Strawberry Smoothie No Banana
Strawberry smoothie with no banana is rich, creamy and tastes like a milkshake you can enjoy for breakfast! This healthy strawberry tahini smoothie is made without banana and is made with simple ingredients in under 5 minutes. Packed with protein, fiber and naturally sweetened, this deliciously thick strawberry smoothie even has a hidden serving of veggies!
If you love strawberry smoothies, you should try this Strawberry Cherry Smoothie or a Strawberry Mango Smoothie Bowl.
Why you will love this recipe
- No banana – so many smoothies are sweetened with banana, but this strawberry tahini smoothie is made without banana, and is instead sweetened with dates! They give the smoothie a slight caramel flavor.
- Ready in 5 minutes – using frozen strawberries means there is almost no prep involved in making this strawberry smoothie. Simple measure out the ingredients, pit the dates and blend. So easy!
- Filling, healthy shake – this strawberry smoothie without banana is full of fiber (from the strawberry, cauliflower and dates), protein (from the protein powder) and healthy fats (from the tahini). This filling smoothie is perfect for breakfast, a light lunch or post workout meal.
Ingredients
- Frozen strawberries – frozen strawberries are so easy to use when making smoothies. The strawberries have already been hulled and since they are frozen they help to make the smoothie super cold and refreshing. If you have fresh strawberries, you can freeze them the night before (check out all my tips on freezing fruit for smoothies) or you can use fresh strawberries and add about 1/2 cup of ice to the smoothie as well.
- Frozen cauliflower rice – frozen cauliflower rice blends into the background of the smoothie, you won’t even know there is a serving of veggies in the smoothie. You could also use frozen cauliflower florets if you can’t find them riced. Do not use fresh cauliflower, the flavor is too strong.
- Dairy free milk – use whatever milk you have on hand and you enjoy. I like using cashew milk or almond milk but you could make this with oat milk, coconut milk (from the carton, not the can), flax milk, soy milk, etc. You could even use regular dairy milk (skim, 2%, whole milk) if you are not dairy free.
- Tahini – tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds (just like almond butter or peanut butter). Tahini is nutty and creamy but is nut free and peanut free, making it great if you cannot have nuts. If you don’t have tahini, use sunbutter, almond butter or peanut butter.
- Medjool dates, pitted – medjool dates are like natures candy. They taste just like caramels and are the perfect way to naturally sweeten a smoothie. Always be sure that the pits are removed from the dates, they will make the smoothie gritty and hard to swallow and could even mess up your blender depending on how strong it is.
- Vanilla protein powder – for this recipe I really love vanilla protein powder with the strawberries. It makes the smoothie really taste like a milkshake, especially when paired with the dates. Use your favorite protein powder here. I used a vegan protein powder, which can absorb some of the liquid, so if you are using a non-vegan protein (like whey protein or collagen peptides), the smoothie may not be as thick.
How to make a strawberry smoothie without banana
- Measure out all the ingredients into a blender. Be sure to remove the pits from the dates.
- Blend on high for about 1 minute until thick and creamy.
- Enjoy immediately.
Top tips
- Use frozen strawberries – frozen strawberries are so easy to keep on hand (you don’t have to worry about them spoiling) and will make your smoothie super thick and creamy. If all you have are fresh strawberries, you can freeze them in advance (hull the strawberries and freeze on a sheet of parchment paper).
- If you only have fresh strawberries, add about 1/2 cup of ice to the smoothie to get the same texture and icy cold consistency. Adding ice can water down the flavors a bit though, which is why I recommend using frozen strawberries when you can.
- If you don’t have protein powder, or don’t want to use it, replace the protein powder with 1/4 cup of rolled oats and 1-2 more dates for sweetness. You could also add 3 tablespoons hemp hearts (10 grams of protein) or replace 1/2 cup of milk with yogurt to add some protein.
