Yogurt is very useful when it comes to thickening smoothies. It is what people commonly use to make their smoothies creamier, and is generally a drink enjoyed by many.
However, if you are lactose intolerant, vegan or are on a dairy-free diet, you probably wouldn’t enjoy them as much.
It can also be somewhat of a challenge if you want to prepare smoothies for your family or friends and some wanted a yogurt-free option.
Whatever the reason is, if you have been searching for smoothie recipes without yogurt, you have came to the right place. There are actually several ways you can still thicken up your smoothie without using yogurt – let’s see how we can achieve that.
Great Substitutes for Yogurt
- Almond or soy milk is a good base to use. They are actually known as non-dairy yogurts, and are the closest substitutes to yogurt.
- Flaxseed powder is also a good thickening agent. Adding flaxseeds to your smoothie gives it a mild nutty flavor. You can grind the flaxseeds yourself, or you can purchase the powder/flaxseed meal. When making your smoothie, remember to add a small amount at a time since they are fairly absorbent.
- Frozen bananas are another favorite smoothie ingredient due to their creamy texture.
- You can make use of cashew butter, peanut butter or almond butter as well.
- A lot of people use nutritional powders as thickening agents. These will easily provide you the yogurt-free consistency that you are looking for.
- If you love nut butter, then avocado is a great yogurt substitute. Not only will it make your smoothie creamy, it will also provide you with tons of healthy fat.
- Chia seeds are perfect for smoothies that have coconut water or juice as a base. You’ll only need a small amount to thicken up your smoothie. An excellent substitute due to their high nutritional value.
Smoothie Without Yogurt Recipes
Here’s a list of recipes that will show you how to make a yogurt free smoothie:
1. Iced Ginger Turmeric Smoothie
You can have this smoothie any time of the day whenever you need a little ‘pick me up.’ Rich in antioxidants, it is highly inflammatory and helps ease muscle pain and reduce soreness. Which is why it makes for such a great post-workout recovery drink.
Among other health benefits, the almond and turmeric milk will help boost your heart health and regulate your blood sugar.
You will need:
- A pinch of black pepper
- ½ frozen banana
- 1 cup of almond milk (unsweetened)
- ½ inch of ginger root
- 1 tsp. of turmeric
- ½ tsp. of cinnamon
- 1 tsp. of honey
- Ice cubes
To prepare the smoothie:
- Put all the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour over some ice.
- Sprinkle some cinnamon and enjoy.
2. Pineapple Carrot Smoothie
This tropical smoothie is a tasty blend of fruits that reminisce of summer. While the recipe below is a sugar-free fruit smoothie that uses no yogurt, you can add sweeteners in yourself if that is what you prefer.
You will need:
- 2 to 3 carrots (peeled and chopped)
- Juice from 1 freshly squeezed orange
- 1 cup of coconut or almond milk
- 1 cup of frozen pineapple
- ½ a fresh banana
- ½ cup of frozen mango
- Sweeten as desired
To prepare the smoothie:
- Put the ingredients in a blender, starting with the liquid.
- Blend until smooth.
- Add some extra liquid if you find that the smoothie is too thick.
- Blend again.
- Serve and enjoy.
3. Vanilla Flavored Green Smoothie
If you love vanilla and you’re thinking of making green smoothies, give this recipe a try. This one here contains a lot of super-foods that has a ton of nutrients to offer. You will also benefit from the fact that it is a well balanced drink considering it has greens, healthy fats and protein altogether.
You will need:
- ¼ tsp. of vanilla extract
- 1 cup of almond milk (unsweetened)
- 1 date (pitted)
- ½ cucumber
- ¼ avocado
- 1 tsp. of flaxseed
- ½ banana frozen
- 2 to 3 tbsp. of hemp seed
- 1 handful of spinach
- 1 tbsp. of chia seeds
- Ice
To prepare the smoothie:
- Wash the produce.
- Put avocado, spinach, cucumber and almond milk into blender.
- Blend for 30 seconds then add the remaining ingredients.
- Add ice if needed.
- Blend again for 45 to 60 seconds until smooth.
- Serve and enjoy.
4. Strawberry Milkshake Smoothie
If you want to make a strawberry smoothie without yogurt, then you HAVE TO try this recipe. This dessert-like strawberry flavored drink has a hint of vanilla and it is full of nutrients with a frothy texture. It’s exactly what you need to help boost your energy levels in the morning.
You will need:
- 1 tsp. of vanilla extract
- 10 frozen strawberries
- 1 tsp. of honey
- 2 tsp. of rolled oats
- 1 ½ cups of almond milk
- ½ frozen banana
- 4 to 6 ice cubes
To prepare the smoothie:
- Put all the ingredients into a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Check the consistency and add extra almond milk if needed.
- Serve and enjoy.
5. Layered Banana-Berry Smoothie
This smoothie will let you enjoy two different flavours simultaneously. You get to savour both strawberry and banana elements, with an extra hint of vanilla on the side. It’s an excellent protein smoothie that will keep you craving for more.
You will need the following ingredients for the red layer:
- A splash of vanilla
- ½ banana
- 1/8 cup of tart cherry juice
- ½ scoop of vanilla protein powder
- ¼ cup of almond milk
- ½ cup of orange juice
- ¼ cup of blueberries
- 4 strawberries (fresh or frozen)
You will need the following ingredients for the yellow layer:
- 1/8 cup of orange juice
- ½ banana
- 1 tbsp. coconut sugar
- ½ cup of coconut milk
- ½ scoop of vanilla protein powder
- 4 slices of frozen peaches
- 3 cubes of cantaloupe
- Ice
To prepare the smoothie:
- Start with the red layer.
- Put all the ingredients into a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into a glass.
- Rinse the blender.
- Put all the yellow layer ingredients into the blender.
- Blend until smooth again.
- Pour it over the red layer in the serving glass.
- Garnish with coconut and enjoy.
Wrap Up
So there you have it – 5 delicious and easy-to-make smoothies that do not need any yogurt at all. Equally tasty and highly nutritious, it’s worth giving them a try. Let us know how it went!
