Category: yogurt

Curry Chickpea Salad

This Curry Chickpea Salad is a fast and easy no-cook lunch that’s perfect for summer. Light, fresh, filling, tangy, and flavorful!

The post Curry Chickpea Salad appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Y’all know I love chickpeas. They’re easy to prepare, versatile, cheap, and full of fiber and other goodies! Chickpea salads have become one of my favorite easy preparations for chickpeas, especially now that it’s mid-summer and a million degrees out. Today I made a light and tangy Curry Chickpea Salad, that you can eat as a wrap, stuffed into a pita, or piled on top of a fresh green salad. It only takes a few minutes to prepare and makes a super tasty lunch!

Curry Chickpea Salad stuffed into a pita on a plate with grape tomatoes

What Kind of Curry Powder Should I Use?

There are so many different types of curry powder out there and they all have a unique flavor. I haven’t yet met a curry powder that I don’t like, so I can’t suggest one over another, but I’ve tried a few different brands such as Sharwoods, 365, Spice Islands, and Simply Organic. If you want to try making your own curry powder at home, here is a great recipe for curry powder from Hari Ghotra, along with a ton of great info about curry powder, its origins, and ways it can be used.

How to Serve Curry Chickpea Salad

As I mentioned in the intro, there are a few different ways to eat this Curry Chickpea Salad. I stuffed it into a pita with some lettuce for the photos here, but I’ve also wrapped it up in a tortilla to make a wrap sandwich. You can also scoop it on top of a green salad, or smash up the chickpeas and dip into it with crackers or vegetables.

I didn’t smash the chickpeas this time, but I often do to create a different texture in the salad. It really just depends on what texture you prefer or how you plan to serve it.

What Else Can I Add?

Chickpea salads are fun because you can add all sorts of other ingredients to make it fancy, if you have them. I think a grated carrot or diced red bell pepper would add a nice texture and the sweetness would work well with the curry flavor. Finely diced celery would also add a nice crunch, as would some slivered almonds. A few raisins would add a fun pop of sweetness. And lastly, if you can’t do red onion, sliced green onion would be a nice mild option to use in their place.

A hand holding a pita stuffed with curry chickpea salad
two pita pockets stuffed with curry chickpea salad on a plate with grape tomatoes

Curry Chickpea Salad

This Curry Chickpea Salad is a fast and easy no-cook lunch that's perfect for summer. Light, fresh, filling, tangy, and flavorful!
Total Cost $1.39 recipe / $0.70 serving
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 2 1 cup each
Calories 249kcal
Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup plain yogurt* $0.35
  • 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard $0.03
  • 1 tsp honey $0.06
  • 1.5 tsp curry powder $0.15
  • 1/8 tsp salt $0.01
  • 1 15oz. can chickpeas $0.55
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro $0.17
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion $0.07

Instructions

  • Prepare the dressing first. Stir together the yogurt, Dijon, honey, curry powder, and salt. Set the dressing aside.
  • Rinse and drain the canned chickpeas. Chop the cilantro and finely chop the red onion. If you'd like to soften the flavor of the red onion, first slice it and then let the slices soak in cold water for about five minutes. Drain the onion, then finely chop.
  • Combine the chickpeas, chopped cilantro, chopped red onion, and the prepared dressing in a bowl. Stir to combine. If you prefer, you can slightly mash the chickpeas to create a different texture. Taste and adjust the salt or other ingredients to your liking. Serve cold.

Notes

*You can use either regular-style yogurt or Greek yogurt, keeping in mind that Greek yogurt will create a very thick dressing.

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 6g | Sodium: 811mg | Fiber: 11g

Love chickpea salads? Try my Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad, Pesto Chickpea Salad, or Sriracha Chickpea Salad Wraps.

How to Make Curry Chickpea Salad – Step by Step Photos

Yogurt curry sauce being stirred together

First, make the yogurt curry dressing. Stir together ⅓ cup plain yogurt, ½ tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp honey, 1.5 tsp curry powder, and ⅛ tsp salt. You can use regular-style or Greek-style yogurt, keeping in mind that Greek yogurt will make a very thick dressing.

