If you are fan of consuming warm drink recipes like golden milk or turmeric tea on the regular, then today you are in for a treat. Because today, we are making turmeric smoothies.
In this post, I will answer some of the most popular questions about using fresh or ground turmeric in smoothies, along with my favorite turmeric smoothie recipes that I make regularly.
All the recipes I am sharing here are vegan (no dairy), made with no added sugar, and use simple, everyday ingredients you can easily find at your local grocery store.
Why Should You Try My Turmeric Smoothies:
- Quick & Easy: Making a quick and creamy turmeric smoothie in the morning is an easy way to get a quick boost of energy in the morning or when you need a quick snack, even when you are on the go.
- They taste good: I developed these recipes to balance the natural sweetness of fruit with the spicy flavor of turmeric (especially if you are using ground turmeric), which some people don’t care for.
Why do we use black pepper and oil with turmeric?
Before I share the following recipes, I want to talk about two ingredients that I used in every single smoothie below that come as a surprise to you: Black Pepper and Coconut Oil.
Add a pinch of black pepper
The most well known and researched component in turmeric that is hailed for health is called curcumin. The problem with it is that our bodies cannot absorb curcumin when we consume it just by itself.
This is where black pepper comes in handy. The active ingredient in black pepper, piperine, increases curcumin absorption by 2000%.
The good news is you don’t need much. All you need is a pinch of black pepper. In the turmeric smoothie recipes below, you don’t even taste it.
A Splash of coconut oil or ghee
If you look back at the ancient Ayurvedic practice you will see that they make their golden milk with a little bit of clarified butter. They do this because curcumin has poor solubility in water. In other words, consuming turmeric with a little bit of fat helps us use curcumin’s full potential.
Therefore, I added a little bit of oil to my smoothies. I opted for ½ teaspoon of coconut oil as it is widely available, but if you have access to ghee, you can use that as well.
Again, similar to black pepper, you do not taste the coconut oil in the smoothie recipes I shared in this post.
How much turmeric to put in a smoothie?
The following ratios might change depending on the recipe, but my general rule of thumb for 2 servings of a turmeric smoothie is to use ½ teaspoon of ground turmeric spice or ¼ teaspoon of grated fresh turmeric root (about 1-inch).
I personally find fresh turmeric root to be more potent compared to its spice version so I use half the amount. However, I recommend starting with these ratios and adjusting it to your liking.
Delicious turmeric smoothie recipes for all year round
Below are my favorite turmeric smoothies that I make throughout the year.
If I am making these during the winter months I usually do not add ice into the blender. However, during the summer months, I almost always add in a cup of ice cubes to make it even more refreshing.
Mango Turmeric Smoothie
This is the smoothie I make when I am craving tropical flavors. You can use both frozen or fresh mangoes. I like to add a small amount of chia seeds to keep myself full longer.
Turmeric Ginger Smoothie
This turmeric smoothie is carrot and orange-based. Since they are both very sweet, they easily mask the potent flavors of fresh ginger and turmeric, making it really enjoyable to sip.
This is the smoothie I make myself when I feel like I need an afternoon pick me up or after my morning workout.
Spinach Turmeric Smoothie
This is my favorite green smoothie recipe. Made with almond milk, spinach, ground flaxseeds, and fresh (or frozen) pineapple, it comes together in minutes.
Want to switch it up? Feel free to switch things up by using fresh kale instead of baby spinach or coconut milk instead of almond milk or chia seeds instead of ground flaxseeds.
Are you someone who enjoys turmeric drinks on the regular?
If you are someone who enjoys adding turmeric to smoothies, curries, or simply in hot milk before bed, I highly recommend keeping a jar of turmeric paste in your fridge. I usually make it once a month and use a small amount (usually about 1 teaspoon) every day.
And if you want to use this turmeric paste in these smoothie recipes instead of the turmeric spice, black pepper, and coconut oil, you can simply use ½ teaspoon of turmeric paste instead.
Turmeric Smoothie Recipes
Ingredients
Spinach Turmeric Smoothie
- 2 cups baby spinach or kale, rinsed and washed
- 3 cups of pineapple chunks, fresh or frozen
- ½ teaspoon of ground turmeric spice
- 1 tablespoons ground flaxseeds
- 1 cup of water
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, or coconut milk
- Pinch of black pepper
- ½ teaspoon coconut oil, melted and cooled
Mango Turmeric Smoothie
- 2 cups of chopped mango, fresh or frozen
- ½ cup pineapple chunks, fresh or frozen
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut flakes
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 1 ½ cups of coconut water
- A pinch of black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon coconut oil
Turmeric Ginger Smoothie
- 3 stalks of carrot, washed peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 ½ cups of chopped oranges
- 1 ½ cups of coconut water
- 1- inch fresh ginger, grated (about ½ teaspoon)
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- Pinch of black pepper
- ½ teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in the bowl of a blender and blend until smooth.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Do I add ice to the blender? If I am making these during the winter months I usually do not add ice into the blender. However, during the summer months, I almost always add in a cup of ice to make it even more refreshing.
- Can I make these smoothies the night before? Yes, you can. Simply make a batch in the blender, place it in a jar or bottle with a tight fitting lid and store it in the fridge until the morning. Be sure to give it a good shake before drinking. I recommend consuming your turmeric smoothie within the 24 hours.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I can’t find coconut water 🙈 what else can I use?
Thank you
You can use almond milk, regular milk, or even just water. Hope this helps, Rose.
Hello Again: In your recipes can Ceylon cinnamon and/or other fruits i.e., blueberries, black berries, raspberries cantaloupe, rambutan, and guava (superfruits)?
Yes, you can use your favorite cinnamon and fruits in these turmeric smoothies. The flavors might change a bit but I think they would still be delicious.
very informative site! thank you!
will be making all soon i never had tumeric smoothie before perfect for hot days here in Singapore will tag you on twitter if i mke this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya
Great, I look forward to seeing it Ramya.
I love the idea of a carrot and orange based smoothie! SO many delicious ones to choose from there!
I love anything with carrots too. It is such a great way to start the day for sure
This is so good! Such a healthy and delicious drink!
It sure is. Thanks Toni.
I’m always looking for more ways to get turmeric into our diets! This smoothie is perfect!
YAY! So glad to hear that you liked it Laura.
So fresh and I love the ingreients! Turmeric with all of it’s healing qualities is such a great addition!
Can’t agree more. Thanks Katie.
This is a delicious way to add healthy turmeric to my diet! The ginger one is my fav, so yummy!
I know, right? Ginger and turmeric are the best power duo.
Had the mango turmeric smoothie today! It was amazing!
I am thrilled to hear that Lindsay. Thanks for coming by.
I will be adding turmeric to all my smoothies from now on!
YAY! Thanks Cathy.
Great information. I like to incorporate turmeric in my daily diet and I’m always looking for new ideas!
Same here. 🙂 I am so happy to hear that you found it helpful.