The $2 Ingredient That Makes My Icy Smoothies Taste Like Creamy Soft Serve

I’ve been making smoothies on a near-daily basis for several years now, so I have some pretty strict criteria. First and foremost, a really good smoothie is as much about the texture as it is about the taste. Sure, we all want a smoothie that’s blissfully delicious — but it also needs have dessert-level creaminess (while still managing to be mostly healthy). I also need my smoothie to fill me up and hold me over until lunchtime. To make both of these things happen, I always add one ingredient to my blender.

That’s right! Avocados aren’t just for guacamole and fancy toast. You’re going to want to stock up on a few extra for your smoothies too, because these cool fruits are one of the best ingredients for blending up luxuriously creamy smoothies. And, similar to how protein-rich ingredients like Greek yogurt and nut butter make for more filling smoothies, the good fats in avocado add an extra layer of richness that also makes smoothies more satiating.

As for what kind of smoothies to add it to, they’re all fair game — its mild flavor makes it easy to pair with just about any fruits and veggies you’re blending up. As a rule of thumb, add about half of a small, ripe avocado to the blender for every 1 cup of liquid in the smoothie.

• Ultra-Creamy Avocado and Mixed Berry Smoothie
• Chocolate Coconut Avocado Smoothie
• Easy Banana Kiwi Smoothie
• Creamy Coconut Kiwi Smoothie
• Tropical Turmeric Smoothie
• Super Greens Smoothie
• Coco Loco Smoothie

Have you ever tried adding avocado to your smoothies?