Chickpeas, onions, and cilantro in a bowl

Rinse and drain one 15oz. can of chickpeas. Finely dice ¼ cup red onion and chop about ¼ cup cilantro. If you want the onions to have a softer flavor, you can slice them first and soak in cold water for about 5 minutes before finely chopping.

curry dressing being poured over salad ingredients in the bowl

Pour the prepared dressing over the ingredients in the bowl.

Finished curry chickpea salad

Stir until everything is combined, give it a taste, and then adjust the salt or other ingredients to your liking. At this point, you can either leave the chickpeas whole or smash them up a bit. It’s up to you!

two pita pockets stuffed with curry chickpea salad on a plate with grape tomatoes

Today I left my chickpeas whole, but if I were going to serve them with crackers for scooping I’d probably mash them up a bit so the chickpeas don’t roll off the crackers. :) Enjoy your quick, cold, no-cook lunch!

The post Curry Chickpea Salad appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Easy Spinach Dip

Easy Spinach Dip
This creamy spinach dip comes together in minutes and is perfect for serving in a bread bowl, with vegetables, or with a variety of crackers. This easy dip is an absolute crowd pleaser!
READ: Easy Spinach Dip

A white platter on a blue counter with a bread bowl of spinach dip in the middle and vegetables around the sides.

Easy Spinach Dip

This creamy spinach dip comes together in minutes and is perfect for serving in a bread bowl, with vegetables, or with a variety of crackers. This easy dip is an absolute crowd pleaser!

READ: Easy Spinach Dip

Mediterranean Turkey Burgers

Ground turkey can be kind of, well, boring if you don’t dress it up right. That’s why for these Mediterranean Turkey Burgers I added fun add-ins to the burger patty for maximum flavor and color. And instead of the ketchup and mustard treatment, these juicy burgers get a homemade lemon dill yogurt sauce, crunchy slices […]

The post Mediterranean Turkey Burgers appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Ground turkey can be kind of, well, boring if you don’t dress it up right. That’s why for these Mediterranean Turkey Burgers I added fun add-ins to the burger patty for maximum flavor and color. And instead of the ketchup and mustard treatment, these juicy burgers get a homemade lemon dill yogurt sauce, crunchy slices of cucumber, and a few slivers of red onion. If you’re looking to change up your burger game, these Mediterranean Turkey Burgers are it!

Originally posted 3-26-2011, updated 4-9-2021.

Overhead view of a mediterranean turkey burger, top bun off, on a paper lined plate next to cucumber salad

Can the Turkey Burgers be Grilled?

Yes, you can definitely grill these burgers instead of cooking them in a skillet. An outdoor grill or even an indoor countertop grill, like a George Foreman grill, will work great.

Why 19 oz. of Ground Turkey?

I’ll never understand why, but some brands sell ground turkey in 19 oz. packages instead of one-pound packages (if you work in that industry and know why, please let me know). If you can only find a one-pound package of ground turkey, you can still make this recipe. I wouldn’t adjust any other ingredients, just make four patties instead of five and they’ll be a little extra flavorful. 

What to Serve with Mediterranean Turkey Burgers

Since I had a half cucumber and red onion leftover from the recipe, I used them to make a small batch of my Super Fresh Cucumber Salad. It’s the perfect light side to these burgers. You could also serve them with something like Steak Fries, Mediterranean White Bean Salad, Quinoa Tabbouleh, or a simple green salad (mixed greens, tomatoes, and a vinaigrette). 

Can I Use Fresh Spinach?

Yes, you can use fresh spinach in this recipe instead of frozen, if you prefer. I suggest chopping the spinach until it’s in small pieces so it’s easier to mix into the meat. You may also want to sauté it briefly in a skillet to get some of the water out. You’ll want about ¼ cup once sautéed.

