So, the beaches of Tahiti/Thailand/Antigua called and they want their smoothie back.

But seriously.

If this heavenly smoothie doesn’t transport you somewhere sunshine-drenched and tropical, then I don’t know what will. Well, other than an airplane.

If you don’t have a ticket to a far-flung, beachy destination anytime soon, (that makes two of us) this smoothie will do just the trick! With just five simple ingredients we’re able to transform delicious whole foods into a full on vacation feeling. Grab your sunglasses and your blender, because we’re about to get tropical.

What makes this smoothie so delicious? All of our tropical ingredients work together to create a fresh, coconut-infused, energizing, bright, and sweet smoothie. These stars include: banana for a hefty dose of potassium, prebiotics and Vitamin B6, which is necessary for our body to build new cells. Mango is a sweet and creamy fruit that gives our smoothie the loveliest yellow hue. That yellow signifies that mango is quite high in antioxidants, some of which act as Vitamin A, a necessary vitamin for healthy eyesight and skin.

This smoothie is loco for coco! The rich taste of coconut is found in the coconut water, a natural source of electrolytes, and coconut butter. Note that this recipe uses coconut butter and not coconut oil. Coconut butter is made of dried coconut flesh, which means it contains all of the fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, and nourishing fats found in coconuts. Coconut oil and coconut butter are not interchangeable in recipes; so don’t make a swap here!

The last unique and tropical ingredient is passion fruit – a heavenly little fruit found in warm climates all over the world. I had my first taste of passion fruit in Thailand, and now I do a little happy dance every time I find some in the states. Passion fruit has a deceptively ugly exterior, (reminiscent of a wrinkly avocado or plum) but a bright and seed filled inside. Once you cut a passion fruit in half, you’ll discover bright yellow fleshy pulp and black-ish edible seeds. Use a spoon to scoop the flesh and seeds out of its skin – and directly into your mouth! They have a unique taste and are filled with all sorts of plant goodness too, like antioxidants, Vitamin A & C, magnesium, iron, fiber, copper, and protein.

So, creamy bananas + bright mango + delectable coconut butter + refreshing coconut water + exotic passion fruit = tropical, white sandy beach paradise. I hope you’ll join me there!

Passionately Coco Mango Smoothie

Serves 1

1 ripe banana (fresh or frozen)
1 heaped tablespoon coconut butter
1 cup mango (fresh or frozen)
1 cup coconut water
2 passion fruits, halved
Big handful of ice

Method:

In a blender, combine banana, coconut butter, mango, coconut water, ice, and the seeds & pulp of 1 passion fruit. Blend until smooth and creamy. Pour smoothie into a glass or jar and top with remaining passion fruit seeds and pulp. Enjoy!