Matcha makes this smoothie the perfect breakfast option! While matcha does provide caffeine, it’s a slower release, making for a more level energy, without the crash that coffee sometimes provides. On top of that, matcha provides antioxidant benefits, even greater than regular green tea. Avocado adds a unique creamy texture while also providing fiber and nourishing fats. Greek yogurt rounds it out with almost 20g of protein to make this a filling, satisfying smoothie that won’t leave you hungry 30 minutes later! . Best of all, it’s fast to make—just 5 minutes! A dietitian’s dream!
As a Registered Dietitian and recipe developer, I love it when nourishing recipes come together due to life circumstances and just work! Take my favorite pregnancy green smoothie, I made this one when I was pregnant with my son Wylder, and battling those first trimester food aversions. While I was lucky not to experience any crazy morning sickness with him, I definitely did not feel like shopping for vegetables. Haha. This smoothie was my saving grace!
Then there’s my quick hangover cure smoothie which was created when I needed some extra hydration after a girls night out. While those days are few and far between nowadays, I still love this one any time I need an extra dose of antioxidants and a delicious way to get some extra hydration!
Another one is this matcha banana smoothie recipe. I was in a bit of a rush one morning and was going off less sleep than desired. I didn’t have time to make coffee so I decided to add a scoop of matcha into my smoothie and the result was delish! Not only was the smoothie filling (keeping me full for longer than 20 minutes), it was also energizing. Matcha provides a slower release of caffeine which many people love because you don’t’ get that crash that coffee can sometimes give. If you’re a matcha lover or have been wanting to experiment with it, this smoothie is for you!
While these smoothies served a specific purpose at one point in my life, they’re now a regular rotation in our household because they’re both filling and satisfying AND such an easy way to pack in some extra nutrition without really having to think about it!
What You Need To Make This Matcha Smoothie
All you need are 7 simple ingredients to make this nutritious and energizing smoothie.
Milk: Milk, whether dairy or plant-based, is the base for the smoothie. It adds to the creaminess of this drink and helps achieve the desired consistency. Milk is also a source of calcium and vitamin D, essential for bone health.
Matcha powder: Matcha is a type of green tea where the whole leaf is ground and consumed, rather than just steeping and discarding the leaves as we do with most other teas. This means you are getting more of the benefits that this powerful plant has to offer, including more caffeine, minus the jitters that coffee can sometimes give. For more on the benefits of Matcha, make sure to check out my post 5 Things to Know About Matcha!
Matcha has a distinct earthy taste. I like it paired with the sweetness of the banana in this smoothie. If you’re not used to the taste of matcha or find it stronger than you like, you can add a little more sweetener like honey or maple syrup to balance it out. You can buy original matcha powder or vanilla matcha powder if you can find it. I’ve tried with both and they’re both delish!
TIP: You can usually find matcha powder in the tea and coffee section of your grocery store.
Avocado: I love avocados – smashed on my toast, tossed in a salad (like my prawn ceviche and mango salad), or blended into a smoothie. This green fruit is a great addition to this recipe and is key to achieving that thick and creamy texture in this smoothie. Plus it’s a great way to use up any avocado that’s starting to go. You can use either fresh or frozen avocado and will get similar results (yes, you can freeze overly ripe avocados or buy them frozen).
Banana: The banana in this recipe pulls everything together. I like using frozen bananas for an extra cold and creamy texture, but you can use fresh if that’s all you have. It adds a touch of sweetness and helps thicken up the smoothie, plus bananas are full of vitamins and minerals (more on that here).
Greek yogurt: I usually use plain 2-5% Greek yogurt for this smoothie but I have tried it with vanilla Greek yogurt and it’s delish! The Greek yogurt adds to the creamy texture and adds to that satiety factor – which helps you feel full and satisfied after eating.
Greens: Including a cup of greens boosts the nutrition power of this smoothie. I love it with spinach or baby kale (or a mix of the two).