Side view of a closed Mediterranean Turkey Burger on a paper lined plate

 

Overhead view of an open faced Mediterranean Turkey Burger on a paper lined plate with cucumber salad on the side

Mediterranean Turkey Burgers

Spinach, sun dried tomatoes, feta, and a dilly yogurt sauce make these Mediterranean Turkey Burgers full of flavor and color.
Total Cost $10.18 recipe / $2.04 serving
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 5
Calories 396.62kcal
Author Beth - Budget Bytes

Equipment

Ingredients

Lemon Dill Yogurt Sauce

  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt $0.50
  • 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice $0.03
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder $0.02
  • 1/8 tsp dried dill $0.02
  • 1/8 tsp salt $0.02

Turkey Burgers

  • 19 oz. ground turkey* $3.89
  • 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes $0.83
  • 1/4 cup minced red onion $0.08
  • 2 oz. frozen spinach (1 cup when frozen) $0.25
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta $0.57
  • 1 tsp dried oregano $0.10
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder $0.02
  • 1/4 tsp salt $0.02
  • 1 Tbsp cooking oil $0.04

For Serving

  • 5 hamburger buns $3.04
  • 1/2 cucumber, sliced $0.75

Instructions

  • Make the lemon dill yogurt sauce first. Stir together the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic powder, dried dill, and salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Prepare the add-ins for the turkey burgers. Finely chop the sun dried tomatoes, mince or finely dice the red onion, crumble the feta, and then thaw and squeeze all the moisture out of the frozen spinach (2 oz. will be about 1 cup when frozen, ¼ cup when thawed and squeezed dry).
  • Add the ground turkey, sun dried tomatoes, red onion, feta, spinach, dried oregano, garlic powder, and salt to a bowl. Mix the ingredients together until evenly combined.
  • Divide and shape the turkey mixture into five burger patties. Make them flatter and wider than usual because they will shrink up and in as they cook.
  • Heat ½ Tbsp cooking oil in a skillet over medium. Once hot, add three of the turkey burgers and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until browned and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining cooking oil and the rest of the burger patties.
  • To serve, smear some of the lemon dill yogurt sauce on a bun. Add a turkey burger, some sliced cucumber, and sliced red onion, then enjoy.

Notes

*I used 93% lean ground turkey

Nutrition

Serving: 1burger | Calories: 396.62kcal | Carbohydrates: 32.58g | Protein: 30.8g | Fat: 16.16g | Sodium: 602.96mg | Fiber: 2.32g

Close up side view of a mediterranean turkey burger, open-faced

How to Make Mediterranean Turkey Burgers – Step By Step Photos

lemon, garlic powder, and dried dill being stirred into yogurt

Make the lemon dill yogurt sauce first, so the flavors have a little time to blend. Stir together ½ cup Greek yogurt, ½ Tbsp lemon juice, ⅛ tsp garlic powder, ⅛ tsp dried dill, and ⅛ tsp salt. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to use. And yes, you can use plain non-Greek yogurt if needed, it just makes a less thick sauce. :)

Chopped burger add-ins on a cutting board

Prepare the burger add-ins. Chop about ¼ cup sun dried tomatoes (I use the dry pack, not the kind packed in oil), mince or finely dice ¼ cup red onion (save the rest to slice and place on the burgers), crumble 1 oz. feta (about ¼ cup), and thaw then squeeze all the moisture out of 2 oz. frozen spinach. The spinach is about 1 cup when frozen, ¼ cup after it has been thawed and squezed dry.

Ground turkey and burger add-ins in a bowl

Place 19 oz. ground turkey, sun dried tomatoes, red onion, feta, spinach, 1 tsp dried oregano, ¼ tsp garlic powder, and ¼ tsp salt in a bowl (sorry, I forgot the oregano, garlic powder, and salt until after the photo was taken).

Turkey burger mixture in the bowl

Mix the ingredients into the ground turkey until it’s all evenly mixed.

Shaped Turkey Burgers on an orange cutting board

Divide and shape the meat mixture into five burger patties. Make the patties thinner and wider than you’d expect because they do shrink up and inward as you cook them.

