This is something I’ve been doing for years, and I encourage you to try it if you want a smoothie that tastes like fruit but still has added protein: add lentils! I’m not a big yogurt eater (almost all the non-dairy types come packaged in plastic) and sometimes you don’t want to add nut butter to a smoothie. Cooked red lentils are a nice neutral addition and you won’t notice them at all here. I made this for my very picky granny – who pretty much lives on fruit alone – and she had no idea there were lentils in her favourite strawberry mango smoothie.

The primary photo for this recipe, above, was photographed by my friend and colleague Sophie MacKenzie.

Recipe Rundown: Strawberry Mango Smoothie

• Flavour: very much strawberry mango, with a hint of ginger. If you have an excellent palate you might notice just the slightest bit of earthiness from the lentils – but if you use good ripe frozen strawberries, you shouldn’t taste any lentil.
• Texture: smooth, it’s a smoothie. The lentils don’t add any more texture than something like a protein powder would. They mix right in.
• Difficulty: very easy. You do need cooked lentils so I suggest cooking a little extra if you’re making red lentil dip or cook them in advance and freeze portions as needed.

Ingredients

• Lentils: soft cooked red lentils, cooked without any salt. I don’t recommend using any other type of lentils. Split are best.
• Strawberries: different brands will have differing quality for frozen fruit. The smaller and riper the berries are, the better.
• Ginger: this is optional and can be omitted if you want a simpler smoothie.
• Milk: pictured is oat milk. Cashew milk is very nice here, a little creamier, if you want something a little more luxurious.

Have red lentils to use? Try my filling lentil bolognese, red lentil curry, and red lentil pancakes.

Step by Step Photos

Step 1: add all of the ingredients to a blender or blending container.

Step 2: mix on high speed until very smooth and serve immediately.

Expert Tips

• Omit the lentils: if you want a plain strawberry mango smoothie, leave the lentils out. You could sub hemp hearts if you don’t have cooked lentils on hand.
• Sweeten to taste: depending on how sweet the fruit is, you might want to add a drop of maple syrup or honey to your taste.
• Grate the ginger: if your blender isn’t particularly powerful, finely grate the ginger before adding to avoid any large pieces in the smoothie.

More Vegan Smoothie Recipes

Everyday Strawberry Smoothie
Apple Banana Smoothie
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Banana Avocado Smoothie