Green Banana Tahini Shake

Green Banana Tahini Shake

My love for tahini is almost a year long affair.  It’s wild to think I hadn’t ever tried tahini prior to that.  Heck, I was not even a fan of peanut butter two years ago.  YES.  I’m not kidding.  This girl was not a fan of nut butter.

I once heard that our taste buds change every 7 years.  I’m not sure how accurate that is so don’t take my word for it but I know our tastes are cyclical.  Whenever my last taste bud change last occurred it made me a fan of dark leafy greens, too.  Leafy greens used to taste like dry, bitter plants to me but I’ve come a long way.  Look at me now, putting both of them in my smoothie!

If you’ve seen or tried my classic Banana Tahini Shake, then you’ll be a fan of this one!  It is similar in texture but uses a few different ingredients to make it thick and shake-like.  Smoothies and shakes are both breakfast favorites of mine but, unlike smoothies, shakes are nice and thick!

Also, I’d describe the flavor of this shake as being refreshing.  It’s lightly sweetened but it tastes fresh thanks to the peppermint extract.  You could use fresh mint, or simply omit.  Though, I recommend it for a flavor booster!  You could even experiment by substituting your favorite food-grade extract.

Let me know what you come up with if you give this recipe a try!

green banana tahini shake

Green Banana Tahini Shake
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Author: Melanie
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 1 shake
Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp ground flax seed
  • ½ cup water or milk of choice
  • A cube of frozen aloe vera juice, optional
  • A large handful of fresh baby greens ~ 1 heaping cup
  • 1 cup frozen cauliflower
  • ½ frozen banana
  • 1 ½ tbsp tahini
  • 4 drops peppermint extract
  • 1 scoop chocolate or vanilla protein powder ( I used chocolate)
  • 1 tbsp cacao powder, for enhanced chocolate flavor
Instructions
  1. Add the first three ingredients to the blender and let sit for 5 minutes. This will give the seeds a chance to expand and, thus, provide a thickening power to the shake. You can also prep and soak the seeds overnight, if desired.
  2. After the seeds have expanded, add the fresh greens and blend until smooth.
  3. Next, toss in the remaining ingredients and blend. If necessary, pour in an extra splash of water or milk.
  4. For the best experience, pour the shake into an empty tahini jar to enjoy!
Banana Tahini Shake – My current FAVE

Banana Tahini Shake – My current FAVE

Alright, alright, alright!  How is everyone doing today?  It is Tuesday and it’s time to break out the tahini! Can that be a thing?  Move over tacos, it’s Tahini Tuesday! 😆

It’s no secret that smoothies are my favorite thing ever and if I can sneak some vegetables in them, that’s even better.  Too much fruit in a smoothie can spike my blood sugar and leave me crashing with hanger mid-morning.  That doesn’t mean fruit is a no-go, it just means I need to include a little something extra to stabilize my energy and keep hunger at bay.  A recent discovery that I’ve made in regards to my smoothies is the power of HEALTHY FATS.

I used to be so scared of using oil or eating peanut butter and avocados (not necessarily together), but now I know that a moderate amount of fat is A-okay!  Plus, I eat mostly plant-based so when I include healthy fats, I’m add a satiating element to my meals.

Banana Tahini Shake

So, back to the Banana Tahini Shake!  Technically it could fall under the “smoothie” category but it is so rich and comforting that it feels like a shake to me.  Shakes are usually loaded up with ice cream, dairy milk, and sugar but mine is sweetened with banana.  It’s more than healthy enough for breakfast for sure!  Plus, the addition of tahini really helps round out the smoothie/shake.  It is…

Uniquely satisfying,

Subtly sweet,

And perfectly thick.

I have been digging this for weeks now and I’m very excited to share it!  Let me know if you try it out 🙂

Banana Tahini Shake Header

 

Banana Tahini Shake
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Author: Melanie
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 1
Zucchini adds fiber, tahini adds satiating fats, and banana brings home the sweetness in this simple Banana Tahini Shake.
Ingredients
  • ¼ large frozen zucchini (about ½ cup chopped)
  • 1 med frozen banana
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp turmeric
  • a dash of black pepper
  • ½ inch knob of fresh ginger, frozen (I like the zestiness of it but you can sub ground)
  • 1-2 tbsp of tahini,
  • 1 serving of plant-based protein powder, optional
  • ¾ cup – 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • Barbara’s Bakery Puffins or other cereal, optional
Instructions
  1. Add zucchini, banana, and ginger to a blender or food processor and 3/4 cup of almond milk. Blend away! Then add the spices, tahini, and protein powder. Add more milk, if needed.
  2. Serve the smoothie in a glass with some low-sugar cereal of choice, if desired. Best enjoyed with a spoon and straw.
Notes
I used The Natural Citizen Organic Protein but any other plant-based protein should work just fine!