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Collage of 4 different smoothies with unusual, unexpected ingredients.

15 Healthy Smoothies with Unusual Ingredients

Last Modified: April 22, 2020 // by Tracy Ariza, DDS // April 22, 2020 I may receive a commission if you purchase through links in this post. Learn more here.

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Collage of 4 different smoothies with unusual, unexpected ingredients.

Bored with traditional smoothies? Surprise your tastebuds with these somewhat quirky, yet delicious healthy smoothie recipes that use unexpected ingredients you may have never considered!

Collage of 4 different smoothies with unusual, unexpected ingredients.
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I’m not new to sneaking foods into smoothies. You may have already seen here how I add greens into my son’s diet into what we call the Popeye smoothie. By now, he knows that I “sneak” spinach in there and happily drinks it anyway.

While it isn’t unusual to add spinach to smoothies, for adults at least, it got me thinking about some of the other unusual ingredients that can be added to smoothies.

Today I’m sharing 15 smoothies with unexpected ingredients. I hope you enjoy these wonderfully creative recipes!

Basil seeds

Chia seeds are commonly used to thicken up smoothies, but tukmaria, or holy basil seeds, aren’t as well-known. Like chia, they are tiny black seeds that swell up and form a gelatinous coating.

Because of this coating, they are often used in desserts and juices. Think of them as a lower-carb, tiny little boba. (But these little “pearls” are actually being studied as a potential aid for weight loss.)

Tukmaria Cucumber Peach Smoothie

Hydrated basil seeds add a fun texture to this refreshing vegan smoothie with cucumber, peach, and mint.
Check out this recipe

Bone broth

Sure, it’s healthy and delicious, which is why I have already shown you how to make bone broth. But have you ever thought of adding it to your smoothies?

I’m a bit quirky. Yet even I was surprised by this one!

Bone Broth Electrolyte Smoothie with Spirulina

With sweet, salty, and sour flavors combined into one superfood combo, this smoothie is a complete meal. (To which you can even add liver!)
Check out this recipe

Cauliflower

It may sound strange to add cauliflower to smoothies, but it’s a great way to make them smooth and creamy. The mild flavor of cauliflower won’t overwhelm the other ingredients, and you probably won’t notice it’s there at all.

Not only will this high-fiber veggie help fill you up, but it has so many nutritional benefits. (It’s rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, to name a couple.)

While you can add it raw or cooked, pre-cooking the cauliflower ensures a creamy result that is easier to digest.

Blueberry Cauliflower Smoothie

this creamy, low-carb smoothie tastes of blueberries. It’s a balanced meal, packed with fiber and healthy fats.
Check out this recipe

Carrot Tops

When preparing your veggies, don’t throw away leaf “scraps” like carrot tops and beet leaves. They can be added to soups and stews, or to smoothies, of course!

Not only are they an inexpensive addition to foods, but they are also high in calcium and phosphorus.

Green Smoothie with Carrot tops, pear, and Orange

This simple smoothie makes use of the carrot tops. While the blog is mainly in Polish, you can find the recipe in English at the end of the post.
Check out this recipe

Dandelion greens

You may think of dandelions as weeds, but they actually have some beneficial health properties. They have been shown to be antioxidant, and are rich in vitamin A and K.

Dandelion Green Smoothie

Sweet enough for kids, but healthy enough for adults, this smoothie sneaks in dandelion greens.
Check out this recipe

Hot Tea

While one normally envisions a cool and refreshing beverage when thinking of smoothies, this hot smoothie sounds just as delicious! Hot jasmine tea warms you up on those cool winter days.

Apple Elderflower and Pomegranate Hot Smoothie

A delicious breakfast for those cooler days, this smoothie combines pomegranates with elderberry and jasmine tea. It sounds like a tempting, exotic blend to me!
Check out this recipe

Hot Peppers

While it isn’t unusual to add veggies, hot peppers aren’t your usual smoothie ingredient. Make it spicy with a touch of jalapeño or cayenne. Here, I’m sharing two spicy recipes, a sweet one and a savory one.

