Pistachio Almond Smoothie

This Pistachio Almond Smoothie recipe is the perfect healthy indulgence when you are craving something sweet. Created with pistachios, plant protein, almond extract, spinach, medjool date, & a frozen banana. It tastes just like pistachio ice cream, but in vegan and green protein smoothie form!

Oh my goodness, I feel like I have created the perfect healthy alternative to pistachio ice cream! If you’re a beloved pistachio ice cream fan, you don’t want to miss this Pistachio Almond Smoothie recipe.

My childhood favorite ice cream was, you guessed it, pistachio almond. However, knowing what I know now, I don’t think I’ll be purchasing that anytime soon. In fact, I haven’t had it in years, but after I took my first sip of this pistachio almond creation, it took me back to childhood. It’s just as good, if not better.

While pistachios are key, the almond extract is just as crucial to achieve that authentic pistachio almond ice cream flavor. Whatever you do, please don’t skip that ingredient, it’s essential!

So grab your high-speed blender & get ready to blend up your new favorite ice cream alternative!

Why You’ll Love This Pistachio Almond Smoothie Recipe

• Nutrient Packed: This green protein smoothie has an abundant amount of benefits for optimal health.
• Perfect Protein Smoothie: Whether you’re making it post workout or breakfast, this Pistachio Almond Smoothie will have you fully satisfied, as it is packed with over 25 grams of plant protein.
• Tastes like a Dessert: The flavor & texture in this smoothie is that found in vegan pistachio ice cream, but in a green protein smoothie form.
• Fully Customizable: I have listed options further down in the post to add even more wholesome ingredients to elevate your pistachio smoothie.

Pistachios Health Benefits

Pistachios are not only the star of this Pistachio Almond Smoothie recipe, but they’re also exceptionally nutritious. A fun fact is that pistachios are technically seeds, but they’re classified as a tree nut in the culinary world. Nut or not, they’re the perfect vibrant and slightly sweet addition to this smoothie. So perfect that the power of pistachios are too good to pass up! This superfood is chalk full of benefits. Here are just a few of the health benefits of consuming pistachios:

• Improved Skin Health & Appearance
• Decreased Inflammation
• Promoted Gut Health
• Disease Prevention

Ingredients

• Organic Unsweetened Almond Milk: Any non-dairy milk works in this recipe! Just be sure to use trusted brands – I like MALK Organics or Three Trees.
• Organic Pistachios: It wouldn’t be a pistachio smoothie without them. Unsalted + hopefully pre-shelled for the sake of your fingers! Pistachios blend right in with the other ingredients for color, extra creaminess, & most importantly flavor.
• Organic Unflavored Plant Protein: Adding a scoop of protein powder helps to keep you full and satisfied longer. I love Sprout Living’s Epic Original Plant Protein for this recipe. It’s clean & is made with absolutely NO gums, “flavorings,” fillers or additives. Nevertheless, if you have yet to try Sprout Living’s Plant Protein, add your favorite unflavored plant protein.
• Almond Extract: Adding almond extract to this pistachio smoothie transpires the flavors to next-level delicious. Trust me! The almond almond extract makes this smoothie taste like vegan pistachio ice cream. YUM!
• Organic Spinach: To make the pistachio smoothie green. Plus, it is a great way to sneak those veggies into a smoothie.
• Sea Salt: A healthy pinch of sea salt is rich in a ton of minerals and beautifully enhances the flavor of this pistachio smoothie.
• Medjool Dates: I recommend buying pitted dates, that way you don’t have to remove the pits yourself. Oh, & my favorite brand of dates is Joolies!
• Organic Frozen Banana: It’s best to use a frozen banana to create that super thick & creamy texture. 
• Ice Cubes: Completely optional, just in case you need to make your green protein smoothie colder.

How To Make

• Blend the Liquids & Powders. First, add the non-dairy milk, pistachios, plant protein, almond extract, spinach, and sea salt, to a high-speed blender. Blend these ingredients until smooth.
• Blend the Medjool Date. Add the soft medjool date to the blender and blend until smooth.
• Blend the Frozen Ingredients. Next, add in the frozen banana and ice cubes. Blend until smooth and creamy. If needed, you can pause the blender, remove the lid, and scrape down the sides so that everything is fully incorporated. You may need to add a little more non-dairy milk depending on how thick/thin you like your smoothies
• Serve. Pour into a chilled glass and enjoy immediately.

