Fiesta Savory Smoothie

This Savory Smoothie is high in protein, loaded with veggies and savory flavors and is incredibly delicious. If you’re looking for new smoothie flavors then this savory protein shake is a great recipe to venture out in search of a more tangy taste.

My savory smoothie was inspired by the slow carb movement, which is a great way to lean up and build muscle too. The Slow-Carb Diet, made popular in Tim Ferriss’ book The 4-Hour Body, has taken the world by storm. The idea behind the diet is pretty simple. Eliminate all sugar, even from fruit, and focus on eating protein-rich foods and healthy “slow-carbs,” including tons of veggies, to help you lose weight.

I don’t personally believe in eliminating all sugars, yet I think having this smoothie for a meal isn’t a bad thing. Some days I crave more vegetables and don’t want something sweet— and this smoothie hits the spot.

Table of Contents

1. Savory Smoothie Ingredients
2. Choosing the Right Plant-Based Protein
3. Adding Vegetables to Smoothies
4. How to Blend A Plant-Based Savory Smoothie
5. Savory Smoothie FAQs
6. More Vegetable Smoothies
7. Savory Smoothie Recipe

Savory Smoothie Ingredients

My goal for this savory protein shake was to flavor it like my favorite Mexican-inspired dishes. It totally delivers. Here’s what I’m blending:

• Spinach: The best start to any green smoothie is a bunch of fresh, leafy greens.
• Cilantro: I know cilantro isn’t everyone’s fav, so swap this with parsley if needed.
• Vegetable stock: Find a low-sodium stock that is JUST vegetables for the best flavor… or make your own!
• Chickpeas: I like using chickpeas as a plant-based protein source. They also add creaminess to this beverage.
• Tomato: Whether you call it a fruit or a vegetable, tomatoes are a great smoothie addition! They act as a liquid and a plant.
• Avocado: Creaminess, healthy fat, what more could you want from this fun ingredient?
• homemade protein powder: Plant-based protein powder turns this smoothie into a complete meal that you won’t want to put down.
• Lemon juice: Never underestimate the level of brightness a squeeze of lemon juice can bring to any recipe. It helps lighten up the taste.
• Spices: I use chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, sea salt and black pepper in the blender and sprinkled on top of this savory smoothie for the perfect finish.

Choosing the Right Plant-Based Protein

Did you know that plants are loaded with protein? You don’t *have* to eat meat just to consume protein and legumes (beans, lentils, split peas, peanuts, etc) are a great plant sources of protein. I use canned chickpeas in this savory smoothie since they have a mild taste and are easy to toss in.

You can swap them with black beans, pinto beans or lentils if you want. Just make sure they are canned or cooked beforehand then blend them in.

I really wanted this smoothie to be a complete meal, so I also add in my plant-based protein powder, homemade protein powder, for a tasteless and clean boost.

Adding Vegetables to Smoothies

If you cringed a bit at the title of this smoothie then you’re not alone! Smoothies are traditionally on the sweeter side and some people think the more tropical, the better. Yet you don’t have to blend a savory smoothie just to enjoy the benefits of adding vegetables to your smoothies. In fact, every time you blend a green smoothie, you are adding leafy green vegetables to your day!

I know that some ‘vegetables’ are technically fruits, but for ease of discussion, I’m talking about the plants we typically view as not-sweet or ones that we’d put into a taco vs a fruit bowl. Here are my fav vegetables to add to smoothies:

avocado	celery	legumes
beets	cucumber	pumpkin
butternut squash	fennel	sweet potato
carrots	herbs	tomato
cauliflower	leafy greens	zucchini

How to Blend A Plant-Based Savory Smoothie

Savory smoothies blend just like sweet smoothies, so use the two-blend method with this one:

1. Blend spinach, cilantro and vegetable stock in a blender until smooth. You want to blend until there are no leafy chunks left, so be patient!
2. Add the remaining ingredients, including the spices, and blend again until smooth. This smoothie uses ‘softer’ plants so the blender shouldn’t have to work overtime to blend up the vegetables.

If you still want a refreshingly cool smoothie then toss in an ice cube or two once you’ve poured the blended smoothie into a glass or chill for 15 minutes in the fridge before enjoying.

Savory Smoothie FAQs

More Vegetable Smoothies

Now that you’re more comfortable blending vegetables into smoothies and not just fruit, let me share a few of my favorite veggie-filled smoothies. Some are sweet and some are savory but all are delicious!

• Fruit and Vegetable Smoothie: This ‘kitchen sink’ smoothie is a great way to toss vegetables into smoothies without going completely savory all in 1 drink.
• Apple Celery Smoothie: A green-green smoothie! Fennel and celery combine with lemon and ginger for a lovely tasting smoothie.
• Tomato Smoothie: A fantastic mocktail to blend at any brunch! This fun smoothie is ruby red and gorgeously savory.
• Cherry Beet Smoothie: You’d never know this smoothie has a beet in it, yet your body will thank you! An antioxidant-rich delight.