Pear Banana Protein Smoothie
This pear banana smoothie tastes more like a milkshake than a smoothie! It’s delicious, healthy, and packed full of plant-based protein.
Why you’ll love it
This pear smoothie recipe is easy and delish! Frozen banana makes it ultra thick and creamy, rolled oats add texture, and protein powder gives it a whopping 33 grams of protein!
I really wanted the pear to shine in this recipe, so I didn’t use strong, competitive flavors like peanut butter or chocolate. The flavors are predominantly of pear, banana, and vanilla from the protein powder. It tastes like a delicious protein shake!
Key Ingredients
Frozen banana – I keep frozen bananas in the freezer at all times. Make sure to peel it and cut it at least in half before you throw it into a ziplock bag. A whole banana is difficult for a blender to blitz. You can also cut it into chunks and freeze it on a sheet pan first, but I find this an extra step that’s not always necessary. If you don’t have a high-speed blender, chunks are the way to go!
Ripe pear – Use a sweet, ripe bartlett pear. You don’t need to peel it. The peel is very thin and you won’t even notice it. Just be sure to core it and remove the stem.
Vanilla protein powder – I use a vegan, gluten-free plant-based protein powder. You can use whatever brand you like the best. All brands taste different, and some are much better tasting than others. Choose what you know you love!
Rolled oats – Rolled oats add texture and whole grains. If you’re celiac or gluten-intolerant, use gluten-free labeled oats.
Almond milk – Any milk works great, but my favorite plant-based milk is almond milk. Regular milk works too if you aren’t dairy-free.
How to Make a Pear Smoothie
Smoothies are super-duper simple and very forgiving!
Place all the ingredients into your blender. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
If the smoothie is still too thick, add a splash more almond milk and blend again.
Pour the pear banana smoothie into your favorite glass and enjoy! I love this smoothie with a dollop of whipped cream on top.
Smoothie Making Tips
- Be sure to use a frozen banana. This is the only frozen ingredient, thus it’s necessary to thicken the smoothie and make it ice cold!
- If the smoothie is too thick, add a splash of almond milk. If the smoothie is too thin, add a few more chunks of frozen banana or a few ice cubes.
- Use a ripe pear and a ripe banana! Unripe fruit isn’t sweet and the smoothie won’t taste as good.
Storage Tips
While, technically smoothies can be “stored” in the refrigerator, I don’t recommend it for this one. The banana discolors it and the texture changes when the banana melts.
If you can’t finish it all, pour it into a popsicle mold and make pear smoothie pops! They make a refreshingly cold, healthy treat during the summer.
Health Benefits of Pears
This delectable, bell-shaped fruit is full of health benefits. A medium sized pear contains only 100 calories and 6 grams of fiber!
- Good for your gut! They’re an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber which helps with regular bowel movements and healthy gut bacteria.
- Full of valuable plant compounds that may boost heart health and support blood vessels.
- Don’t forget about antioxidants! Pears are a plentiful source and help fight inflammation in your body.
FAQs
Yes, pear and banana make a great pair! The banana has a mild yet sweet flavor that doesn’t overpower the flavor of the pear. Together they taste sweet and delicious with flavor notes from both.
Pears have a sweet, distinct flavor that goes well with most fruits. However, most fruits will overpower the taste of the pear! If you only want to use the pear for sweetness and not for flavor, you can use it with any other fruit in a smoothie. Otherwise, stick to mild fruit like banana or apples.
Yes, pear and milk go great together in smoothies. You can use regular or plant-based milk with no issues.
More Smoothie Recipes
- Arugula Pineapple Smoothie
- Do Smoothies Need Ice?
- Strawberry Protein Hemp Seed Smoothie
- Banana Protein Smoothie
Pear Banana Protein Smoothie
Equipment
- high-speed blender
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana, cut into chunks
- 1 ripe pear, cored and stemmed
- 3 tablespoons plant-based vanilla protein powder
- ½ cup old fashioned oats*
- ⅓-½ cup unsweetened almond milk
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into a high-speed blender. Blend until thick and creamy. If the smoothie is too thick, add a splash more almond milk. Blend again.
- Pour into a smoothie cup and enjoy!
