This Creamy Minty Wheatgrass Smoothie is so delicious, you would never know it contains wheatgrass (plus a vegetable). All you taste is cool, sweet mint in every frosty and smooth spoonful (or sip!). This plant-based smoothie is easy to make and full of beneficial nutrients.
Creamy Minty Wheatgrass Smoothie
This Creamy Minty Wheatgrass Smoothie is an easy warm-weather nutrition-boost for your morning routine. It is satisfying. filling and just so sweet and delicious. It tastes like a treat but boasts veggies, healthy fats, iron, plant-based protein, dietary fiber and tons of antioxidants. It contains only whole foods and no fillers. This smoothie is so refreshing and invigorating first thing in the morning and sets such a healthful tone to the day.
Two of the things that keep me from incorporating wheatgrass into my daily routine is the taste and cost of it. What does it taste like? Bitter grass basically. Ew. No thank you. I do not want a pricey shot of that today.
But, once I discovered frozen wheatgrass juice pods at Whole Foods I started experimenting with it in my morning smoothies a couple times a week. I buy the WOW foods brand (not sponsored), and it comes in individual pre-portioned pods that you can pop into your smoothie like an ice cube. After much experimentation, I eventually landed on the perfect recipe that completely masks the flavor of wheatgrass. My secret ingredient? Pure peppermint extract. Peppermint extract has such a strong flavor that it completely overpowers the flavor profile of this smoothie (in a good way!). This smoothie basically tastes like a Shamrock Shake - but WAY healthier.
What you need to make this Creamy Minty Wheatgrass Smoothie:
The ingredient list for this smoothie is simple and every ingredient is intentional.
- water
- raw blanched slivered almonds (not sliced)
- dates
- vanilla extract
- peppermint extract
- frozen wheatgrass pod (I use WOW Frozen Wheatgrass Juice from Whole Foods)
- ice
The dates naturally sweeten the smoothie while keeping it refined sugar-free. Dates are a fresh stone fruit and offer dietary fiber, potassium, zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese, vitamin B6, niacin, calcium, iron and vitamin K. The creaminess comes from the almonds, which also offers plant-based protein and healthy fats. The flavor comes from the vanilla and peppermint extract to mask the bitter grassy taste of wheatgrass. And, the ice makes the smoothie cold, thick and frosty. You can boost the nutrition profile of this smoothie even more with some add-on items I sometimes throw in below.
Here are the optional add-ins I like to add:
- zucchini or frozen riced cauliflower - makes it so smooth and creamy and adds more nutrients
- chia seeds - for more dietary fiber, healthy fats, plant-based protein, antioxidants and minerals such as calcium, iron and magnesium
- hemp seeds - for more dietary fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals (zinc, iron and more) and a source of complete plant-based protein
- matcha powder - for more antioxidants and a caffeine boost
- raw baby spinach - provides plant-based iron and sneaks more veggies into this recipe. One serving of raw spinach (½ cup) has only 5 calories and contains calcium and iron plus 60% of your daily vitamin A and 15% of your daily vitamin C.
You simply puree everything together in your blender until smooth and creamy. This smoothie makes two small servings or one large serving.
You could use almond milk or any plant-based milk in place of the water and almonds, but I like the simple creamy flavor this combination adds to the smoothie. You could use raw, unsalted cashews in place of the almonds too.
What is Wheatgrass?
You may have heard of wheatgrass at your local juice bar. Wheatgrass is the juice extracted from the mature sprouts of wheatgrass (which looks like grass). Wheatgrass has been associated with many health benefits including weight loss, decreased inflammation, lower cholesterol and better blood sugar control. The high level of antioxidants and chlorophyll in wheatgrass are thought to be naturally anti-inflammatory and immune boosting.
According to the National Cancer Institute, wheatgrass has potential anti-inflammatory, immunomodultaing and chemopreventive benefits. It contains vitamins A, B, C and E and minerals, including selenium, iron, magnesium, calcium, manganese, copper and zinc. Wheatgrass also contains amino acids, chlorophyll (which is extremely cleansing, detoxifying and energizing) and a number of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase and cytochrome oxidase. Although we don't yet know exactly how it works, it is thought to scavenge free radicals, reduce chemotherapy-induced myelotoxicity, neutralize toxins and carcinogens and modulate the levels of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines. (Source).
Want more easy nutritious vegan smoothies?
My favorite smoothie recipes are in my smoothie e-book: Rock Your Blender. You can download it instantly here.
Now, let’s make this Vegan Creamy Minty Wheatgrass Smoothie Smoothie!
This easy vegan Creamy Minty Wheatgrass Smoothie recipe is naturally vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, peanut-free, legume-free, paleo-friendly and refined sugar-free so it works well for many types of diets.
I cannot wait for you to give this recipe a try! Let’s rock your blender!
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Creamy Minty Wheatgrass Smoothie
- Total Time: 5
- Yield: 1 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Creamy Minty Wheatgrass Smoothie is so delicious, you would never know it contains wheatgrass (plus a vegetable). All you taste is cool, sweet mint in every frosty and smooth spoonful. This plant-based smoothie is easy to make and full of beneficial nutrients.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- ½ cup filtered water
- ½ cup raw unsalted blanched slivered almonds (or raw unsalted cashews)
- 4 large pitted Medjool dates
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 small handful of fresh zucchini, chopped (or ¼ cup frozen riced cauliflower)
- 1 frozen wheatgrass pod (WOW Frozen Wheatgrass Juice)
- 2 cups crushed ice
- Optional Add-Ins: 1 tablespoon hemp seeds, 1 handful of raw fresh baby spinach and/or ½ teaspoon matcha powder
Instructions
- Add water, almonds, dates, chia seeds (if using), vanilla, peppermint, zucchini (or cauliflower), and wheatgrass pod to a high speed blender. Blend on low speed and gradually increase to the highest speed. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Add one cup of ice and blend for 20 seconds. Add the second cup of ice and blend until smooth and creamy (about 30 seconds). Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately.
- Prep Time: 5
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Blender
Therese says
Incredible!!!
I grew my own Wheatgrass and I made this for my EXTREMELY picky husband.
He sipped it and is always apprehensive. He shouted, Wow! This is good!!
Success!!
THANK YOU!
I’m doing Weight Watchers so I changed it. Used 1 cup almond milk instead of cashews/water, 1 banana instead of dates, and it was crave worthy!! Yummy!!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Therese! I'm so happy to hear you and your husband enjoyed this one! It definitely hides the wheatgrass flavor very well 🙂 Best, Elaine