This Vanilla Bean Pistachio Smoothie is creamy, naturally sweet, and a healthy way to start your day. It combines roasted pistachios and blended frozen banana with extra protein from plain Greek yogurt and vanilla protein powder, plus a little vanilla bean paste adds an extra punch of vanilla flavor.
I am officially obsessed with everything pistachio right now. It’s so bad even Instagram knows it. I opened up my IG discover feed the other day and it was loaded with pistachio recipes. Everything from pistachio ice cream to pistachio muffins and bread, it was pistachio green as far as the eye could see. It. was. heaven.
But what I did not see were any pistachio smoothie recipes. So the other morning as I was contemplating what to have for breakfast, I decided to change that – and this Vanilla Bean Pistachio smoothie was born.
With real pistachio flavor as well as natural sweetness from banana and vanilla, this no sugar added smoothie reminds me of creamy pistachio pudding or ice cream. It has lots of pistachio flavor, plus a variety of simple, healthy ingredients for a naturally sweet smoothie that is perfect for busy morning, an afternoon pick me up, or even a late night snack.
If you are as pistachio obsessed as me (or you just appreciate a good nutty smoothie), you should make this Vanilla Bean Pistachio Smoothie as soon as possible. I hope you love it as much as I do!
How Do You Make This Vanilla Bean Pistachio Smoothie?
To make this Pistachio Smoothie, you will need a couple of simple ingredients:
- Pistachios: Pistachios are a great source of healthy fats, fiber, protein, antioxidants, and a variety of nutrients, including vitamin B6 and thiamine. Plus with a mildly sweet, nutty and earthy flavor, they may just be my favorite nut. For this smoothie I used roasted and salted, shelled pistachios which bring just the right amount of nutty flavor.
- Banana: Frozen banana is a must in this Pistachio Smoothie. It brings natural sweetness as well as creaminess.
- Vanilla Bean Paste: Vanilla bean paste brings a clean, real vanilla flavor, thanks to lots of tiny vanilla beans. You can also substitute an equal amount of vanilla extra instead.
- Vanilla Protein Powder: I always add a scoop of protein powder to my smoothies to boost up the protein and help keep me full. Use your favorite brand vanilla protein powder.
- Greek Yogurt: Plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt adds creaminess and extra protein to this smoothie.
- Chia Seeds: Another standard to help bulk up most of my smoothie recipes, chia seeds are a small but mighty boost. They are packed with protein, fiber, and a variety of vitamins and nutrients including omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, iron, and magnesium.
- Milk: To make this smoothie, I used coconut milk, as the sweet coconut flavor compliments the pistachios, but you can use any milk you like. Feel free to substitute almond milk, cashew milk, oat milk, cows milk, or even pistachio milk.
- Spinach: A handful of spinach adds an extra nutrient boost to this Vanilla Bean Pistachio Smoothie. Plus, it gives this smoothie that gorgeous light green pistachio color you would expect without any artificial coloring they would usually add to ice cream or pistachio pudding.
- Ice: This is optional, but I prefer my smoothies to be extra cold, so I like to add in a handful of ice before blending.
What Else Can I Add to This Pistachio Smoothie?
If you are looking to modify this Vanilla Bean Pistachio Smoothie, here are some things you can try:
- Add some chocolate – Chocolate and pistachios are a match made in heaven. If you want you can add chocolate to this Vanilla Bean Pistachio Smoothie by substituting chocolate protein powder, adding a little cocoa powder, or tossing in a few chocolate chips or dark chocolate at the end – make sure you blend everything else before adding the chocolate chips and then pulse a couple of times so they blend up but still leave a few chunks.
- Make it vegan – To make this pistachio smoothie vegan, just substitute vegan or dairy free yogurt and use your favorite plant based milk. Also, be sure to use a plant based protein powder.
- Switch up the greens – Spinach is great in smoothies as it has a mild, subtly sweet flavor. You can also swap in some kale or one of my favorites, use a little spirulina powder. Spirulina is blue-green algae that’s packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and protein. It usually has a deep, emerald green or even blue color, which is perfect for vibrant green smoothies.
Looking for More Healthy Smoothie Recipes?
I love a healthy, protein packed smoothie to start my day or for an afternoon pick me up. Smoothies are a great way to add in some extra protein, fiber, fruits, and veggies into your diet. In addition to this Pistachio smoothie recipe, some of my favorite smoothie recipes include:
- Healthy Apple Pie Smoothie: With all the flavors of apple pie blended into a healthy smoothie, this smoothie is a favorite for fall (or any season!).
- Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie: Satisfyingly sweet without any extra added sugar, this healthy smoothie brings the fiber, protein, and even some secret veggies.
If you make this Healthy Pistachio Smoothie, don’t forget to comment and rate the recipe below to let me know what you think! You can also share your photos and tag me @NamasteHomeCooking on Facebook or @NamasteHomeCooking on Instagram.
Vanilla Bean Pistachio Smoothie
Ingredients
- ¼ cup roasted salted pistachios (shelled)
- ¼ cup plain greek yogurt
- 1 banana (frozen)
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- ¾ cup milk (dairy or plant based)
- 1 handful spinach
- 1 handful ice (optional)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth and creamy.