Three cooked turkey burgers in a skillet

To cook the burgers in a skillet, add ½ Tbsp cooking oil to a skillet and heat over medium. Once hot, add a few of the burger patties and cook on each side for 5-7 minutes, or until well browned and cooked through. Repeat with the second half of the oil and the remaining burger patties.

Overhead view of an open faced Mediterranean Turkey Burger on a paper lined plate with cucumber salad on the side

To serve, spread some of the lemon dill yogurt sauce on a bun, add a cooked burger patty and a few slices of cucumber and red onion. Enjoy!

Greek Turkey Burgers are a healthy mix of ground turkey and Mediterranean flavors. BudgetBytes.com

The post Mediterranean Turkey Burgers appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Valentine’s Day Breakfast Board

This post is sponsored by Kroger. We never get dressed up and go out on Valentine’s Day, but we do like to celebrate at home. I will always support a day that celebrates love, flowers, and chocolate. Count me IN! This year, we are going to celebr…

This post is sponsored by Kroger. We never get dressed up and go out on Valentine’s Day, but we do like to celebrate at home. I will always support a day that celebrates love, flowers, and chocolate. Count me IN! This year, we are going to celebrate with a fun Valentine’s Day Breakfast Board. The…

The post Valentine’s Day Breakfast Board appeared first on Two Peas & Their Pod.

Yogurt Marinated Chicken

This tangy and garlicky Yogurt Marinated Chicken is full of warm spices and can be served several different ways. It’s my new go-to chicken marinade!

The post Yogurt Marinated Chicken appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Yogurt has become one of the most versatile ingredients in my kitchen. While it’s more common in the U.S. for yogurt to be served sweet, yogurt is just as useful and delicious in savory dishes, like this Yogurt Marinated Chicken. This delicious chicken is tangy, garlicky, full of warm spices, and can be served several different ways. It’s definitely one of my favorite go-to chicken marinades!

Sliced yogurt marinated chicken on a bed of spinach rice with tomatoes

Why Yogurt Makes a Great Marinade

Aside from giving the chicken a deliciously tangy flavor, yogurt contains a lot of lactic acid, which works to tenderize the chicken and help keep it moist while it cooks. You’ll find yogurt marinades used a lot in Middle Eastern recipes, like this recipe for Shish-Tawook from my friend, Yumna, at Feelgoodfoodie.net.

What Kind of Yogurt Should I Use?

Make sure you buy plain flavored yogurt, nothing sweetened or with flavors added. I suggest buying regular yogurt, not Greek-style, because Greek is very thick and dry and will not coat the chicken the same way. You can get around this by thinning out the yogurt with a little water, broth, or milk, but plain, regular yogurt works best. You’ll also want to make sure your yogurt has at least some fat, which is important for carrying the fat-soluble flavors in the marinade. Full-fat is best, but you can go down to 2% fat if needed.

Can I Use Chicken Thighs?

Yes, this recipe is also awesome with boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Because chicken thighs are already fairly thin and cook quickly, you will not need to slice the thighs into thinner pieces, as I do with the chicken breasts in the recipe below.

Can Yogurt Marinated Chicken be Grilled?

Yes! Yogurt marinated chicken is perfect for grilling! Just cook in the same manner as you would with chicken marinated in any other mixture. You’ll get wonderful browning on the meat when using a grill. You can also use an indoor, countertop style grill, like a George Foreman grill.

How to Serve Yogurt Marinated Chicken

I love, love, LOVE this chicken in so many different dishes. It’s great for adding to bowl meals (pictured above with spinach rice, tomatoes, and feta), you can stuff it into a pita, like a chicken schawarma sandwich, use it to top a fresh green salad, or even a pasta salad. Or, just serve it up with a couple of sides and make it your main dish! It would go great alongside a marinated white bean salad, or a super fresh cucumber salad and maybe some hummus.

