Pomegranate Smoothie

This pomegranate smoothie packs 20 grams of fiber into one glass, with no banana and no juice. A cup of red cabbage hides inside for its ruby-red color, and you won’t taste it.

I buy Costco-sized boxes of pomegranates every time I see them, then blend the whole arils into this glass. Frozen strawberries, raspberries and cherries keep it cold and thick, so you don’t need ice or a frozen banana.

Why You’ll Love It

• 20 grams of fiber per glass. Chia seeds, raspberries and whole arils keep the smoothie thick and filling.
• No banana and no juice. Frozen berries and cherries make it cold, and whole arils add tart pomegranate flavor.
• Red cabbage you can’t taste. It blends smooth and adds a deep ruby color, nothing else.
• No added sweetener. All 30 grams of sugar come from fruit.
• Five minutes, one blender. Prep takes 3 minutes, and blending takes 2.

Pomegranate Smoothie Ingredients

Here’s a quick breakdown of why I use certain ingredients. The full list lives in the recipe card below.

• Red cabbage: It gives the smoothie its ruby-red color and blends completely smooth. You taste the berries, not the cabbage.
• Pomegranate arils: These juicy, tart pods are the base flavor. Blending them whole keeps their fiber, which juice leaves behind. To open one, cut it in half crosswise and whack each half seed-side down over a bowl. This short de-seeding video shows how. About half a medium pomegranate gives you the ½ cup this recipe needs, and pre-seeded arils work too.
• Frozen strawberries, raspberries and cherries: They make the smoothie sweet, cold and thick without banana or ice. You can also freeze them in meal prep smoothie packs.
• Chia seeds: They thicken the glass and add fiber. I use chia seeds every time.

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How to Make a Pomegranate Smoothie

This smoothie uses a two-step blend. The cabbage and arils need a head start, so they go in first.

1. Blend the base. Add the cabbage, water and pomegranate arils to your blender. Blend until completely smooth. A high-speed blender like my Vitamix Ascent X2 handles this best.
2. Add the rest. Add the frozen strawberries, raspberries, cherries and chia seeds. Blend again until thick and smooth. Raspberry seeds may need a longer blend, so scrape down the sides as needed.
3. Pour and serve. Pour the smoothie into a tall glass. If your blender leaves any grit, strain it through a mesh sieve.

Make-Ahead, Storage and Freezing

• Leftovers: Store the smoothie in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 24 hours. The chia seeds keep thickening, so stir in a splash of water.
• Freezer packs: Bag the cabbage, arils, berries, cherries and chia seeds together, then freeze. Add the water and blend as directed.
• Extra arils: Spread them on a tray in a single layer to freeze. Then move them to a freezer bag.

More Ways to Use Pomegranate

Love the bright, ruby flavor of pomegranate? Try these next:

• Pomegranate Cranberry Relish: a fresh, tart relish for holiday tables.
• Winter Pear Salad: roasted pear vinaigrette with crisp greens and pomegranate arils.
• Cherry Beet Smoothie: another deep-red blend, this one with cherries and beets.

4.91 (10)

Pomegranate Smoothie

Jen Hansard

This pomegranate smoothie gets its sweet-tart flavor from pomegranate arils, frozen strawberries, raspberries and cherries. A cup of red cabbage hides inside for a ruby-red color, and chia seeds thicken it up, with 20 grams of fiber per glass.

Review Save Print

Serves: 1

Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes

Blend Time: 2 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Ingredients 

• ▢ 1 cup red cabbage chopped
• ▢ ½ cup water chilled
• ▢ ½ cup pomegranate arils
• ▢ ½ cup strawberries frozen
• ▢ ½ cup raspberries frozen
• ▢ ½ cup cherries frozen
• ▢ 2 tablespoon chia seeds

Instructions 

• Pour the water into a blender. Add the cabbage and pomegranate arils and blend until smooth.
• Add the strawberries, raspberries, cherries, chia seeds and goji berries, if using. Blend on high until smooth, 45 to 60 seconds, adding a splash more liquid if it’s too thick. Pour into a glass and serve immediately.

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Recipe Notes

• Can substitute pomegranate arils with 1/2 cup pomegranate juice.
• Use at least 1 frozen fruit for a refreshingly cool smoothie.
• Swap out the cabbage for the leafy green vegetables of your choice.
• Feel free to add in some antioxidant smoothie cubes for even more red foods.

Nutrition

Serving: 16 oz | Calories: 300 kcal | Carbohydrates: 52 g | Protein: 10 g | Fat: 8 g | Saturated Fat: 0.1 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2 g | Sodium: 10 mg | Potassium: 547 mg | Fiber: 21 g | Sugar: 26 g | Vitamin A: 73 IU | Vitamin C: 71 mg | Calcium: 47 mg | Iron: 1 mg

Equipment

smoothie blender