Yoghurt and fruit smoothie

Ingredients

• 3 potsplain yoghurt
• 1ripe banana
• 1 slicepineapple
• 100 gcherries or strawberries
• 4 teaspoonshoney or brown sugar
• 100 mlcold milk
• to tasteflaked almonds

Instructions

1. 1

   Cut the fruit

   Cut the fruit into pieces.

2. 2

   Add the yoghurt

   Pour the yoghurt from the pots into a blender.

3. 3

   Add fruit and sweetener

   Add the fruit and the honey or brown sugar.

4. 4

   Pour in milk

   Add the cold milk.

5. 5

   Blend the mixture

   Blend for one minute.

6. 6

   Fill the glasses

   Pour the smoothie into very large glasses.

7. 7

   Add the topping

   Garnish with flaked almonds or pieces of fruit.

8. 8

   Serve the smoothie

   Serve with a straw.

What is a yoghurt and fruit smoothie?

This is a blended drink of yoghurt, milk and fresh fruit, sweetened with honey or brown sugar. It is a simple home-style recipe rather than a dish tied to a particular region or traditional origin.

The banana gives the blend body, while pineapple and cherries or strawberries bring juicy fruit flavour. A brief blend keeps preparation easy, and almond flakes add a contrasting finish.

Nutrition and macros by portion

The nutrition label shows one serving as written: 160 calories, 5g protein, 29g carbs, 3g fat.

Most of the carbohydrates come from the banana, pineapple, berries and honey or brown sugar, while the yoghurt and milk provide protein. Yoghurt and milk also contribute much of the fat, with a smaller amount from the almond garnish. For a more balanced meal, serve a glass alongside something savoury and filling, such as wholemeal toast with egg.

Choosing the fruit

Ripe banana: a soft, ripe fruit blends smoothly and brings natural sweetness.

Cherries or strawberries: either works here; remove cherry stones before cutting, or hull the strawberries. Choose fruit that is ripe but not spoiled.

Pineapple: cut the slice into manageable pieces so it blends evenly with the other fruit.

Balancing the sweetness

Honey or brown sugar: the recipe gives you a choice of sweetener. Start with the stated 4 teaspoons, bearing in mind that ripe fruit and sweetened yoghurt can make the drink sweeter.

Plain yoghurt: use an unsweetened variety if you want the fruit and chosen sweetener to define the flavour.

Getting a smooth texture

Cold milk: adding it after the fruit and sweetener helps loosen the yoghurt mixture into a drinkable consistency.

Blend time: the method specifies one minute. Stop once the fruit is broken down and the smoothie looks evenly blended; blend briefly longer if larger pieces remain.

Serving it cold

This recipe comes together in about 5 minutes, so it works well when you want a quick breakfast or snack. Use cold milk and serve soon after blending for a refreshing drink.

The recipe calls for very large glasses and a straw. If your glasses are smaller, divide the smoothie between more glasses rather than filling them to the brim.

Finishing with almonds

Flaked almonds: scatter them over the top just before serving so they keep their crisp texture.

Fruit pieces: use a few small pieces as an alternative garnish, as the method suggests. Keep the topping modest so it is easy to sip through a straw.

Recipe notes & tips

• Use ripe fruit for a naturally sweeter, easier-to-blend smoothie.
• Remove any stones from cherries before adding them to the blender.
• Add the milk after the fruit and sweetener, as directed, to loosen the mixture.
• Blend for the stated one minute, then check that no large fruit pieces remain.
• Add the almond flakes just before serving to preserve their crunch.
• Serve straight away while the smoothie is cold.

Variations

• Use strawberries: swap the cherries for 100 g of hulled strawberries.
• Use cherries: choose pitted cherries for a deeper fruit flavour.
• Choose brown sugar: use it in place of the honey for a different sweetness.
• Add fruit garnish: top each glass with a few small pieces of fruit.
• Skip the almonds: leave off the garnish or use fruit pieces instead.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving cherry stones in: remove them before blending so the drink has no hard pieces.
• Using underripe banana: choose a ripe banana for a softer texture and sweeter flavour.
• Adding warm milk: use cold milk to keep the smoothie refreshing.
• Blending too briefly: continue until the fruit is evenly broken down.
• Adding the garnish too early: scatter on the almond flakes just before serving so they stay crisp.

How to store

For the best texture, serve the smoothie as soon as it is blended. If needed, cover and refrigerate it for up to 1 day, then stir or briefly re-blend before serving; add the almond garnish afterwards.

Frequently asked questions