Food Healthy Drinks

This Strawberry Basil Smoothie Is Packed With 20 Different Vitamins and Minerals, and It Tastes Like Summer in a Cup

Maki Yazawa

June 3, 2022

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Photo: Stocksy/ Nataša Mandić

One of the best parts about living in California is the access to some of the world’s best produce. Almost every day of the week, you can find local fresh markets that pop up for the day offering the freshest fruits and vegetables harvested earlier that morning. When June rolls around and the sun is radiating, it’s a sign that one of the summer’s most prized seasonal foods has also arrived: Strawberries have officially entered the chat.

During these months, the crisp air in the local markets is filled with the sweet scent of ripe, juicy berries—and we'll take it over Chanel No. 5 any day of the week. Since bottling up this intoxicatingly-good aroma is unfortunately not an option, how about making anything and everything strawberry-infused while you can? Starting, of course, with this delicious strawberry basil green smoothie recipe, crafted by writer and recipe developer Emily Maxson, the blogger behind Emily’s Fresh Kitchen and author of Emily’s Fresh Kitchen: Cook Your Way to Better Health.

Give your go-to green bevvie a whole new vibe with this punchy, flavorful, and naturally-sweetened smoothie that screams summertime. Using some of the season’s freshest harvest, this six-ingredient drink has it all—think 20 different key vitamins and minerals, dietary fiber, heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, and the list goes on. However, the real stars of the show are the strawberry and basil—consider them the perfect combination of fruity and herbal. You’ll definitely want to sip on this in-season smoothie all summer long.

What makes this green smoothie so good for you

Strawberries, one of the main ingredients in this recipe, are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber that help support immune, digestive, and heart health. "Antioxidants are like little superheroes that help fight [free] radicals—which cause cell damage and aging—and by doing so can protect from cancer," registered dietitian Mascha Davis, RD previously told Well+Good.

The smoothie also features a cup of spinach per serving, and this leafy green is chock-full of folate, vitamins, and iron. (Take note that the flavor of spinach goes almost undetected, FWIW.) And as we all know, sneaking some extra greens into your smoothie is an ideal to get in an extra daily dose of vegetables—basil is one more that brings fresh, vibrantly herbal flavor to the drink.

For a hint of sweetness, Maxson also adds dates, which according to the USDA have about 700 micrograms of potassium per 100 grams of the fruit. They're also rich in potassium, and have a substantial amount of calcium and phosphorus that promote healthy bones. Lastly, the almond milk and avocado in the drink are high in healthy fats, fiber, magnesium, and antioxidants, and help create a super-rich and creamy smoothie texture. Have you bookmarked this smoothie recipe yet?

Vitamin-packed strawberry basil green smoothie recipe

strawberry basil smoothie — Photo: Emily’s Fresh Kitchen

Yields 2 servings

2 cups unsweetened almond milk
2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
1/4 avocado
2 dates
A handful of fresh basil (about 10 leaves)
4 cups fresh spinach

1. Place all ingredients in a blender, and blend until liquified.

2. Serve immediately.

Quench your thirst with this brain-boosting smoothie bowl:

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