Apricot Smoothie - Ideal for Boosting your Immunity

A cold apricot smoothie is a delicious way to enjoy this delectable fruit.  I always look forward to summer so I can enjoy the fresh variety.  I have fond memories of my childhood and a backyard filled with fruit trees.  Several of these were apricot trees.  I can still remember the juiciness of freshly picked fruit. 

Perhaps it's nostalgic memories of childhood, but  it all tasted so good.  So much better than today.  Why is it that food always tastes better when it's home grown?

Buying and Storing

At their best apricots are delectably sweet and juicy, but sad specimens at their worst.  When buying look for fruit with a smooth golden-orange skin that has a hint of red. The fruit should be plump, slightly soft but not hard, with a delicate sweet scent.

If the fruit is too soft and squishy it is definitely overripe and should be avoided.  If the fruit is still hard then it is not ripe.  But avoid buying anything that is rock hard and tinged with green, as the fruit is unlikely to ripen. 

Fruit that is almost ripe can be helped along.  Place in a paper bag, not plastic, and store at room temperature.  Apricots ripen much faster than other stone fruits, so don’t leave them sitting around for too long.  One or two days at the most. 

I don’t recommend storing them in the refrigerator, as they lose their flavor.  This is what happens to apricots that have spent long periods of time in supermarket cold stores.  Much better to source your fruit from farmers markets.

How to Use in Smoothies

Apricots have a slightly tangy, tart flavor that lies somewhere between a peach and a plum.  When used in smoothies they really need to be paired with another fruit for added sweetness.  Other orange colored fruits, such as mangoes, go well as do berries such as strawberries.  

The flesh, like that of the mango, gives smoothies a velvety texture.  For a truly filling drink that will keep you going until lunchtime, add a banana or yogurt.

Nutrition

The vivid orange color of apricots gives the hint that this fruit has high levels of carotenoids (including beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin).

Apricots also contain a healthy supply of vitamin C and potassium and are also high in vitamin B, potassium, iron, magnesium and fiber. 

Apricots are a great low calorie food rich in antioxidants giving you great protection against free radical damage.

Apricot Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients

3 apricots, deseeded
1 cup frozen strawberries
½ cup vanilla yogurt
1 cup almond milk
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1 teaspoon honey

How to Make

Into the blender add the apricots, strawberries, vanilla yogurt, almond milk, vanilla bean paste and honey and whizz everything together until creamy and smooth.

This makes two glasses.

Apricot Banana Smoothie

Ingredients

2 frozen bananas
3 apricots, deseeded
½ cup orange juice
½ cup almond milk
2 tablespoons cashew butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon honey

How to Make

Add the bananas, apricots, orange juice, almond milk, cashew butter, vanilla extract and honey to a blender.  Whizz on high until everything becomes smooth and frothy.

Makes two glasses.

Apricot Coconut Smoothie

With the addition of pineapple and coconut, your apricot smoothie can be transformed into a tropical delight.

Ingredients

3 apricots, stones removed
1 cup frozen pineapple pieces
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1 cup coconut milk
½ teaspoon coconut essence

How to Make

Blend together the apricots, pineapple, yogurt, coconut milk and coconut essence until smooth.

Pour into two glasses and serve.

Apricot Mango and Ginger Smoothie

Apricots seem to blend beautifully with other orange colored fruits.

Ingredients

2 apricots, deseeded
1 cup frozen mango pieces
½ cup vanilla yogurt
½ cup orange juice
½ cup almond milk
½ inch grated ginger

How to Make

Blitz on high the apricots, mango, vanilla yogurt, orange juice, almond milk and grated ginger until everything becomes deliciously smooth and creamy.

Then pour into your favorite glasses and enjoy.

More Smoothies to Try