Spring smoothie recipe

The K400 blender is a staple in my kitchen

The K400 blender has five-speed settings plus four presets for blending icy drinks, smoothies, crushing ice and cleaning. Most blenders I’ve used in the past haven’t had the power to pulverize seeds or leafy greens but the K400’s 3-part blending system easily breaks down even the toughest ingredients! I’ve made everything from homemade nut butters, to hummus and frozen strawberry daiquiris with it. The crushed ice setting is amazing for cocktail evenings giving you bar-quality ice in under two minutes!

The best bit? It has a self-clean cycle and the parts are dishwasher safe too. Once you’ve finished blending, just pop a squeeze of washing up liquid in the jug, fill it about halfway with water, use the self-clean cycle and then rinse. Easy peasy!  Kitchen Aid stocks a range of handy accessories to work alongside your K400 blender. I love the 500ml personal blending jar for smoothies on the go. It’s so handy if I’m heading out on a busy shoot day as I can blend up my breakfast in less than 10 minutes and enjoy it on the drive. I’ve got my eye on the Citrus Press attachment next - nothing beats a freshly pressed glass of juice with breakfast! 

The K400 blender comes in a wide range of colours to suit your kitchen. I opted for the cast iron black, which looks so beautiful on our kitchen worktop. Whilst it is compact enough to store in a kitchen cupboard, I think the retro aesthetic makes it a lovely permanent feature to any kitchen.

3 fresh, seasonal smoothie recipes for spring

Spring has finally sprung here in the UK and, this year, it’s more welcome than ever. With the warmer weather comes lots of seasonal fruits and veggies, perfect for blending up a batch of delicious and nutritious smoothies. I’ve put together three of my favourite recipes for a smoothie, guaranteed to get you excited about spring! Each recipe is super simple to make, just pop all the ingredients in your KitchenAid K400 blender, use the special smoothie programme and enjoy. Let’s get started…

Spring Pear Smoothie

In my opinion, pears don’t get the attention they deserve. They’re a little like avocados in the sense that it’s difficult to find that window of perfection between too ripe and too late. But if you catch them at the right time, they’re delicious! If you’re a little unsure when it comes to green smoothies, this recipe is the perfect way to ease yourself in. The sweet, fruity flavours of banana and pear outweigh the flavour of the spinach. If you’ve got a fussy family member, this recipe is a great way to sneak in some greens! You can add a little honey too if you like, but I prefer it just naturally sweet without.

Ingredients: 

•  1 seasonal pear* (ripe, sliced) 

• 1 frozen banana 

• 1 cup almond milk 

• 1 cup spinach 

• pinch of ground cinnamon 

• ½ cup ice 

*Be sure to wait until your pear is fully ripe for a sweet and juicy smoothie. A quick tip to ripen your pears quickly is to pop them in a brown paper bag and close tightly - don’t ask me how it works, but it does! 

Sunshine Smoothie

This recipe for a smoothie is the perfect afternoon snack in-between shoots. It’s quick to throw together and gives a much needed energy boost. The greek yogurt adds protein and a creamy texture, whilst mango and coconut water combine to create a delicious tropical flavour. Not forgetting the fiery zing of fresh ginger. It’s paradise in a glass. 

Ingredients: 

•  1 cup coconut water 

• ½ cup mango* 

• 1 medium orange (peeled, seeds removed) 

• ½ tsp freshly grated ginger 

• ½ cup greek yogurt 

• 1 cup ice**

*Feel free to replace the mango with another tropical fruit - pineapple and papaya are two of my favourites to use in this recipe!  ** If you’re using frozen mango then there’s no need for the ice! Just add a splash more coconut water until you have your desired consistency. 

Strawberry & Basil Smoothie

Did you know that just five strawberries contain nearly 100 % of your daily vitamin C and 3g of fibre? This delicious recipe for a smoothie combines strawberries, banana and pineapple for your daily fruit fix. A handful of basil leaves gives it a fresh spring flavour that’s super satisfying.

Ingredients:

• 1 frozen banana

• 1 cup pineapple

• 1 cup coconut milk*

• A few basil leaves

• 5 strawberries

• ½ cup ice

*If the smoothie is too thick for your liking, just add a little more milk.

So there we have it. My three favourite spring recipes for a smoothie packed with nutrient-rich fruits. I hope you’ve enjoyed the recipes. As with any smoothie, these three recipes are super versatile. I often add a handful of spinach, a spoonful of nut butter or even a shot of rum at the weekend! Try experimenting with different ingredients - your K400 blender makes it so easy!