Sliced yogurt marinated chicken on a cutting board next to two whole cooked chicken breasts
Sliced Yogurt Marinated chicken on a bed of spinach rice with tomatoes and feta

Yogurt Marinated Chicken

This tangy and garlicky Yogurt Marinated Chicken is full of warm spices and can be served several different ways!
Total Cost $7.29 recipe / $1.82 serving
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Marinate Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 229.5kcal
Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt $0.34
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced $0.16
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice $0.05
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon $0.05
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano $0.05
  • 1/2 tsp salt $0.02
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg $0.02
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves $0.02
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.3 lbs.)* $6.54
  • 1 Tbsp cooking oil $0.04

Instructions

  • Combine the yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, cinnamon, oregano, salt, nutmeg, and cloves in a bowl.
  • Slice the chicken breasts into two thinner pieces so they cook quickly and evenly in the skillet. If slicing is too difficult, you can cover the chicken breasts with plastic and use a rolling pin or mallet to pound the chicken into an even thickness (1/2-3/4 inch thick), then slice the breast across into two smaller portions.
  • Place the chicken in a shallow dish or zip-top bag and pour the yogurt marinade over top. Make sure all sides of the chicken are coated in yogurt, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
  • When you're ready to cook, heat ½ Tbsp cooking oil in a large skillet (preferably some sort of non-stick surface) over medium heat. Once hot, add two pieces of chicken and cook on each side until deeply browned. Transfer the cooked chicken to a clean cutting board and repeat with the rest of the cooking oil and second two pieces of chicken.
  • Let the chicken rest for five minutes, then slice and serve!

Notes

*You can purchase thin-cut chicken breasts, chicken tender, or chicken thighs to avoid needing to slice or pound the breasts into thinner pieces (step 2).

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 229.5kcal | Carbohydrates: 2.65g | Protein: 34.35g | Fat: 8.38g | Sodium: 375.13mg | Fiber: 0.35g

How to Make Yogurt Marinated Chicken – Step by Step Photos

Yogurt with garlic and spices in a bowl

Make the yogurt marinade first. Combine ½ cup plain yogurt, 2 cloves of garlic (minced), 1 Tbsp lemon juice, ½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, and ¼ tsp ground cloves.

Sliced boneless chicken breast on an orange cutting board

Filet two boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.3 lbs. total) into two thinner pieces. This helps it cook quickly and evenly in the skillet. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs, thin-cut chicken breasts, or even chicken tenders.

Chicken in a shallow dish with yogurt marinade

Place the chicken in a shallow dish or a zip top bag and pour the yogurt marinade over top. Make sure the yogurt coats all sides of the chicken, then marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours (refrigerated).

Cooked yogurt marinated chicken in the skillet

When you’re ready to cook the chicken, heat ½ Tbsp cooking oil in a large skillet over medium heat (a non-stick surface works best). Once hot, add two pieces of the chicken and cook on both sides until it is well browned and cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken to a clean cutting board and repeat with another ½ Tbsp oil and the second two pieces of chicken.

Resting chicken on the cutting board

Let the yogurt marinated chicken rest on the cutting board for five minutes before slicing and serving.

Sliced Yogurt Marinated chicken on a bed of spinach rice with tomatoes and feta

Serve over rice, a salad, stuffed into a pita, or just on its own with a couple of sides!

The post Yogurt Marinated Chicken appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Tzatziki Sauce

Today, we are talking about Tzatziki! If you aren’t sure how to pronounce tzatziki, let me help you out, all of those Zs are a little tricky.  Tzatziki is pronounced tuh-zee-kee. It comes from a Persian word that means “herb mixture.&#…

Today, we are talking about Tzatziki! If you aren’t sure how to pronounce tzatziki, let me help you out, all of those Zs are a little tricky.  Tzatziki is pronounced tuh-zee-kee. It comes from a Persian word that means “herb mixture.” Tzatziki is a dip (sauce) that originated in the Middle East. It has a…

The post Tzatziki Sauce appeared first on Two Peas & Their Pod.

