Cooking/ Recipes

Pumpkin Smoothie Recipe

It’s almost October, and to me means it will officially be pumpkin season! I’m a major fan of pumpkin; it tastes amazing and has so many health benefits. Today I’m sharing with you one of my easiest pumpkin recipes, a pumpkin smoothie!

Benefits
Pumpkin has 7 grams of fiber per cup. Fiber is excellent for your digestive system and helping you feel full to prevent weight gain. Pumpkin also contains a lot of Vitamin A and Vitamin E, both of which are great for your skin! One cup of pumpkin has more potassium than a banana (who knew!?).

Helpful Tips and Variations
One option for the pumpkin puree is to chop up a pumpkin, steam or boil the pieces, and then puree to use in this recipe. My Pumpkin Hummus recipe outlines how to do this with a bamboo steamer if you want to check it out. If you’re short on time, you can buy 100% organic pureed pumpkin in tetra paks. These are great because they do not contain BPA like the canned versions, but unfortunately are not recyclable.

You can substitute different kinds of nut milk instead of the coconut milk.

You can substitute maple syrup or coconut nectar for the agave nectar. Add more to make a sweeter smoothie, and less to make it not as sweet.

For a spicier smoothie, add more cinnamon.

For a creamier smoothie, you can use non-dairy ice cream.

INGREDIENTS:
• 1 cup organic pumpkin puree see notes above for details
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 Tbsp raw agave nectar
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp organic vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon additional for topping if desired
• ice as needed

DIRECTIONS:
1. Throw everything in a Vitamix and blend.
2. Pour into a glass and top with cinnamon or coconut whipped cream if desired.
Enjoy!

About the Author: Ally Ramser (www.allyramser.com) is a nutritionist and entrepreneur based in Santa Monica, CA. She is the host of new food/travel show “Vegan on a Jet Plane” and is the founder of glamorous plant-based recipe blog Chic Delish. She shares new vegan and gluten-free recipes on Chic Delish every Wednesday!

Image source: Jacob Teixeira