Smoothies are an integral part of my daily breakfast, and I do switch to it often from my regular Indian breakfast dishes. I love flavored yogurt, and when travelling yogurt recipes would be my first choice for breakfast. Its light, filling, gives you a trouble-free stomach, and most of all… keeps you happy & pleasant (the scientific reasoning behind that is it decreases excessive cortisol levels in your body); at least that’s how I feel!

Discovering new flavors by combining different fruits and proteins is fun, sometimes difficult too. One of my all-time favorite combo is strawberry and banana with a liquid (yogurt, almond / regular milk). So, this time I thought to explore a strawberry, banana, peach, yogurt combination … and Oh Boy, it came out Wonderful!

Greek yogurt is a protein powerhouse and has many health benefits which make it a must to include in your daily diet. Due to its high protein and Vitamin B12 content, it can be substituted for meat, especially if you are a vegetarian. As a probiotic, Greek yogurt is considered to be more nutritious than regular yogurts.

In this recipe, the slight tanginess from Greek Yogurt blends easily with the fruity flavours and the hint of sweetness from honey. The end result?  A Smoothie Bowl – Pretty n Perfect for your Breakfast with all your Favorite Fruits, Nuts & Seeds…

Enjoy, Happy Cooking…!

Follow me on Instagram, try out the recipes and tag #pepperdelightblog to all your pictures of Pepper Delight recipes you prepare. Rate us if you love it!

Print

Strawberry Peach Yogurt Bowl

A Healthy and a Protein packed Breakfast with Strawberries, Peaches & Greek Yogurt! Begin your day with this filling Yogurt Bowl, topped with your Favorite Fruits n Nuts…!!

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword breakfast, yogurt bowl

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• 6-8 strawberries
• 1 peach
• ½ of a banana
• 5.6 oz/¾ cup greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp honey / maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pepitas (topping)

Instructions

• Blend all the ingredients until smooth. Top with sliced fresh fruits and pepitas. 

The post Strawberry Peach Yogurt Bowl appeared first on Pepper Delight.

I love smoothies for breakfast…they are delicious, light, refreshing and of course easy to prepare on any busy morning. But I also prefer not to lose its goodness by compromising on the nutritional benefits & taste, for time. So, my solution… Chia!

Chia seeds have amazing health benefits. It is a grain free superfood, high in fiber, calcium, Omega-3, and a protein too. It’s high fiber and calcium content keeps you full for a longer time thereby controlling your appetite, and helping in weight loss. Chia is naturally gluten free, which makes it a great protein source for people with Celiac disease. In addition, it is found to boost your metabolism levels too.

In my home, chia is served as a smoothie topping, in puddings, and sometimes as an egg replacement (Yes, it works!). So, what does it taste like? Chia doesn’t have any taste, it’s basically a filler which easily blends with any core ingredient and at the same time packed with its own goodness. You can top it with yogurt, fruit puree, granola, nuts or fruits to make it taste even better.

The basic recipe of a chia pudding is extremely simple. All you need is to soak chia seeds overnight in any milk of your choice and a sweetening agent. The consistency of a chia pudding is a slightly thick, wobbly, gel like texture. There is hardly any recipe here for this dish, if you know the right ratio of chia pudding, you can top it with endless options.

Enjoy, Happy Cooking…!

Follow me on Instagram, try out the recipes and tag #pepperdelightblog to all your pictures of Pepper Delight recipes you prepare. Rate us if you love it!

Print

Chia Breakfast Pudding

Brighten Up Your Day with an Overnight Chia Pudding with Fresh Fruits and Nuts…!! Vegan & Refined Sugar free… a Quick Breakfast and a Healthy Dessert...!

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword breakfast, chia pudding, healthy

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Servings 3

Author Akhila

Ingredients

For chia pudding

• 1 cup almond milk
• 3 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tsp maple syrup

For pink layer

• 4-5 strawberries
• 6-8 raspberries
• ¼ cup almond milk
• 1 tsp maple syrup (or more)

For green layer

• ½ cup frozen mangoes
• a handful of spinach
• ½ of banana
• ⅓ cup almond milk
• 1 tsp maple syrup (or more)

For yellow layer

• ¼ cup frozen mangoes
• ⅓ cup chopped pineapple
• ½ of banana
• ⅓ cup almond milk
• 1 tsp maple syrup (or more)

nuts and fresh fruits (garnish)

Instructions

• Start with the chia pudding ingredients by mixing them in a glass container until well combined. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes and give another stir to avoid any clumps and mix evenly.
• Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight in a closed container. The chia seeds will absorb the milk and swell up.
• Once the chia pudding is ready, prepare the different colored fruit layers. Blend each layer’s ingredients together until smooth, and keep aside.
• When ready to serve, add a layer of chia pudding to the serving glass. Carefully pour the colored fruit layer mix over the chia pudding with a spoon.
• Top with fresh fruits and nuts, Enjoy.

Notes

1. Substitute almond milk with your choice of milk. You can also use regular milk if you are not a vegan.

2. Vary the amount of maple syrup used to meet your sweetness needs. You can also substitute maple syrup with honey, dates, or any sweetening agent.

The post Chia Breakfast Pudding appeared first on Pepper Delight.

“Avocados with a Sweet Tooth” is the new trend! It’s now in desserts, ice creams and smoothies! I know for those of you who haven’t tried it out, this might not sound tasty. But if you are ready to experiment, Trust Me… it’s a great add on to your smoothies. You won’t even feel its taste because it blends easily with the other fruits.

Avocados are a great source of healthy fats, anti-oxidants, and are a low carb plant food. It helps with digestion due to its high fiber content despite being creamy. Loaded with folate, and tons of nutrients n minerals, this magical fruit is pretty easy to incorporate in your diet with sweet or savory dishes.

Strawberries & bananas are always a winning combo for any smoothie recipe. Including Avocado to it makes the smoothie creamier and rich, adding volume to the drink. And drop in a spoon of cocoa powder, you have one delicious chocolaty dish.

This smoothie has become one of my family’s favorite smoothies, and is not only a good breakfast but also perfect for any time of your day. Top it off with your favorite nuts to give it that extra crunchiness… and there you go…

Enjoy…!

Follow me on Instagram, try out the recipes and tag #pepperdelightblog to all your pictures of Pepper Delight recipes you prepare. Rate below if you love it…!

Print

Chocolate Avocado Smoothie

Start your Day with Avocado, Strawberries, and Banana in this Creamy Rich Chocolate Smoothie…!! A Fresh, Healthy n Delicious Breakfast in just 5 mins!

Course Breakfast, Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword avocado chocolate smoothie, chocolate smoothie, smoothie

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• ½ avocado
• 1 very ripe banana
• 8-10 strawberries
• 1-2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 cup milk (of your choice)
• ½ cup water
• Pistachios (garnish)

Instructions

• Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
• Garnish with pistachios.

The post Chocolate Avocado Smoothie appeared first on Pepper Delight.

Kale is one of the healthiest foods on this planet and I agree to it a 100%. I wasn’t a fan of it until I stumbled upon this perfect smoothie recipe. Kale always felt strange to me, maybe coz of my many failed attempts with it. Every time I walked by the aisle of Kale at a store, I said to myself “not today, next time” and kept on post ponding it. But that’s how Kale tastes, and all you need to do is make it interesting by adding the right sweet ingredients which can mask it’s bitterness but still retain its fresh green flavours. So I tried out this smoothie with mangoes and banana, and it was Yumm! It’s so green, creamy, sweet, well balanced with all the necessary nutrients your body needs, and of course… Delicious…!!

I’m sure you would like to know what’s so special about Kale and why it’s called a Superfood:

• It’s loaded with Anti-oxidants & high in beta carotene; helps lowering blood pressure and is anti-inflammatory.
• Is high in Vitamin C and K.
• A good plant based source of Calcium.
• Helps lowering cholesterol thereby reducing the risk of heart diseases.

To learn more about Kale and it’s health benefits, checkout this super informative article by Dana @ HealthyLine – 26 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Kale.

Enjoy…!

Follow me on Instagram, try out the recipes and tag #pepperdelightblog to all your pictures of Pepper Delight recipes you prepare. Rate below if you love it…!

Update, June 5th ’17: My post has been featured today in thefeedfeed.com‘s favourite “Kale & Other Greens” recipes!! Do check out thefeedfeed.com/kale for more delicious Kale recipes…

Print

Kale Smoothie with Mango & Banana

Healthy n Delicious Green Smoothie… Perfect to Start of your Day or as a Post Workout Drink... Made with the Superfoods; Kale, Mangoes & Bananas!!! 

Course Breakfast, Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword kale smoothie, smoothie

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• 2 cups kale (chopped)
• 1 mango
• 1 banana
• 1 cup water (or more)

Instructions

• Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.

The post Kale Smoothie with Mango & Banana appeared first on Pepper Delight.

So we are finally home from our vacation at Orlando and I’m back to my world of blogging; pumped up and excited! The last week of January, up all the way till Valentine’s Day is usually the busiest time of my year, in fact the most memorable ones too. It starts with my Blog Anniversary, followed by our Wedding Anniversary, which includes our Annual Vacation trip, and then Valentine’s Day; Aaaaaahh…!! So much of activity & happening in a short period, right from the preparations, blog posts, travel planning, packing, travelling, blogging, and so on. This year I had a wonderful time at Orlando; visiting Universal Studios, Disney, parks, beaches, exploring new restaurants and cuisines.

Coming back to my drink of the day, have you ever considered using vegetables in your smoothies? My first attempt of making a Green Smoothie  with spinach was a huge success, I’ve prepared it many times since then and my husband loves it. For my next recipe I just wasn’t convinced with the vegetables I had planned for, and that’s when I accidently stumbled upon beetroot. Though I use beetroot a lot in my kitchen for savoury dishes (check out my Hummus and Pachadi) I have never used it raw in any dish. I was a bit apprehensive initially but the raw beetroot perfectly balanced the sweetness of the apple and pomegranate, and the end result just cleared all my doubts, I must say this is one healthy smoothie you would definitely enjoy.

Now why do I call this a Power Smoothie? Well, it’s because this drink mainly focuses on the purification of your liver which is the power house of your body. A healthy liver diet is vital to eliminates harmful chemicals and toxins from your body, fight diseases, and supply essential nutrients to your body. For a healthy liver, eat the right foods which are fibrous, high in antioxidants & vitamins. To mention a few highlights of the fruit-n-veggie mix of ingredients of this power packed drink:

• Beetroot: Having the highest sugar content of all vegetables, they boost liver function, purifies blood and liver. They are high in antioxidants, with anticancer properties and also work great for pregnant ladies.
• Apple: With their anti-carcinogenic properties, apples are high in pectin which is the soluble fiber, helps to removes toxins and cholesterol from blood.
• Pomegranate: fibrous, high in antioxidants, and vitamins B, E, & C. The bright red color of beet and pomegranate gives your immune system a healthy dose of antioxidants.

Adding vegetables to your smoothies is another great way of open your palate to raw vegetables. Enjoy…!

Follow me on Instagram, try out the recipes and tag #pepperdelightblog to all your pictures of Pepper Delight recipes you prepare. Rate below if you love it…!

Print

Beetroot Power Smoothie

Brighten your day with this Vibrant Colored, Power Packed Smoothie made with Apple, Beetroot and Pomegranate… Healthy and Tasty…!!!

Course Breakfast, Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword beetroot smoothie, post workout smoothie, smoothie

Prep Time 7 minutes minutes

Total Time 7 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• 1 small beetroot (peeled and cut into small chunks, or grated)
• 1 apple
• 1 pomegranate
• 1½ cup water

Instructions

• Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Notes

A raw beetroot doesn’t blend that easily, unless you are using a powerful high speed blender in which case cut it into small pieces first before blending. Otherwise, grate it and then blend with the fruits.

The post Beetroot Power Smoothie appeared first on Pepper Delight.

This is my sweet n creamy Mango Pineapple Smoothie; another quick & simple breakfast, and a wonderful drink to keep you hydrated between your workouts & busy schedule. The tartness of the pineapple, creaminess from the banana n milk, and the sweetness of the mangoes make it a perfect combo.

Adding fruits to your daily routine in the form of smoothies is a healthy practice to pack all its nutrients and vitamins to your diet. Pineapple being an anti-inflammatory food, is also high in Vitamin A, C and beta carotene. Thanks to its high fiber content, they are also naturally detoxifying. And of course, Mangoes and Pineapples are great for digestion too.

Try this delicious smoothie and customize it with your favourite fruits, let me know how it turns with your comments below.

Stay Healthy and Enjoy…!

Follow me on Instagram, try out the recipes and tag #pepperdelightblog to all your pictures of Pepper Delight recipes you prepare.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup chopped pineapple
• ½ cup chopped mango
• 1 banana
• ½ cup milk
• Toppings: Kiwi, Mangoes, Strawberry

INSTRUCTIONS

• Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.
• Serve in a bowl with your favourite toppings.

The post  Mango Pineapple Smoothie Bowl appeared first on Pepper Delight.

Chia seeds are an excellent source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and a perfect ingredient to your smoothies. It is super healthy, has a high nutrient content, and is low in calories. The seeds alone taste weird but you can eat it raw, or can be easily incorporated in any smoothies, drinks, puddings, or even as a topping. Being hydrophilic it plumps up when soaked in any liquid, giving it a soft/gel texture which adds a whole new perspective to your drink.

I love the combination of banana and strawberries, the perfect balance of sweet & sour, and adding a little milk is also good and makes it richer. Another wonderful ingredient which works magic to your drink, is an ideal sugar replacement, and is healthy with its anti-inflammatory properties… is Honey.
My kitchen adventures are all about trying different combinations and creating new ones. So try out with the different fruits in your pantry, you could even add them as toppings to your drinks. But trust me, this smoothie tastes so yum and you will keep on coming back for it.

Stay Healthy and Enjoy…!

Follow me on Instagram, try out the recipes and tag #pepperdelightblog to all your pictures of Pepper Delight recipes you prepare.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup strawberries
• 1 banana
• 1 tbsp honey
• ¼ cup milk
• Toppings: Blackberry, Chia seeds, Banana, Strawberry

INSTRUCTIONS

• Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.
• Serve in a bowl with toppings.

The post Strawberry Banana Chia Smoothie Bowl appeared first on Pepper Delight.

Smoothies are being talked a lot by doctors, dietitians, nutritionists, physical instructors, your fitness center, n everywhere… along with the importance of including a fruit serving with every meal. They are an easy and a tasty means to meet your mealtime fruit needs, and can be healthy too with the right ingredients.

I’ve tried to use local honey in this recipe, as recently I got to know the benefits of local honey vs brand honey from a family friend. It’s a good source to your daily dose of natural medicine, controlling your allergies, plus a natural sweetener.

I’ve used frozen berries here, but you can also substitute with fresh berries. If your smoothie seems too thick, you can add a little water and blend it.

Enjoy…!

Prep time: 5 minutes
Serves: 2

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cup mixed berries
• 2 bananas
• 2 tbsp honey

INSTRUCTIONS

• Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.

The post Anti-ageing Berry Banana Smoothie appeared first on Pepper Delight.