Refreshing Carrot Ginger Smoothie

This carrot ginger smoothie is the perfect thing to enjoy when you feel like you need to detox and reset your gut. It's packed with nutrients and will wake up your tastebuds!

Do you know those times when you just feel a bit "off"? It's like you don't really feel sick, but you do feel a bit sluggish, and you just want your body to reset. Those feelings are totally normal, and it's why I created this refreshing carrot smoothie!

It's full of gut-healthy fiber and body-balancing ginger and cinnamon. It will not only make you feel energized after you drink it, but it will improve your immune system and calm any digestive issues you have too.

It's amazing how powerful and wonderful ginger and cinnamon are, and they taste wonderful in this carrot ginger smoothie. Plus carrots and mangoes are packed with antioxidants, making this smoothie a powerhouse when it comes to nutrition. 

Key Ingredients For Carrot Smoothies

Every single one of these ingredients is very important in this recipe. Here is what I used, along with any substitutions you can make.

• Carrots: The carrots should be shredded because they will blend in better that way. To save you time in the kitchen, just buy a bag of pre-shredded carrots from the grocery store.
• Banana: Use either a fresh, ripe banana or chunks of frozen bananas. Either will work perfectly in this drink!
• Mango: Frozen mango will give your smoothie the best texture. You can use fresh mango, but if you do, add a few ice cubes.
• Ginger: Always use fresh ginger in your drinks! Ground ginger does not have the same kick or taste as fresh.
• Cinnamon: You don't need very much cinnamon. I only used 1/4 teaspoon for two smoothies.
• Lemon Juice: Fresh-squeezed lemon juice will taste the best, but jarred lemon juice can work in a pinch. If you don't have lemon juice at all, you can use lime juice as a substitute!
• Almond Milk: Use unsweetened, plain almond milk for your smoothie. Vanilla almond milk will have too strong of a flavor to mix well with the carrots and ginger.

Recipe Tips And Ideas For Carrot Ginger Smoothies

Follow these tips to make sure that this smoothie turns out just how you want it every single time!

• Blend the carrots and almond milk first. This will ensure that the carrots are completely pureed, and you won't find little bits of them in your smoothie.
• If you don't like how ginger tastes, just use a little less of it. It still adds a very important undertone (and nutrition profile), so don't leave it out entirely.
• Add a tiny bit of honey if you want it to taste sweeter. This isn't a super-sweet smoothie, but the mango and banana do add the perfect amount of natural sugar, so you might not need the extra honey.

What To Serve With Breakfast Smoothies

This smoothie is full of vitamins and minerals, but it doesn't have much protein in it. If you want to use it as a breakfast drink, I suggest eating something high in protein alongside. Quiche cupcakes are portable, high in protein, and have a light flavor that mixes well with this smoothie!

This baked frittata has both eggs and goat cheese in it - so, it's an excellent way to start your day with plenty of healthy fats and protein.

Ways to Add Protein to this Smoothie

It's easy to add some extra protein to this smoothie by adding one of these ingredients to the blender with the other ingredients. 

• Protein powder: This smoothie works great with an unflavored, vanilla, or cinnamon-flavored protein powder.
• Greek yogurt: Add some yogurt to make this extra creamy and add protein. Plain or flavored will work.
• Hemp hearts: Hemp hearts are a great way to add natural protein to any smoothie.

Frequently Asked Questions About Carrot Ginger Smoothies

Here are some questions I frequently get asked about by some readers…

How healthy is this ginger smoothie?

There are so many amazing health benefits of this smoothie. Here are just a few highlights of how good each ingredient is for you:

• Ginger: Anti-inflammatory benefits, soothes your stomach, and boosts your immune system.
• Carrots: Beta-carotene (an important antioxidant) and high levels of vitamin A are fantastic for your gut health and your brain. 
• Lemon Juice: Boosts your immune system with vitamin C and refreshes your body.
• Mango: Another fantastic source of vitamin C and antioxidants, it also has free-radical fighting anti-oxidants.
• Banana: Amazing for your muscles, it has lots of potassium and fiber.

Can I add turmeric to this carrot smoothie?

Yes, I have seen lots of recipes that call for a dash of turmeric, along with the rest of the ingredients. Turmeric has a strong flavor, so only use a little bit of it in your carrot ginger smoothie.

Could I make this with coconut milk?

For a rich and creamy version of this carrot smoothie, swap in canned coconut milk for almond milk.  This swap adds a tropical spin to this smoothie that is really tasty.

What can I use instead of lemon juice? 

As long as you use some sort of citrus juice, this smoothie will taste amazing. Try it with lime juice or even orange juice instead!

Can I use pineapple instead of mango?

Yes, frozen pineapple is the perfect type of fruit to replace mango. It is just as sweet and has almost the same amount of calories. Whenever you make changes to the recipe, the nutrition facts will change. If you are tracking calories, I suggest using an online calculator to tell you how many calories it has.

How can I sweeten this carrot ginger smoothie?

My go-to sweetener for smoothies is always honey! However, I don't think this smoothie needs any help tasting sweet - the mango and banana do an excellent job. If you want it to taste a little sweeter, just add a bit of honey. Use a small amount at first and keep adding a little more at a time until it tastes as sweet as you like it.

What else could I add to a carrot smoothie?

When you are filling up your blender, consider adding in some of these nutritious extras:

• Chia seeds: Add some Omega 3's to this smoothie as well as extra fiber.
• Carrot juice:  To really kick up the carrot flavor, add some carrot juice to the smoothie.
• Spinach or kale: Sneak in even more veggies with some spinach or kale. 
• Greek yogurt: Make this creamier and add more protein with some plain or flavored Greek yogurt. Regular yogurt works as well.
• Almond butter: Add healthy nuts to this smoothie with some almond butter, cashew butter, or peanut butter. It will also make it more filling.
• Avocado: A great way to add extra creaminess and healthy fats to this smoothie. Add 1/4 cup of avocado and you won't even be able to tell its there.
• Turn this into a carrot cake smoothie by swapping in pineapple for the mango. Then add almond butter, walnuts or pecans, and shredded coconut. Kick up the spices with some nutmeg and cinnamon.

More Delicious Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love:

• Creamy Banana Oatmeal Smoothie
• Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie
• Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
• Pineapple Cucumber Smoothie
• Chocolate Banana Smoothie