9 Excellent Sour Cream Substitutes for the Creamiest, Dreamiest Vibes

When you were getting ready to start baking this signature pound cake recipe or looking for a little something extra to dollop on top of your steaming baked potato, you realize you’re fresh out of sour cream. Before you fret and make a run for the clos…

When you were getting ready to start baking this signature pound cake recipe or looking for a little something extra to dollop on top of your steaming baked potato, you realize you’re fresh out of sour cream. Before you fret and make a run for the closest store, remedy the situation at hand with ingredients you likely already have at home.

From non-dairy to dairy alternatives, finding a substitute for sour cream is much easier than you may have initially thought. Using ingredients like coconut milk, cashews, or yogurt and a little acid from lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, you’ll be able to wow your guests and your taste buds with something very close to the real deal.

Read More >>

The Zingy Yogurt Sauce That Connects Me With My Polish-Midwestern Roots

Everything I know about my family history is a bit fuzzy. Whenever I ask my father questions about how his parents ended up in the Midwest, he only knows so much. “We didn’t talk about things like that,” he explains to me. “Those conversations would ma…

Everything I know about my family history is a bit fuzzy. Whenever I ask my father questions about how his parents ended up in the Midwest, he only knows so much. “We didn’t talk about things like that,” he explains to me. “Those conversations would make us feel less ‘American,’ so we didn’t really have them.” He tells me that his parents were originally from Kraków and Wilno (which is no longer part of Poland), but he doesn’t remember which parent grew up where.

What he does know is that the story goes something like this: They were both being transferred from one camp in German-occupied Poland to another when technical issues blessed them with an opportunity to escape. After fleeing, they immigrated to America, eventually landing in Chicago where a friend was able to host them. From there my father’s family raised him and his brother, fully rooting themselves in the American Midwest.

Read More >>

Sweet Potato Yogurt Is Good With Everything

A Big Little Recipe has the smallest-possible ingredient list and big everything else—flavor, creativity, wow factor. Psst: We don’t count water, salt, black pepper, and certain fats (specifically, 1/2 cup or less of olive oil, vegetable oil, and butte…

A Big Little Recipe has the smallest-possible ingredient list and big everything else—flavor, creativity, wow factor. Psst: We don't count water, salt, black pepper, and certain fats (specifically, 1/2 cup or less of olive oil, vegetable oil, and butter), since we're guessing you have those covered. Today, you’ll just need two ingredients.

There is no shortage of fruit-flavored yogurts in American supermarkets. Blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, cherry, peach, lemon, lime, pineapple, coconut, apricot, pomegranate, passion fruit, strawberry, strawberry-banana, strawberry-rhubarb, strawberry-kiwi, strawberry-mango, just to name a few.

Read More >>

Cinnamon Apple Smoothie

This cinnamon-spiced apple smoothie is creamy and irresistibly tasty! It’s full of natural sweetness and packed with protein. Here’s a smoothie that’s full of cozy spiced, naturally sweet flavor: the perfect Apple Smoothie! This one works anytime and in any season. But of course it’s perfect for fall when you’ve got mounds of apples to use up. In fact, it’s a healthy way to enjoy the flavors of apple pie or apple crumble! Cinnamon and vanilla are just the right compliment to the sweet tart fruit. It’s also loaded with protein from Greek yogurt, which gives it just the right creamy texture. You’ll almost feel like you’re drinking an apple pie milkshake…but a wholesome version! Let’s go. Ingredients in this apple smoothie The great thing about this apple smoothie? You might already have the ingredients on hand. If you stock bananas and Greek yogurt like we do, you’ll be able to whip up this smoothie in no time. Here’s what you’ll need: Apples: You can use any variety! For the best flavor, use sweet tart apples like Honey Crisp or Granny Smith (stay away from Red Delicious here). Banana: No need to freeze it: you can use a room temperature […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This cinnamon-spiced apple smoothie is creamy and irresistibly tasty! It’s full of natural sweetness and packed with protein.

