Though not necessarily a “Caribbean” thing when I was a young fella’ on the islands, smoothies are making it’s way across the island chain as more and more people are looking for healthy ways to start their day, especially with the abundance of fresh tropical fruits we have available to us. Back then, you’d quicker find freshly made juices and punches with the same fruits, so I must confess that I’m not a huge fan of smoothies (it just wasn’t part of my diet). This mango raspberry smoothie only takes a couple minutes to make, quite refreshing and a wonderful meal in a glass.
You’ll Need…
2 cups mango juice (or nectar)
2 cups ripe raspberries (freeze them if you don’t plan on using ice)
1/4 cup orange juice
* Feel free to use fresh or frozen mango instead of the mango juice I used. If using dice mango, you’ll need a bit more orange juice. For a protein kick you can always go in with some protein powder from your local health store.
This is so simple – basically all you have to do is place all the ingredients in a blender and give it a good pulse to break everything down to the consistency you like and you’re done!
Important: If doing this recipe gluten free, do go through the list of ingredients to ensure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs. This recipe makes enough for 2 people so feel free to double up to make for a larger group. And if you’re making this during the summer months you can easily add a bit of rum, a tablespoon of lemon juice and a few drops of bitters for a more of a festive (big people) drink for your next BBQ gathering.
I know, raspberries are not native to the Caribbean.. this is just my take on a tribute to my homeland (the Caribbean) and the place I now call home (Canada)… ENJOY!
Looking back at my childhood it puzzles me as to what was our facination with imported fruits like apples, pears and grapes? It’s funny how when you move away from home you crave the things you took for granted. Like off-the-tree mangoes and oranges. Mangoes with such names as Julie, long, hog, dou dous (sp), belly full, Princess Town starch, calabash, donkey st*nes and turpentine to name a few. Today I’m stuck buying the flavour less stuff we get in the supermarkets. Mangoes that were picked green so they could last the journey to North America and still have some shelf life.