Spicy Red Pepper Smoothie

For those looking for a more savory smoothie, try this veggie-packed smoothie. Nicole says it tastes like a Bloody Mary without alcohol.
Check out this recipe

Pineapple Mint Jalapeño Smoothie

Lightly sweet, with a spicy kick from jalapeño peppers, this smoothie is simple to make, and delicious.
Check out this recipe

Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented tea that is popular in healthy living circles. It’s made with a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts) and we love the flavor in our house. (Learn how to make kombucha.)

Apparently, not everybody shares our love of kombucha, which is why Linda of Veganosity came up with a smoothie recipe to drink hers down.

Kombucha Berry Smoothie

For those who want to reap the benefits of kombucha, but don’t love the flavor, this smoothie is a palatable way to drink it.
Check out this recipe

Raw eggs

While some people are grossed out by the thought of adding raw eggs, they’re a great source of healthy protein and add smoothness to smoothies. I used to always add some raw egg to my minty candida-diet sage “shamrock shake” (which is really more of a smoothie) to make it more of a full meal.

If you’re concerned about salmonella, you can always use pasteurized eggs. To pasteurize eggs, heat them in water to 140ºF/60ºC and keep them at that temperature for at least 5 minutes.

Healthy Eggnog Smoothie

Reminiscent of eggnog, this sweet and creamy smoothie can be enjoyed year-round.
Check out this recipe

Rose petals

I’m a sucker for the fragrant flavor of rose petals. That’s why I love Turkish delight, and also why I made rose petal gummies for Valentine’s Day. (I even flavor my panna cotta with rose water.)

That said, I had never considered using rose petal tea in a smoothie. I’m sure it’s delicious!

Rose Petal Beet Smoothie

Can’t have fruit? No worries. This brightly-colored, high-fiber smoothie is creamy and satisfying.
Check out this recipe

Stinging Nettle

Nettles may irritate your skin, but they are surprisingly nutritious. They may even help lower blood sugar levels. Learn how to reap their benefits without getting stung!

Foraged, Tropical, Stinging Nettle Smoothie

Don’t let its sting scare you away, the stinging nettle packs a powerful nutritional punch, and is a great addition to smoothies like this foraged, tropical stinging nettle smoothie.
Check out this recipe
overhead view of a green smoothie made with nettles, garnished with nettle leaves.

Sweet potatoes

Deliciously sweet? Yes! But they aren’t your usual smoothie ingredient.

Cooked sweet potatoes can thicken and sweeten while giving you an extra dose of healthy antioxidants. (That’s especially true for purple varieties!)

Sweet Potato Peach Smoothie

This recipe combines cooked sweet potatoes with peaches and spices into a dessert-like treat that’s perfect for summer.
Check out this recipe

Tahini

Tahini is another ingredient that I happen to love, but I hadn’t considered adding to smoothies. I, instead, normally use the sesame paste to add flavor and creaminess to homemade hummus and baba ganoush.

As adding peanut butter and other nut butters isn’t considered strange, I guess this shouldn’t have surprised me so much.

Honey Tahini Smoothie

This simple, 5 ingredient smoothie combines the sweetness of fruit with the nutty flavor of sesame seeds. What more could you ask for?
Check out this recipe

Turmeric

High in curcuminoids like curcumin, turmeric is highly anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. It’s what gives curry its characteristic bright yellow color.

While I’ve used it in falafel, I hadn’t considered adding it to a smoothie! (With so many people making turmeric lattes these days, though, I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised.

Turmeric Ginger Colada Smoothie

This combination of antiinflammatory tonics (turmeric, ginger, and pineapple) come together in a healthy smoothie that tastes like an exotic piña colada.
Check out this recipe

Making preparation easier

Before I sign off, I wanted to remind you how I normally prepare for smoothies.

