Figs Smoothie with Popped Amaranth & Almond Milk

Summers are all about including a whole lot of liquids. To escape the cooking in the sweltering heat, we have been looking for ways to include healthy yet simple recipes that needs little or no cooking. Breakfast being the first and the most important meal of the day, we switched over to the smoothies, with the goodness of fruits and home made granola’s. Its simple and quick to make with very few ingredients readily available on hand.

I try and experiment with smoothies including various fruits, dairy/non-dairy products, spices, and secretly sneak in that one secret healthy ingredient that N hates the most. 😛

So, this morning while scanning through the refrigerator for what to make for breakfast, I spotted this box of figs that I bought a couple of days before and happily forgotten about it. Though, those figs were meant to be used in some other recipe, but brekkie called for it.

Figs are a luscious fruits belonging to the mulberry family. Also known as Anjeer in Hindi or Atthi Pazham in Tamil. They are a pear shaped tiny fruits, having grits inside. A little chewy and beautifully imparts the aroma of honey. They are packed with nutrients and high dietary fiber. Even the leaves of the figs are beneficial, as they help in lowering the levels of triglycerides.

Here is a quick Figs Smoothie that I tried with just a handful of ingredient, all thrown in together and blitzed to a smooth consistency. I have added the popped amaranth to give this smoothie a crunchy texture, and add in its super-food quotient. You can substitute it with oats or quinoa or completely avoid it. The smoothie will still be creamy and delicious. I haven’t added any extra sugar, however you can add a sweetener of your choice, btw honey blends very well with the figs. But, but don’t forget to add a dash of cinnamon, it completely elevates the taste of the drink. 🙂 We have kept the smoothie vegan friendly, by adding almond milk, but you can add milk / Greek yogurt if you aren’t allergic.

Serves : 2

Ingredients

• 6-7 Figs, roughly chopped
• 2 cups Almond Milk
• 2 tablespoons Popped Amaranth
• 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon Powder
• 1 tablespoon Honey (optional)

Method :

• Take all the ingredients in a blender.
• Blend it to a smooth creamy texture.
• Pour into tall glasses and garnish with freshly sliced figs / nuts of your choice.