Creamy, Green, and Sweet: The Avocado Smoothie

Somehow "avocado smoothie" sounds less bizarre than "avocado milkshake," but that's essentially what we're talking about here—an avocado whirled with sugar and milk that turns out the prettiest shade of pale green. Could this replace our favorite avocado-centric breakfast? Or, hey, pass for dessert?

We started searching for avocado smoothie recipes this week because we equate this meaty, creamy fruit with Latin America. Turns out, however, that avocado shakes made with sweetened, condensed milk are actually very common in Vietnam.

We know parents who make "milkshakes" with avocado to add extra fat and nutrition into their babies' meals. But we love avocados with salt so much, we're having a hard time thinking of it as an ingredient in something sweet.

Most recipes we've seen call for blending half of an avocado with a little sugar, milk, and ice. Or, you could make it extra thick and sweet with the condensed milk. If you've got a cut avocado you'd like to use before it turns brown, this is one quick option.

Who drinks avocado smoothies? What's your recipe?

(Image: Flickr member tristankenney, licensed for use under Creative Commons)

Comments (29)

Uhh...frickin' YUM!

I make make an avocado based pudding with the addition of lemon or coco powder and some agave syrup. Thinning it out with extra milk would make it a shake.

I make them a lot - I love the taste of sweetened condensed milk in them, but I usually try to make them a little less calorific.
1/2 or 1 avocado
juice of 1/2 a lime
20 ozs of soy milk
2-4 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
handful ice
Blend, serves 2.
This makes a much thinner smoothie than typical Vietnamese style. Not as decadent, but definitely tasty and refreshing. I like the lime taste too.

My partner is from Brazil and makes these for us. In fact, he truly looks at avocados more as a sweet than a savory.

I grew up in the Philippines and avocado smoothies have always been a family staple. Sometimes we don't even puree the avocado anymore - just chop them up into bitesize chunks, then pour condensed milk AND whole milk over it. http://www.confessionsofachocoholic.com/healthy/avocado-love

I always get avocado shake at the boba shop in San Antonio.

Never tried it, but I do like avocado margaritas. I'll have to give this a shot some time.

@verily: Avocado Margaritas?! Do tell!!! please share the recipe :-)

I was recently gifted New American Table with recipes from Marcus Samuelsson. He has one that looks great for Avocado and Banana smoothies! I will definitely be making these soon!

The place I used to work at made avocado milkshakes all the time. It was one of the more popular things on the menu.

My Filipino grandpa used to mix chopped up avocado and sweetened condensed milk (and maybe something else?) and freeze it it an ice cube tray for us when we were little... Sweet little icy veggie bites! He did something similar with corn. Funny, I hadn't remembered it until just now.

I used to make an avocado banana smoothie for my kids when they were babies. The recipe was in one of my baby food cookbooks. I've also been to some restaurants where they've served avocado desserts. It's not weird at all. The taste isn't the problem, it's the color that bothers me. Remember how everyone was complaining about the word "grellow"? They thought it sounded kind of gross? Well, meet grellow.

Hmm, so let me say this..I am Brazilian and we call smoothies, 'vitaminas'. Growing up we, at least once a day, had to have a cup. Either banana with apple/papaya or avocado. We use milk, condensed milk, and the fruit. Everything goes in the blender and whatever is left over goes to ice cube trays for snacks. It is so good!
Another Brazilian thing that we kind of do the other way around (salt/sweet) then North Americans is pumpkin. We are famous for having it baked with shrimp: http://guiadereceitas.uol.com.br/receitas/615-Receita-de-Camarao-na-moranga

oh yum! my dad used to make this for me as a kid. it's filling enough for a meal!

We think the same way here in the Philippines. It's really a dessert item for us. And yes, we make avocado shakes, or freeze it and make it into ice cream :)

oooh, it was something that I wanted to love...but just didn't. I guess I just expect savory flavor from avocado, and the sweet shake just didn't taste very good to me.

i work at whole foods and everyone in our sushi department is from indonesia. once they made us a drink consisting of mashed up avocados mixed with coffee, cream, and sugar. it was... interesting to say the least!

caliH: I've only ordered them at restaurants, but recipes on the internet seem to indicate that you basically make a frozen margarita and puree in an avocado along with the ingredients. In a way, it's a tequila-laced avocado smoothie.

this is one of my favorite treats. i always order it at our favorite local vietnamese restaurant. i can't wait until my son starts eating solid food- i predict that he will love something like this!

This is an Indonesian favourite, too, if I'm not wrong. I first had it as a child in an Indonesian restaurant, and again when I travelled to Bali. They serve it with chocolate syrup, too! But I like it best plain and sweet.

YUM...I've got some soy milk, agave, limes...and avocados hanging out in my kitchen. It looks like they are going to have a party in my mouth soon. haha :-)

It is an Indonesian favorite which is usually made with either palm sugar or sweetened condensed milk. My personal favorite is hand blended with the young coconut flesh, coconut water and sweetened condensed milk. Savory avocado was virtually unknown to me till I moved to the States.

I attended a wedding in Bali ten years ago and everyone was raving about the avocado milkshakes. At the time it didn't sound appetizing and I've regretted not getting one ever since.

But when I went through a raw food phase I used a dip recipe for mashed avocado, banana and *garlic* (eaten with a lettuce leaf) and thought it was pretty good. My friend didn't think so. But at least now a banana/avocado shake sounds good.

I can't wait to go home and try this! My biggest dessert hit with my fiance is a think avocado chocolate pudding. It's basically avocado, coco powder, sugar and a little butter. Maybe thinned with milk if need be. I've used avocados for baking too, so i believe they would be wonderful sweetened.

This is my childhood type of beverage. It's actually common in almost all South East Asian countries. In Indonesia, we add an instant coffee or chocolate condensed milk. Yup, we have chocolate condensed milk not just the white one.

Avocado + sugar + water + lemon + mango. Amazing. Hands down the closest thing to a solid vegan milkshake option.

I started them up after enjoying them at a Chicago takeout sushi place: osaka2go.com/home

Avocado smoothies are SO delicious. One taste and you'll be hooked!

Delicious! My mom is from the Philippines and she made these all the time for us when we were kids - avocado, milk and a little ice cream. I loved to see the disgusted looks on people's faces when they heard the words "avocado milkshake." Now I make them for my son and he loves them!

a recipe I've been making and loving for a few months - tweaked from a Martha Stewart "detox" smoothie:
1/2 mango (or 1 peach)
1/2 avocado
1 leaf of kale
coconut water/ coconut milk

super creamy and not too sweet. I drink one almost every morning.