When certain fruits are in season (or on sale), I puree and freeze them for future use in smoothies and other recipes. While the idea is simple enough, you may be worried about how much space it takes in your freezer. Check out my method for making frozen smoothie cubes which saves space in the freezer and saves you money by allowing you to buy fruit when it’s at its cheapest and best!

Are you a smoothie lover?

Smoothie bowls are yet another creative way to take in your superfoods.


If you’re craving more, you may be interested in the book, 80 Delicious and Colorful Superfood Recipes to Nourish and Satisfy. One of my recipes was featured in the cookbook!

If you’re looking for tasty ways to nourish with superfoods, check it out!

Update Information

This post was originally published on June 3, 2015. It included links to a huge variety of smoothie recipes from other blogs. Sadly, many of the blogs and recipes have since disappeared.
So, to keep it current, I decided to focus on the remaining smoothies that had the most unusual ingredients, and tell you why they stuck out to me. I completely overhauled the post in April of 2020.

Category: Beverages & Smoothies, Recipes

About Tracy Ariza, DDS

Tracy Ariza, B.A., D.D.S., left dentistry and the United States to found Oh, The Things We’ll Make!, writing to you from the Spanish Riviera. She loves making things herself in order to keep control of what goes in them. While far from perfect, she strives each day to live a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.

Previous Post: « A yellow duck stuffed animal and plastic eggs inside a homemade Easter basket made from t-shirt scraps. The basket is decorated with a big pink bow. Easy Crochet Easter Basket (Using T-Shirt Yarn)
Next Post: Surprising Ways to Use Stinging Nettles (With Recipes) a collage of 4 photos of different recipes using stinging nettles. »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious

    January 30, 2018 at 4:38 PM

    This single post is a cookbook in itself! Or rather a drinkbook! Or a slurpbook. Stop me before I go on. Thank you for including my Tropical Green Smoothie in this wonderful collection.

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      January 31, 2018 at 3:03 PM

      Hi Dorothy! Thanks for sharing your beautiful recipe. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Linda from Veganosity

    January 30, 2018 at 3:54 PM

    Thank you so much for including our Kombucha and Recovery smoothies in this delicious and healthy roundup! Sharing!

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      January 31, 2018 at 3:04 PM

      You’re very welcome, Linda! Your recipes look delicious! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Ved

    September 14, 2016 at 2:28 AM

    I need recipe book

    Reply
  4. topcookwareonline

    January 17, 2016 at 2:14 AM

    Oh well oh well this probably my new favorite smoothie , I played a little bit on mine though replaced mango with peaches & almond mild instead of yogurt And more of the bananas and apples it was plain awesome . Thank you for sharing this recipe sure thing will try the rest of your smoothies

    Reply
  5. Raia

    June 8, 2015 at 9:48 PM

    Amazing. This is pretty much the only recipe round-up I’m going to need this summer… 🙂

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      June 9, 2015 at 10:19 AM

      Haha, yes, Raia. There’s pretty much something for everybody. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Josie - Eat Thrive Glow

    June 6, 2015 at 7:45 PM

    Thanks for including our Simple Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie and our Green Smoothie in this amazing smoothie roundup! They all look so delicious! 🙂

    Reply
    • Tracy Ariza

      June 7, 2015 at 5:30 PM

      Thank you!
      Yes, I agree. So many people shared so many wonderful recipes!

      Reply
  7. Amanda Mendell

    June 5, 2015 at 5:53 AM

    Wow what a great round up of smoothie recipes!! One for every day for 6 months almost, Thanks for including the Orange Dreamsicle Egg Fast Smoothie, much appreciated. I can’t wait to try some of these they all look so good.

    Reply
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Hello, I’m Tracy!

I love making my own natural products like soaps and lotions and my own pantry items like yogurt and salad dressings.
Why do I do it? Sometimes to save money, sometimes because it's healthier, but I always love having control of the ingredients!​
Oh, the things we'll make!...

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