I’m a fan of pumpkin. There, I said it.
It doesn’t need to be fall for me to indulge. I’ll take it anytime, anywhere, but I always prefer the real thing to artificially flavored. In other words, don’t tell me it’s a pumpkin recipe if there’s no pumpkin in it! Pumpkin pie spice does not turn a pumpkin-free food into Pumpkin Something. It just doesn’t.
Besides, pumpkin is full of beta carotenes, Vitamin C, iron, zinc, fiber, and a bunch of other good stuff. Your body loves it. And, if you’re a follower of Trim Healthy Mama, you should know it’s FP… fuel pull. That means it does not contain significant carbs or fat, and so it can go with anything, like a gray hoodie or a pair of classy jeans.
This recipe is a riff off of the classic Trim Healthy Mama Secret Big Boy Smoothies. Google will help you find some other variations. What’s the secret bit? Okra. Work with me here. I promise you can’t taste it, and even if you could, would that be so bad? Okra is also full of major good stuff and is a weight-loss superfood.
Between pumpkin and okra, this smoothie is loaded with slimming properties, a wonderful texture, and a robust flavor. What’s not to love?
(And here’s my obligatory disclosure that any product links might be affiliate links. Clicking on them doesn’t cost you a penny more, and I get a small percentage of any sales.)
You’ll need a powerful blender for this and any smoothie that calls for frozen okra. I’ve had my Vitamix since 1996, and I can’t recommend them enough. They don’t make mine anymore, but here’s a similar Vitamix. Get the most powerful motor you can afford. I used to go through a blender every year or two, and my Vitamix has been around for 23 years. I consider it money well spent since it has proved to be money well saved!
This smoothie is big enough to be a meal, or you can share with someone else and call it your veggie for a breakfast or snack that includes other foods. Bonus? It’s dairy free!
Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Secret Big Boy Smoothie THM FP
• 1/2 cup almost boiling water
• 1 rooibos teabag
Steep the teabag in the hot water for 5-10 minutes. Discard the teabag.
In your blender, put:
• 1/2 cup rooibos tea (see above)
• 3/4 cup almond or cashew milk
• 3/4 cup frozen diced okra
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 2 tablespoons collagen peptides
• 2 tablespoons monkfruit/erythritol blend (or your choice of sweetener)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon blackstrap molasses
Turn your blender on high and let it run for 2-3 minutes until the okra is completely blended.
Through the lid, while the blender is still running, drop
• 10 or so large ice cubes
Continue to blend until the ice is completely pulverized into the drink.
Pour, sip and enjoy!
This is a smoothie Sadie from Raindrops on Radishes would totally enjoy in her Trim Healthy Mama story!
Please Note: I am not an authorized Trim Healthy Mama coach or blogger, although I play one in fiction…
Anke says
Sounds yummy. Will have to try that! I spent today with a hokkaido pumpkin and a beautiful squash, and made a lovely (Jamie Oliver) ginger-pumpkin soup and pumpkin-oatmeal cookies and muffins. 🙂
Valerie Comer says
I love pumpkin cookies and muffins! I’m not a huge fan of squash soups or any pureed “cream” soups, for that matter. But I use a lot of pumpkin in other things. 🙂