Apple smoothie

Here’s a smoothie that’s full of cozy spiced, naturally sweet flavor: the perfect Apple Smoothie! This one works anytime and in any season. But of course it’s perfect for fall when you’ve got mounds of apples to use up. In fact, it’s a healthy way to enjoy the flavors of apple pie or apple crumble! Cinnamon and vanilla are just the right compliment to the sweet tart fruit. It’s also loaded with protein from Greek yogurt, which gives it just the right creamy texture. You’ll almost feel like you’re drinking an apple pie milkshake…but a wholesome version! Let’s go.

Ingredients in this apple smoothie

The great thing about this apple smoothie? You might already have the ingredients on hand. If you stock bananas and Greek yogurt like we do, you’ll be able to whip up this smoothie in no time. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Apples: You can use any variety! For the best flavor, use sweet tart apples like Honey Crisp or Granny Smith (stay away from Red Delicious here).
  • Banana: No need to freeze it: you can use a room temperature banana! If you do have one frozen, that will work too.
  • Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt adds lots of protein to this smoothie, and live probiotics which help gut health.
  • Milk: Use any type of milk, including non-dairy milk
  • Ice: Ice helps to get just the right texture. Note that this smoothie is more creamy than icy.
  • Vanilla and cinnamon: These bring in that apple pie flavor!
Apple smoothie

It’s great naturally sweet, or add a bit of maple syrup

This apple smoothie tastes fantastic with no added sweetener: it’s perfectly sweet tart! However, the flavor can depend on the ripeness of the fruit and your personal tastes. Take a taste, and if you’d like it sweeter, add a bit of maple syrup or honey. This is a nice option if you’re looking for a sweet treat to take the place of a dessert.

Start with 1/2 tablespoon in the blender, and increase if you need more. You may want to stir it in instead of blend, because if you over-blend the texture can get too liquid.

Vegan variation

Want to make this apple smoothie vegan? Try our Green Apple Smoothie recipe! It pairs green apple and cashews to make a beautifully sweet tart vegan smoothie. The cashews add plant-based protein to help it stay satiating and keep you full.

Apple smoothie

More flavor variations!

This apple smoothie tastes amazing as is. But if you’d like it mix it up even more, we’ve got answers! Here are some ideas for fun variations on the theme:

  • Ginger: Add 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger to the mix for a spicy brightness.
  • Spices: Add 1/8 teaspoon allspice or nutmeg. Even better, replace the cinnamon with equal parts Pumpkin Pie Spice or Chai Spices.
  • Oats: Add whole grains by throwing in 1/2 cup rolled oats.
  • Pecans, cashews or almonds: Throw in 1/4 cup nuts to add a nutty undertone and even more plant-based protein.
  • Nut butter: Or add 1 to 2 tablespoons almond butter, peanut butter or cashew butter.
Apple smoothie

Apples nutrition

Apples are very good for you and full of nutrients! Here’s a little breakdown on some of the top benefits (Source: Healthline).

  • Apples are a good source of vitamin C: 1 apple contains 14% of your daily needs
  • They are full of fiber and water: 1 apple has 4 grams fiber or about 15% of your daily needs
  • Apples contain pectin, a type of fiber that acts as a prebiotic and helps with gut health
  • Most of the nutrients in apples are in the skin, so you should eat the skin as much as possible. That’s why we included the skin in this apple smoothie.

This apple smoothie is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based and dairy-free, see the variation above.

Print
Apple smoothie

Cinnamon Apple Smoothie

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (7 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small smoothies
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

This cinnamon-spiced apple smoothie is creamy and irresistibly tasty! It’s full of natural sweetness and packed with protein.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh apple chunks (skin on, about 1 large or 2 small apples)
  • 1 ripe banana (room temperature)
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup milk (or almond milk or oat milk)
  • 8 ice cubes
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Optional: 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup or honey (we liked ours without sweetener)

Instructions

  1. Chop the apple. Place all ingredients in a blender, breaking the banana into pieces. Blend until creamy and frothy, stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary. If desired, garnish with an apple slice. Serve immediately or store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for 1 day.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Smoothies

Keywords: Apple smoothie

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes