A Cup of Catherine

Blueberry Vanilla Smoothie (With a Secret Ingredient)

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This blueberry vanilla smoothie is healthy and delicious, thanks to a special, nutritious secret ingredient.

Even though I’m always scrambling in the mornings and have little time to fuss with kitchen equipment, I have recently jumped back onto the smoothie train.

Choo Choo!

This gorgeous purple blueberry-vanilla smoothie is perfect for spring. It features a secret ingredient, too!

After sharing this delightfully simple and festive recipe on Amanda’s blog, I’ve restocked my freezer and pantry with fruit and mix-ins galore.

One such purchase being a HUGE bag of blueberries for next-to-nothing at Sam’s Club, hence today’s recipe.

Blueberries are tiny powerhouses, I tell you. They are full of antioxidants (which we health nuts love), and they are incredibly versatile in baked goods and other dishes.

They’re also very low on the Glycemic Index, which is great news if you’re craving something sweet but need to keep your blood sugar in check.

Although I haven’t gotten Bazooka to take a liking to them—yet!—I am pleased to tell you that they also make excellent dog treats.

So obviously blueberries are a big part of today’s recipe, but I’ve also snuck in a non-detectable “secret” ingredient: frozen zucchini.

I got the idea from Erin (check out her secrets to making the perfect smoothie bowl) and can’t believe I have been missing out all this time!

I normally add spinach, but zucchini is the way to go! A small zucchini packs a lot of nutrients (but few calories), and because it’s almost entirely water, it doesn’t alter the flavor at all.

Blueberry and vanilla are the stars of this gorgeous purple smoothie, but there's a secret *healthy* ingredient in there, too.

Blueberry Vanilla Smoothie

serves 1 (generously)

Ingredients

  • 1 small (or half a large) zucchini, chopped and frozen
  • 1/2 frozen banana
  • 3/4 cup frozen blueberries
  • 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
  • 1 Tbsp almond butter
  • 1 Tbsp hemp hearts
  • 6-8 oz of milk (I used almond) + water (to achieve desired consistency)
  • optional: cinnamon, to taste

Directions

  • Add all of your ingredients to your blender. Blend on medium until smooth. If needed, add a splash more milk (or water) to achieve desired consistency.
  • Pour into a glass and drink up!

Blueberries are the star of this vibrant purple smoothie, but you won't believe the secret ingredient!

If you want to get fancy (and have time to savor your concoction), pour the smoothie into a bowl and add whatever toppings you desire. I love granola (like this lightly sweet, gluten-free No Nutty Chocolate Chip Granola from Blissful Eats) and extra blueberries.

Want to know the secret ingredient? Take a look at this healthy, vibrant blueberry smoothie #recipe. Share on X
  • What’s your favorite blueberry recipe?
  • Have you ever added zucchini to your smoothies?
  • Drinkable smoothie or smoothie bowl?

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. I adore frozen blueberries. I eat them by the bowlful. I’ve never added zucchini to a smoothie, but I’d be up for trying it!
      I’m sharing this with my friend who recently became obsessed with smoothie!

      • I rarely just eat them, but I do love adding them to smoothies and using them in baked goods. My dog goes wild over them, haha.
        I hope your friend likes the smoothie!

    2. Mmm this sounds delicious! I’ve added zucchini to my smoothies before, but I’ve never thought to freeze them for it. Great idea for when we are in the middle of zucchini season and can’t keep up with eating them!

      • Yeah, you should totally freeze your extras! It helps the smoothie get icy without using ice. I’ve read that if you are planning to eat (sauté or steam or whatever) the zucchini, you should blanch and then freeze, but I just washed, dried, chopped, and tossed it into a freezer bag since I knew it wouldn’t be frozen too long.
        I wish I had a green thumb! We had a garden one year and yielded like 2 zucchini before everything died. One day… 🙂

    3. Very interesting putting a zucchini in a smoothie, but hey why not?! I mean people put it in their oatmeal after all 😉

      • I’ve never done the zucchini oatmeal thing. In fact, I forgot it even existed until you mentioned it, haha. It really isn’t noticeable in the smoothie, though! And even with the skin it blends fairly well in my Ninja. 🙂

    5. I never thought of adding zucchini to a smoothie!! This really does look amazing tho- gonna have to try it! 🙂