Chocolate Zucchini Smoothie

This chocolate zucchini smoothie is filled with your favorite flavors - cocoa, banana, and peanut butter - with a hidden serving of zucchini inside. Zucchini blends in seamlessly and adds fiber, Vitamin A, and antioxidants.

This chocolate zucchini smoothie is a simple vegan recipe made with a handful of nutritious ingredients. Zucchini, cocoa, and peanut butter are blended with frozen banana to make this lightly sweetened, creamy smoothie.

Ground flaxseed adds fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, and also helps improve your digestive health. Plus, you're getting a serving fruits and a serving of veggies first thing in the morning - the perfect way to start your day.

Enjoy this chocolate zucchini smoothie alongside your regular breakfast, like a bowl of oatmeal or a few egg muffins. It also makes a great post-workout snack and helps keep you hydrated.

Ingredients and substitutions

• Zucchini - Rich in vitamin B6, potassium, and fiber. For this recipe, you'll need about a cup of cubed zucchini, or about one small, fresh zucchini, cubed.
• Frozen banana- High in fiber and potassium. Using one frozen fruit helps thicken your smoothie and keep it cold, which is why I recommend using frozen sliced banana rather than fresh. Frozen banana can be substituted with other frozen fruit, like frozen peaches, frozen avocado, and frozen pineapple. Keep in mind this will change the flavor of your smoothie slightly.
• Nut butter - Almond butter, cashew butter, peanut butter, or sun butter are all great options to add to your smoothie. Use your favorite.
• Ground flaxseed - Adds nutrients to your smoothie, like fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Can be substituted with chia seeds or hemp seeds if desired. This can also be omitted entirely if needed without affecting your smoothie.
• Cocoa powder - Unsweetened cocoa powder (or dutch cocoa powder for a milder flavor) adds the chocolate flavor to your smoothie.
• Liquid - We used almond milk today, which adds to the creamy consistency of the smoothie. Your preferred type of milk, like oat milk or cow's milk, also works as a substitute.
• Optional sweetener - The sweetness of your banana will affect the overall sweetness of your smoothie. If desired, add a teaspoon or two of maple syrup or honey to your smoothie for a sweeter flavor.

Can you taste the zucchini?

No, zucchini has a very mild flavor and does not add any noticeable flavor to a smoothie. It's a great way to sneak extra veggies into your diet when you otherwise don't enjoy them on their own.

When paired with cocoa powder and peanut butter, your zucchini won't even add a green hue.

Make sure you're using a high powered blender to prepare your smoothies. If so, you shouldn't see any green flecks in the finished smoothie.

How to add more vegetables

Here are a few popular vegetables to add to smoothies. This chocolate zucchini smoothie works best with up to two vegetables total, so you could choose one additional veggie from the list below, and/or substitute the zucchini with another vegetable:

• Lettuce
• Kale
• Spinach
• Celery (like in my blueberry zucchini smoothie)
• Yellow summer squash
• Cauliflower
• Sweet potato
• Carrot

📖 Recipe