I don’t think blackberries get much love in the smoothie world. I don’t ever recall seeing a blackberry smoothie flavor at Jamba Juice. Nor do I think it would be a top choice over strawberry, or orange at your local smoothie bar.
And I think that pitaya, or dragonfruit, is a food that slides under the radar, most people have never heard of it, or have even tried it. It is one exotic, crazy lookin’ fruit! It definitely stands out from all the other fruits you’ve ever seen in your life!
Pitaya was first allowed to be imported into the U.S. from Vietnam back in 2008. Even today, they are still rarely available at your local grocery store, fresh or frozen. They are also pretty expensive—I’m talkin’ like $7 to $9 per pound! Sheesh!
Luckily though, any respectable smoothie cafe, juice bar, or health food establishment should have them readily available, just Yelp it.
These are some of the most nutritious foods on the planet, and if you don’t regularly eat blackberries, or have not tried pitaya yet, then just like in Stranger Things, this recipe will turn your world into the “upside down!” Well, not in an evil, negative way like in the show, but you get my drift, right?
Introducing my blackberry pitaya protein smoothie!
Combining blackberries, pitaya, blueberries, banana and whey protein—this smoothie packs a nice flavorful punch, full of vitamins, nutrients, and protein.
This will definitely knock your socks off, and you will forever be a fan of both blackberries and pitaya!
I was first introduced to pitaya, or dragonfruit, at a gelato cafe not too long ago. Its bright, vibrant, pink color instantly caught my attention. I sampled the flavor and fell in love with it right then and there.
I ordered a large scoop of that bad boy on the spot!
Now every time I go to that shop, I always get my standard 3 flavor gelato combination of chocolate hazelnut, dark chocolate, and pitaya—-in the biggest size possible of course!
Hey, I gotta have my antioxidant fixin’s whenever I can, even in a cheat meal like this one.
And, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad folks! As long as it’s only once in a while, hehe.
Although, I remember a time when I had a bunch of friends and family come in from out of town and we went to that gelato spot almost every day. Definitely went overboard with sweets that time, but man—it was delicious!
So in an effort to satisfy that sweet tooth in a healthier way, I thought, “Man, I love this dessert, but I can’t have it too often. This would waste all the hours spent in the gym. How can I recreate one of my favorite gelato flavors into a healthier, nourishing smoothie with muscle-building protein?”
Enter my blackberry pitaya protein smoothie!
This smoothie is powered by 3 super ingredients:
1) Blackberries are a nutritious powerhouse, high in antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber. They contain polyphenols that have been shown to fight cancer and tumor growth. Vitamin K in blackberries have been shown to help support the cardiovascular system, and its vitamin C has been shown to help keep the skin healthy.
2) Pitaya offer plenty of vitamins, minerals—some of which may boost immunity, lower blood pressure, help build strong bones, lower blood sugar levels. Lycopene in pitaya may have cancer-fighting abilities. Its high vitamin C and phosphorus may help support healthy skin and the immune system.
3) Blueberries. Who doesn’t love blueberries?! Just like blackberries, they are also loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. One of the top foods in that category. Studies have shown that they help fight cancer, help fight inflammation, help support brain function, and its high fiber content aids with digestion.
I also added some banana for creaminess, OJ for a citrusy kick, almond milk to mix (cashew milk goes great with this as well), and of course, protein powder for muscle-building.
This is a superfood-packed smoothie with awesome nutritional value, and it’s super delicious to boot!
My smoothies just ain’t complete without protein powder. Necessary stuff. A pre-requisite for all my smoothies, no doubt.
Of course, if you wish to not include whey protein, feel free to do so. You can sub in a plant-based protein powder as well. I used vanilla whey powder for this recipe, because vanilla goes great with just about every smoothie, but substitute with whatever flavors you desire.
Alright then, here’s what you’ll need:
If you like this, then I’m sure you’ll love my….
- Dragonfruit Raspberry Chia Protein Smoothie Bowl
- Strawberry Dragonfruit Protein Smoothie
- Ultimate Acai Blueberry Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie
Let’s get to it!
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Servings |
12 oz cups
|
- 1 packet frozen pitaya
- 3/4 cup frozen blackberries
- 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/4 banana (frozen)
- 1/2 cup Trop50 OJ
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
Ingredients
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- Add all ingredients into blender.
- Blend away until you get a nice, thick consistency. Enjoy!!
-Using frozen banana chunks will give you a more "ice cream-like" texture. Frozen is preferred, but fresh will work too.
-If the smoothie is too thick for you, add more almond milk or OJ, whichever you prefer. If the smoothie is too watery, add more protein powder or frozen fruit.
-Add more protein powder for more protein. Just be sure to add more almond milk or OJ to balance out the texture.
**Nutritional information is an approximation using Nutrifox, information from Google, and my own calculations to the best of my knowledge. It is not the definitive values or guaranteed to be 100% accurate information. Use only as a reference.**
(This post was updated on 08.26.2018 with fresh new pics and text!)