- Stir the tahini well before using, especially the first time you open the jar. Tahini, like almond butter or peanut butter, comes in a jar and the oil separates and rises to the top. It’s important that you take the time to stir this in (I usually use a butter knife for this) so that the tahini has the right consistency.
Other additions
- Cacao nibs – these would be a fun way to add a crunchy, chocolate flavor to the smoothie. Add 2 tablespoons cacao nibs during the last 10 seconds of blending.
- Fruit: cherries, mango – these sweet fruits can add some extra sweetness to this strawberry smoothie without using banana to sweeten it.
- Chia seeds or ground flax – add about 1 tablespoon to increase the fiber and also make this smoothie a little more filling.
- Oats – oats can make this taste like a strawberry shortbread smoothie. Add about 1/4 cup of rolled oats or quick cooking oats.
- Avocado – add the flesh of half an avocado to make the smoothie even creamier. Note: This won’t impact the flavor much but could change the color slightly.
- Greek yogurt – increase the protein in this smoothie by replacing about 1/2 the milk with Greek yogurt! The smoothie will be even creamier if you choose to do this.
- Cinnamon – cinnamon can make foods taste even sweeter, and is great for helping regulate blood sugar (Ceylon cinnamon). Just a little cinnamon adds a good bit of fiber too. (Learn more about all the easy ways you can add more fiber to smoothies.)
- Vanilla extract – this will really give the smoothie a milkshake flavor. This is a great addition if you aren’t using a vanilla protein powder.
Substitutions
- Frozen strawberries – if you only have fresh strawberries – freeze them in advance or add about 1/2 cup of ice to the blender when assembling the smoothie. You could also use frozen blueberries, frozen dark sweet cherries or frozen mixed berries.
- Frozen cauliflower rice – use frozen cauliflower florets in place of cauliflower rice, but do not use fresh cauliflower. If you don’t have cauliflower in the freezer, you can also use frozen spinach (1/2 cup) or fresh baby spinach (1 cup), but this will change the color.
- Tahini – if you don’t have tahini on hand, you can use sunbutter, cashew butter, almond butter or peanut butter.
- Dairy free milk – use whatever you have on hand. If you don’t have milk, you can use water, but the smoothie will be less creamy.
- Medjool dates – if you don’t have dates on hand, use 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey.
- Vanilla protein powder – use 1/4 cup of rolled oats plus 1-2 more dates (or maple syrup or honey). You can also add a dash of vanilla extract.
Common questions
Can you make this strawberry cauliflower smoothie into a smoothie bowl?
Yes! This strawberry smoothie is quite thick as written, especially if you use a vegan protein powder. Use slightly less liquid (like 3/4 cup of milk instead of 1 cup) to make this smoothie super thick and the perfect base for a smoothie bowl.
Don’t forget to add your favorite toppings like:
- Sliced fruit
- Nut butter – drizzle with some additional tahini
- Chocolate chips – I really love using mini chocolate chips for smoothie toppings
- Granola or cereal for an added crunch
- Freeze dried strawberries for a pop of strawberry flavor
What is tahini?
Tahini is a paste made from grinding up sesame seeds (just like peanut butter or almond butter). Tahini is traditionally used in many Mediterranean cultures (you have probably had it in hummus).
It is nutty, earthy and has a very mild but distinct sesame seed flavor. It’s easy to find in most grocery stores and can always be found online if you are having trouble finding it in stores.
Where can you find tahini
You can usually find tahini in the nut butter aisle of the grocery store but sometimes can be found in the international foods section.
Not all tahini is the same, some use roasted sesame seeds where others use unroasted sesame seeds. My favorite brands of tahini are from Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods 365 Brand, Thrive Market and Soom Foods.
What are the benefits of tahini
Tahini is nut free, so it’s a great alternative to something like almond butter or cashew butter in smoothies. Note that some people do have allergies to sesame seeds, so be sure to always let people know that the smoothie has sesame seeds in it from tahini.
One tablespoon of tahini has about 3 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber and is high in copper. It’s also a good source of selenium, phosphorus, iron and zinc.