Optional Smoothie Add-Ins

Feel free to truly make this smoothie your own! Here are a few suggestions to amp-up this Pistachio Almond Smoothie recipe:

• Organic Chia Seeds: Add a scoop of organic chia seeds for some omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium, etc. + it helps thicken this protein smoothie.
• Organic Ground Flax Seeds: Incorporate a tablespoon of organic ground flax seeds to increase the fiber & minerals to this smoothie.
• Organic Hemp Seeds: Add in a tablespoon of organic hemp seeds for a boost of healthy fats, protein, omegas & minerals.
• Organic Coconut Yogurt: Increase the creaminess to this smoothie with a scoop of coconut yogurt. You may have to reduce the almond milk to ½ cup in this smoothie when adding yogurt.

Tips for Making the Perfect Smoothie

Interested in how to make the absolute perfect smoothie, or this case, the perfect vegan pistachio ice cream? As someone who makes smoothies daily, here are my TOP tips:

1. Use Frozen Fruit: Adding a frozen to this smoothie is the only way to go! The ice from the frozen fruits adds thickness to the smoothie.
2. Soak Medjool Date: If your date isn’t soft, you will need to soak your pitted date in very warm water for 5 minutes. This will help it soften up, so that it can blend nicely.
3. Adjust Liquid Amount: If you find that your smoothie is too thick to blend, not to worry! Just add a bit more milk, blend, open the cover, scrape down the sides if needed, and blend again. And when possible, always use a larger high-speed blender instead, as it will blend the ingredients much better.
4. How To Make: Add your liquid first & blend your powders first, before adding your frozen ingredients. This is my personal favorite way of preparing my smoothies. By blending the liquid & powders first, it ensures that your powders blend completely.
5. Smoothie Blending Tip: Start your blender on low to medium speed. If you blend the smoothie too quickly from the beginning, it’s really hard for the blender to properly blend the frozen ingredients – so start lower and then gradually increase the speed.
6. Chill Your Glass: There’s nothing better than a cold smoothie, in this case, a pistachio almond milkshake. Put your serving glass in the fridge or freezer while you’re making your smoothie to ensure a chilled smoothie with every sip.

Healthy Breakfast Smoothie FAQ’s

Do I have to use a frozen banana?

The frozen banana in this recipe gives the smoothie a thick & creamy texture. If using a fresh banana, be to add a handful of ice cubes to achieve a cold, thick smoothie. However, if you’re looking to remove the banana altogether, because you’re allergic or simply don’t like them, you can replace it with ½ cup of frozen zucchini, frozen cauliflower, or frozen avocado chunks. If you elect to make this a banana free smoothie, I recommend keeping the organic medjool date to maintain its sweetness.

Is it healthy to have a smoothie?

Duh! I wouldn’t post something that was unhealthy. Having a smoothie full of protein, healthy fats, & greens, for a post workout breakfast is great because you’ll be getting essential vitamins, nutrients, & protein, first thing. However, some smoothies on the market or on the web can be loaded with tons of fruit, added sugar, & nonsense, making them a less healthy option. 

What is the best protein powder to use?

For this particular green protein smoothie recipe, I love Sprout Living’s Epic Original Plant Protein for this recipe. It’s clean & is made with absolutely NO gums, “flavorings,” fillers or additives. Nevertheless, if you have yet to try Sprout Living’s Plant Protein, add your favorite unflavored plant protein.When selecting a plant protein, it’s crucial to look at the protein content and most importantly, the ingredients. 

How can I add protein without using protein powder?

If you don’t have unflavored protein powder on hand, no worries! To increase the protein content, you can add a tablespoon of organic chia seeds, organic ground flax seeds, and/or organic hemp seeds, without changing the taste too much.

Can I make this smoothie recipe in advance?

Yes! Feel free to make this creamy protein smoothie as is or double it for later. Check out this “How to Prepare Smoothies in Advance” post to achieve the best results.

More Protein Smoothie Recipes You’ll Love

• Shamrock Protein Shake
• Snickers Protein Smoothie
• Birthday Cake Smoothie
• Almond Joy Smoothie
• German Chocolate Cake Smoothie

Sharing Is Caring!

If you make this recipe, please leave a review & rating below! I love hearing from you and it helps others learn more about the recipe too. Lastly, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, & TikTok for even more deliciousness & wellness tips!

Xoxo.

Christin.

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