Vanilla extract: The vanilla extract adds a touch of sweetness and along with the banana, balance out the earthy flavor of the matcha. You don’t need to add vanilla extract if you’re using vanilla Greek yogurt or vanilla matcha powder.
How To Make This Smoothie
Place all ingredients in a blender.
Blend until smooth and enjoy!
Nutritional Benefits of This Recipe (Nutrition by addition)
Matcha powder: Matcha is packed with antioxidants, particularly catechins, which help combat oxidative stress and may protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Matcha can also help with alertness. It contains the unique combo of caffeine and L-theanine, an amino acid. This pairing can provide a calm, focused energy boost without the jitters.
Avocados: Avocados are rich in nourishing fats that have been associated with heart health. Nourishing fats also add that satiety factor to a dish which helps us feel both full and satisfied after eating. They’re also a great source of fiber which promotes digestive health and helps keep our blood sugars level. Last but not least, avocados contain various vitamins and minerals, including potassium and vitamins K, E and C.
Bananas: Bananas are an excellent source of potassium. Potassium is an electrolyte that helps maintain the levels of fluid in our cells (aka helps with hydration and to make things run smoothly on the inside). They’re also a great source of energy. Our bodies are able to break down the sugars in bananas fast making them a quick and easily digestible source of energy. The combo of electrolytes and fast energy are why bananas are such a great mid-afternoon or pre/post workout snack.
Greens: I usually use spinach or kale in this smoothie. Both are high in vitamins A and K. Vitamin A is essential for vision, skin health, and immune function, while vitamin K plays a crucial role in blood clotting and bone health. They’re also a great source of fiber!
Recipe, Kitchen, & Time Saving Hacks
Meal Prep: This is a great recipe to meal prep. You can batch prep or ingredient prep. To batch prep, just double or triple the recipe and store in sealable jars in the fridge for up to 5 days. When ready to eat, give it a good shake and enjoy!
If you love a fresh smoothie every morning you can try this version of ingredient prep: Place the desired smoothie portion of matcha, banana, avocado, and greens in the same reusable bag and store in the freezer. When ready to eat, place it in the blender, add the milk and yogurt, blend and enjoy!
Use frozen banana, avocado, & greens: Have you ever bought bananas and they started to brown faster than you could eat them? Or forgotten about the avocado and it’s starting to get too soft for a salad? We’ve all been there. Instead of letting them go to waste, freeze them for smoothies. When freezing, remove the peel from the banana and remove the skin and pit from the avocado. I usually keep the banana whole or cut in half but will sometimes slice up the avocado into cubes. This makes it easier to blend.
You can also freeze greens! If your kale or spinach are starting to go limp, just wash them and put in a reusable bag and store in the freezer (if using pre-washed bins of greens you can skip this step). Toss into your smoothies for an extra dose of nutrition. Your frozen banana, avocado, and greens will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Skip the dishes: Did you know that a handful of greens, fruit or veggies is approximately one cup? Smoothies really don’t require super precise measurements. Skip the extra dishes (and time washing them) by eyeballing your measurements and adjusting to taste. I use my blender’s markings to measure the milk and yogurt and then just eyeball the greens, avocado, and banana by tossing a handful in.
If you make this Matcha Smoothie, it would make my day if you would leave a comment and/or star rating below— I love hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @lindsaypleskot.rd so I can see your versions! It makes me so happy to see these recipes come to life in your kitchens! Xo
Print5-Minute Matcha Smoothie with Banana & Avocado
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Description
Your morning pick me up and breakfast all in one. This creamy matcha green smoothie deserves a spot in the weekday breakfast rotation!
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 1 tsp matcha powder (or 1 serving depending on the matcha brand)
- 1/2 avocado
- 1 banana, sliced and frozen
- 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup of greens (I like spinach or kale)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in the blender and blend on high until smooth, about 1 minute.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Swap Greek yogurt for a non dairy yogurt for a vegan option
- Some matcha powders have different serving sizes. If there is a recommended serving size on the packaging use that amount of matcha powder.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Blended
- Cuisine: North American
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