Other recipes that use tahini
Can you make this smoothie with other berries
Yes! If you don’t have strawberries on hand, you could use blueberries or cherries in place of the strawberries. You could also use a mixed berry blend.
Can you make this without protein powder?
Yes! If you don’t have protein powder, you can still make this smoothie. Replace the protein powder with 1/4 cup of rolled oats (or quick oats) and 1-2 pitted medjool dates.
If you want this smoothie to still be packed with protein without the protein powder, you could add in some hemp hearts, use Greek yogurt in place of 1/2 the milk, or use some white beans in the smoothie. Check out all the ways you can add protein to your smoothies.
What is the best protein powder to use in smoothies
Each person is going to have different needs and wants from their protein powder, including how it’s sweetened, the source of the protein (from plants, animals, etc.) and other added flavors or additional ingredients.
I use vegan protein powders exclusively because I cannot tolerate whey based protein and the plant based proteins are easy to digest and easy to keep on hand. I personally love Octonuts Vanilla Almond Protein powder (this is vegan and paleo friendly) or Nuzest Vanilla Protein.
There are other great protein powders on the market that are full of great ingredients and easy to digest. Check out the best protein powders for smoothies for all my suggestions.
Can you make this smoothie ahead of time?
Making smoothies in advance is hard to recommend because the consistency of the smoothie changes as the frozen ingredients start to melt and the texture changes. I recommend that you blend your smoothie right before enjoying for the best flavor and texture.
If you are usually short on time you can measure out the ingredients for your smoothie into a freezer safe bag or container early in the week so you can just dump the ingredients in the blender with milk right before enjoying. I have so many tips on how to make smoothie freezer packs to save you time.
This smoothie can technically be made about 24 hours in advance. You will likely notice some separation as the water from the frozen ingredients rises to the top. Stir the smoothie well before enjoying. I recommend that you re-blend the smoothie with some ice right before enjoying to get the best texture.
How to store a leftover smoothie
If you find that you have some smoothie leftover, you can either store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours (see my tips above on how to make it just as yummy to enjoy later in the day) or you can freeze leftovers. The easiest way to freeze leftover smoothie is to pour it into ice cube trays or make into popsicles!
Use the smoothie ice cubes to add flavor to smoothies (just throw them in with the other ingredients before blending) or re-blend with milk to make a new smoothie.
If you love this smoothie with no banana, you should try
- Chocolate Mango Smoothie
- Pecan Pie Smoothie
- Strawberry Peach Mango Smoothie
- Watermelon Cherry Smoothie
Strawberry Smoothie No Banana
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup frozen cauliflower rice
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 cup dairy free milk
- 1.5 tbsp tahini
- 2 medjool dates - pitted
- 1 serving vegan vanilla protein powder
Instructions
- Measure out all the ingredients into a blender. Be sure to remove the pits from the dates.
- Blend on high for about 1 minute until thick and creamy.
Equipment
Notes
- Use frozen strawberries – frozen strawberries are so easy to keep on hand (you don’t have to worry about them spoiling) and will make your smoothie super thick and creamy. If all you have are fresh strawberries, you can freeze them in advance (hull the strawberries and freeze on a sheet of parchment paper).
- If you only have fresh strawberries, add about 1/2 cup of ice to the smoothie to get the same texture and icy cold consistency. Adding ice can water down the flavors a bit though, which is why I recommend using frozen strawberries when you can.
- If you don’t have protein powder, or don’t want to use it, replace the protein powder with 1/4 cup of rolled oats and 1-2 more dates for sweetness. You could also add 3 tablespoons hemp hearts (10 grams of protein) or replace 1/2 cup of milk with yogurt to add some protein.
- Stir the tahini well before using, especially the first time you open the jar. Tahini, like almond butter or peanut butter, comes in a jar and the oil separates and rises to the top. It’s important that you take the time to stir this in (I usually use a butter knife for this) so that the tahini has the right consistency.
