Refreshing Summer Smoothie: Cucumber Lavender Blueberry
This summer has been incredibly warm here in the United States and consequently I’ve been needing “refreshing” foods. Cold water, watermelon, salad, and cold fruit all fit that list. But what do you do when you need a refreshing healthy beverage beyond water? Look no further than a smoothie featuring cucumber!
Why cucumber? Cucumber holds quite a bit of water and therefore has that juicy refreshing taste. It also is just bland enough to mix well with other stronger flavors! Have you ever had cucumber cream cheese sandwiches? If you have then you’ll understand what I mean.
Last year I posted my recipe for a blueberry lavender yogurt smoothie. Here is my variation on that for an even more refreshing taste fit for hot weather!
Blender
But first a note about materials: If you don’t have a blender to make smoothies, I highly recommend this one. Same as the one I’ve used for years, you can take the blender cup as your smoothie-to-go cup. Different lids to the cup are provided. This makes it fast, easy, and decreases the amount of dirty dishes! And there’s also a grinding blade option, perfect for grinding lavender (or coffee or other spices)!
Recipe:
3/4 cup cucumber
3/4 cup blueberries
1/2 teaspoon ground lavender
Small Handful baby spinach
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup water
Optional: add approximately 2 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt
This recipe makes a 13.5 ounce smoothie. You can adjust the ingredient amounts to fit your smoothie size of choice. Note there is no added sweetener beyond the sugars naturally existing in the listed ingredients. I usually find the blueberries make it sweet enough.
Directions
As most smoothies are, this one is pretty straightforward. Please be sure to wash all the ingredients before using them. I tend to start with cutting up the cucumber into smaller pieces. No need to peel the cucumber at all (that’s FAR too much work!) I then add the blueberries. I usually use frozen blueberries rather than fresh. Frozen blueberries will make the smoothie extra cold at the end!
I top that off with the ground lavender and the spinach before adding the plain non-fat Greek yogurt (plain yogurt, not flavored!), if wanted. The yogurt will add some more nutrients and a more creamy texture. If you add the yogurt, please adjust the amounts of milk and water according to your smoothie size. I add slightly less liquid if using yogurt. After all, the cucumber does have plenty of water!
This smoothie has quickly become my favorite drink during this hot summer! It really is a great way to cool down while getting some veggies and fruit vitamins. Perfect as a light meal, snack, or paired with some toast for a more square meal!
*This post uses an affiliate link to Amazon. I make a small percentage commission from the sale of this product, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I use personally.
