 4 Ingredients . On this blog you’ll find incredibly easy recipes with hidden veggies for anyone wanting to eat healthier, regardless of diet. Dee has graduate degrees in biology, immunology and journalism. More about Dee Dine here.
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