Watermelon smoothies are relatively uncommon. Everyone knows about strawberry, pineapple, mango or green smoothies. Yet, there’s only a few health nuts who blend juicy red watermelons with bananas, ice and other fruit.
The Watermelon plant fruits in Summer. Thus, it’s easiest to find around December and January in the Southern Hemisphere, and June to September in the Northern Hemisphere. Naturally, it’s a very popular snack during Summer holidays, e.g. complementing a visit to the beach.
I’ve grown a few watermelons myself in a backyard garden. It’s a similar type of plant to pumpkin, but requires a little more care than the sturdy squash vines. Yet it looks nicer in a garden, with less irritating spiny veins.
Watermelon Banana Smoothie Health Benefits
With more than 90% water content, eating watermelon is a great way to re-hydrate your body. Moreover, it contains plenty of anti-oxidants like Lycopene, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Potassium.
On the other hand, banana is well-known for its high potassium content, plus vitamins (e.g. B6 and C) and minerals.
Lemon juice is high in Vitamin C.
Ginger is anti-inflammatory, full of anti-oxidants, and a general health tonic.
Extra greens, such as Spinach, Basil, or Mint, adds anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals, typical of green juices and smoothies. All very valuable to reaching your daily nutrient needs.
Smoothie Ingredients
Now the only thing that’s left is to head off to the fruit market and pick a ripe watermelon: Dark or light green with stripes on the outside (depending on the variety), and red inside (yellow varieties also exist). But at the same time, not over-ripe and too red, in which case the taste becomes dull and watered-down.
The point of this watermelon banana smoothie recipe is not to give you a strict list of 4 or 5 ingredients. Rather to provide a framework to create something you’ll enjoy.
- First, obviously you gotta add the watermelon.
- Liquids. This can be e.g. Plant-based Milk, coconut water, otherwise simply add normal cold water. When you consider that Watermelon is 90%+ water, it’s understandable that you barely need to add any fluids to this smoothie recipe. This can also include ice, since it’ll melt and turn into liquid anyway.
- Banana. Preferably frozen, as this improves the texture. It helps to make the smoothie sweeter. Cut it up in 3 or 4 pieces, and put in the freezer overnight.
- Sweetener e.g. Honey, Dates, and Agave. This is totally optional, and only if you’ve got a real sweet tooth. When I add banana to this recipe, I genuinely don’t need any other sweeteners. You’ll notice the smoothie will be less sweet if you add green leaves to the recipe, as opposed to when you don’t.
- Lemon Juice. Half a lemon, or one whole lemon will do. You don’t want it to be too bitter. I find this ingredient essential, as it gives a bit of a lemonade taste to the smoothie.
- Ginger (optional). I add ginger due to its health benefits. Plus, it adds a pleasant kick to this recipe (depending on your preference).
- Green Leaves to boost the Nutritional value, e.g. Spinach, Basil, or Mint (depending which you prefer).
Since the Watermelon already contains edible seeds, I’m not adding any nuts or more fiber to this smoothie.
Watermelon Banana Recipe Instructions
- Cut The Watermelon into slices. Discard the green skin.
- Add to the blender. Although you do get seedless watermelons nowadays, it’s completely O.K. to also blend the raw seeds into the smoothie. It provides extra minerals, protein and fiber, further complementing the nutrient value of this recipe.
- Add Ice.
- Add frozen banana pieces. Frozen banana pieces contribute to a ice cream texture.
- Squeeze in half a lemon
- Blend a small piece of ginger for extra taste.
- If you’re a health nut, remember the green leaves mentioned above.
What do you think of this Watermelon Banana Smoothie recipe? Have you ever tried preparing something similar at home? Comment below your ideas, questions and suggestions!
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If you enjoy watermelon, also check out our list of other popular fruits from Cape Town, South Africa.