Sunday is a good day for recipes. I don’t know how many people out there are interested in healthy kids snacks (that are tasty enough for adults!) but here is our family’s favorite smoothie. In the interest of full disclosure, it’s really the only smoothie I make because I love it so much. With good reason: the few times I’ve ventured out and tried a different fruit combination the results were less than spectacular.
I already know what some of you are thinking. What in the Hell is that?!
It’s a young coconut, also known as a Thai coconut. I buy mine at the store for about $1.50. You can find them for less than $1 at Asian markets, but I haven’t taken the time to find one in my area. They are incredibly good for you for several reasons, but are primarily known for the electrolyte and mineral rich water inside. I first got hooked on these last summer during the dog days of August. I live in the desert, and just one smoothie a day was instrumental in keeping this not-so-good-at-drinking-water-girl hydrated. As you can see, you need some heavy artillery to open them. Nothing expensive, I think that knife cost $5 at Target, because you definitely want to avoid ruining your good knives on one of these bad boys. Stick with something cheap and relatively disposable.
I wasn’t about to try and take pictures and open my coconut at the same time, so here is a good video to check out on proper technique (there are many different ways, but this is how I do it).
OK, so the main attraction to the young coconut is the texture. As you can see from the video, it’s very soft. A mature coconut, the kind we are all used to seeing, can be hard as a brick and impossible to process to a smooth texture in a smoothie.
Then, you add two cups of frozen pineapple and 1 frozen banana. The banana doesn’t have to be frozen, but it makes a difference in texture (it’s thicker and creamier). Likewise with the pineapple. Plus, I like my smoothies ice cold.
Sounds and looks yummy but aren’t you allergic to bananas??
Yep, but I can start rotating them in now. Yahoo! Just in time for summer. :)
Woohoo for you!! Bananas!
Oh my, that looks so good but I am so lazy. Can’t you please just come over to my house and make me one? Please, yes, thank you, Yum.
Petunia–You can’t be lazier than me! Sometimes I don’t eat or drink just because I don’t feel like making anything. So pathetic. And when The Mister is out with clients or out of town on business? Fast. Food. I’m going to Hell.
This looks like it’s verging on rocket science. I’m pretty sure that I can’t be trusted with a knife that big. I would probably lose a limb trying to cut into that coconut. I think I will just enjoy your pretty pictures.
Yummy post. I wouldn’t trust myself to open a coconut with a knife like that – though I’ve seen street traders in India just machete them open with a flick of the wrist. Very refreshing to drink straight out of the coconut using a straw – but given the choice I’d definitely choose the smoothie.