How to Make Smoothies with Water: The Complete Guide
Can you make a smoothie with water? The answer is a resounding yes! With the right ingredients, you can make a refreshing smoothie without milk or juice. Here’s a complete guide to making smoothies with water, plus a recipe!
Can you make a smoothie with water?
Technically, you can make a smoothie with anything you want, so the real question is, “Can you make a DELICIOUS smoothie with water?”. The answer is yes!
Water doesn’t add any flavor to a smoothie, so it’s important to combine the right ingredients so it tastes great. The smoothie should sing, not taste meh.
If you like a sweet smoothie, be sure to add sweet fruits like bananas, citrus, mangoes, and berries. You can add an extra sweetener like honey or maple syrup if you want, but if you use sweet fruits you shouldn’t need to.
If you like a creamy smoothie, you will need to add a thickener, like yogurt, avocado, bananas, nut butter, or cottage cheese. This gives the smoothie a creamy texture versus a slushy one.
Benefits of using water in smoothies
Not only is water hydrating and essential for our bodies to function, but it has no sugar, fat, or carbs! This may seem obvious, but it’s a great option for smoothies, especially if you normally use sugar-laden fruit juices or sweetened milks!
It adds no calories and it is great for your skin, joints, and brain! The blood flowing throughout your body is comprised of 90 percent water. It carries oxygen to all parts of your body so they can work efficiently.
How to make a delicious smoothie with water
Making a smoothie with water is super simple!
- Place all your fruits, veggies, nut butters, or whatever ingredients your adding into your blender.
- Add ice cold water to the blender and blend until smooth!
The amount of water depends on how much frozen fruit you’re using. It’s always better to use less than you think you need, because you can always add more to thin it out.
For the berry smoothie at the bottom of this post, I used 1 banana, 2 cups of frozen berries, and 3/4 cup of water.
Make sure to use a combination of frozen and fresh fruits, so the smoothie is thick and cold! Very cold water helps thicken the smoothie as well. Don’t use lukewarm or hot water or you risk melting your frozen ingredients.
Ideas for smoothies made with water
Here’s a few recipe ideas to get you started:
- Mixed Berry: Frozen mixed berries + Ripe banana + Greek yogurt + Cold water
- Tropical Green: Banana + Frozen Pineapple + Squeeze of lime + Frozen mango + Spinach + Cold water + Squeeze of navel orange + Avocado
- Watermelon Strawberry: Fresh watermelon + Banana + Frozen strawberries + Greek yogurt + Squeeze of lime + Squeeze of a navel orange + Cold water
- Simple Strawberry: Frozen strawberries + Ripe banana + Cold water
I like to add just a splash of fresh citrus from oranges and limes to kick up the flavor! You don’t have to do this, but it does make fruit smoothies pop.
Smoothie Troubleshooting Tips
- If your smoothie is too thin, you added too much water. No worries! Just add more frozen fruit and blend until thick and smooth. Ice works too, but I prefer the texture of frozen fruit.
- If your smoothie is too thick, add a splash more water and blend. Continue to add until your smoothie is the desired consistency.
- If you’re smoothie has a slushy texture, it’s because you didn’t add a creamy element. Try bananas, yogurt (dairy-free is fine!), cottage cheese, diced avocado, or nut butter next time!
FAQs
Yes! Cold water is a good liquid base for a smoothie. However, it doesn’t add any flavor to the smoothie, so it’s important to choose the right combo for your smoothie. Choose a sweet element and a creamy element to make a thick and flavorful smoothie. For example: banana (creamy), mixed berries (sweet), and yogurt (creamy) make a good smoothie with water as a base.
Water is a healthy alternative to sugar-packed juices or sweetened milks. It’s essential for your body to function efficiently and is great for your skins, joints, brain, and organs.
The short answer is it depends on how much frozen fruit or veggies is in your smoothie. The more frozen items, the more water you will need. However, you can always add more! So start with less than you think, and gradually add more until you reach the desired consistency.
More Smoothie Recipes
Triple Berry Smoothie with Water
Equipment
- high-speed blender
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana, peeled
- 2 cups frozen mixed berries
- ¾ cup cold water
- ⅓ cup unsweetened Greek yogurt or yogurt of choice
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients into the base of a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!
Notes
- If the smoothie is too thick, add a splash of cold water and blend again.
- If the smoothie is too thin, add a few frozen berries or ice cubes to thicken it.