A rich and creamy healthy chocolate smoothie loaded with protein thanks to a secret ingredient that you totally can't taste - beans! It's like a chocolate protein shake but made without any weird ingredients. Naturally sweetened with just banana and dates, this bean smoothie is totally vegan and dairy-free, and I promise it's delicious!
You put beans in what?!
Something you should know about me is that I'll put beans into basically anything. I mean, you've heard of black bean brownies, right? Here on HNL we have Adzuki Bean Brownies and Chickpea Blondies, so it really should surprise no one that I'll put beans in a smoothie.
I'm sorry, did you say bean smoothie? Yes, friends, I did. Bean smoothie! Black bean smoothie! Chocolate black bean smoothie! It's like a chocolate protein shake but without any weird stuff in it. Unless of course you consider putting beans in your smoothies weird, and then I guess it has weird stuff in it. I'm ok with it!
I love finding ways to add lots of protein to a smoothie without adding protein powder. Beans are definitely a favorite, but so is cottage cheese (try this blueberry cottage cheese smoothie—it's soooo good!) or tofu (this strawberry banana tofu smoothie is a fan fave!)
I promise you can't taste the beans
The number one question I get asked about this Chocolate Black Bean Smoothie is whether you can taste the beans, and I promise you cannot. They just blend up creamy and delicious and are totally disguised by the other delicious flavors.
So, what's the point of putting beans in a smoothie? Well, you can pack in a whole bunch of good nutrition (I am a Nutrition Lady, after all) while making something that still tastes really good. It's like throwing a handful of spinach into a green smoothie (check our archive of healthy smoothie recipes for more inspo!)—you can't taste it, but you feel good knowing that it's there.
And did I mention that this Chocolate Black Bean Smoothie not only contains black beans, but frozen cauliflower as well? if you're worried about that. It adds dietary fiber, and makes this chocolate smoothie icy cold and refreshing.
Hemp seeds add another boost of protein, and a frozen banana and a couple of Medjool dates bring the sweetness. This healthy chocolate smoothie is vegan, naturally sweetened, and naturally protein-rich. People love it. Seriously, peep the comments—over 130 of them!
Featured comment
What magic is this?! Doubled for my fam of 4 for breakfast and no one believed me when I told them there was beans AND cauliflower in it!! Love it 🫘
~ Kim ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Let's make this black bean smoothie together!
Step 1: combine all the ingredients
Truly friends, this couldn't be easier. All you need to do is combine all of the ingredients together in your blender.
If you have a classic blender like the one in the picture, start by adding the liquids, followed by the beans and dates, and add the frozen ingredients last. This gives the blades of the blender something to grab onto before it gets to the frozen stuff.
Then all you need to do is blend, baby, blend!
Can I make this smoothie in advance?
You bet you can! This Chocolate Black Bean Smoothie recipe is a great option for meal prepping Frozen Smoothie Packs.
You can also blend it up and keep your smoothie in the fridge for a few hours. It might separate a bit so you'll want to shake or stir before you drink it.
Chocolate Black Bean Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup frozen cauliflower see notes!
- ½ cup black beans
- 1-2 medjool dates pitted
- 1 cup oat milk or milk of choice
- 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth.1 frozen banana, 1 cup frozen cauliflower, ½ cup black beans, 1-2 medjool dates, 1 cup oat milk, 1 tablespoon hemp seeds, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pour into a glass and sprinkle hemp seeds over the top if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Using 2 dates makes this smoothie very sweet. I prefer just one, but if you're accustomed to a sweeter drink or your banana isn't very sweet, you can go for two.
- It's really important that you choose either store-bought frozen cauliflower, or cauliflower that has been blanched and then frozen. Raw cauliflower tossed into the freezer will end up giving the smoothie a very bitter taste.
- You can't taste the black beans, I promise!
- This makes one LARGE smoothie for a hungry person, or two smaller snack-sized smoothies.
- Nutrition values are an estimate only!
Nutrition
Mary says
I don't have a high speed blender. Should I soak the date first, or will it work out anyway? This sounds great! I'm anxious to try it!!
Katie Trant says
Hey Mary! No need to soak the date first unless your dates are really old and dry. A fresh medjool date should blend up no problem.
Alison says
Love, love this smoothie! I've made it twice this week. Added spinach the second time I it. Yum!!
Katie Trant says
Oooh, I'll have to try adding spinach some time!
Nikki says
So dang good! Kids enjoyed it too. Cinnamon is often just an okay flavor for me. I thought it went so well in this recipe and what I believe helps disguise the not so common smoothie ingredients. Keeper!
Katie Trant says
So glad you enjoyed this one, Nikki! It's one of my favourites.
Cassie says
OMG this is delicious!!! I can't believe I waited so long to make it
Andree says
Great smoothie. I make another similar smoothie with cannelini beans and cinnamon, and this was great too. Couldn't taste the beans, and black beans are real powerhouses of nutrition. Didn't have room in my blender for the frozen cauliflower, but I'll use the lerger one next time. Great way to get the daily cruciferous veg into the diet.
Katie Trant says
Hey Andree! I'm so glad to hear you enjoy this smoothie as much as we do.
Leesa says
This recipe has been a favourite of our’s for a long time! Another win!
Katie Trant says
It's a favorite in our house too!
Claudia says
I had really high hopes for this recipe, but my first try was really disappointing. The result was so bitter that I had to add more cocoa and maple syrup. Also I could totally taste the cauliflower. It would be incredibly helpful if you wrote "store-bought frozen cauliflower" or "previously steamed frozen cauliflower" in the ingredients. I put raw cauIiflower in the freezer because I hadn't read the comments and I think that's what made it bitter. I also have a question: is there a particular nutritional reason why you chose black beans and not - for example - cannellini beans? Thanks!
Katie Trant says
Hey Claudia! Yeah, it was definitely the raw cauliflower that caused the bitter taste. I'll update the recipe notes to make sure this doesn't happen again! Nutritionally, you could definitely choose another type of bean. I think black beans go well with chocolate (like black bean brownies) which is why I chose them for this recipe, but another type of bean would work as well.
Gayle says
I admit, I was skeptical. However, this smoothie is incredible...thick, delicious and made with whole foods! I'm thinking as scoop of PB added in may be in the cards for me. 🙂 Thanks so much for this recipe.
Katie Trant says
Hey Gayle! This is one of my favourite smoothie recipes! So satisfying thanks to all the beans. I bet adding PB would be delicious, too. Glad you enjoyed it!
Beth says
This is absolutely delicious! I added 1/2 cup of plain Greek Yogurt for a 10g extra protein boost - it's my go-to shake after a workout. Thank you!
Katie Trant says
So glad you enjoyed this one, Beth!
Sarah says
You have truly enriched my life with this recipe! Breakfast is now dessert! I used King Arthur’s Dutch-processed cocoa and it’s outstanding. Thank you so much, Katie!
Katie Trant says
Hey Sarah! So glad you enjoyed this one as much as we do 🙂
Barb H says
So delicious!!
My new go to breakfast. I freeze the banana, black beans and riced cauliflower in baggies. Doing up multiple bags makes the morning so much easier. I just add the cocoa and a tablespoon of maple syrup and milk in the morning. I use half Silk coconut milk and half water. It really is like drinking a brownie. Thank you so much for this great recipe 😀
Katie Trant says
Hey Barb! I love prepping smoothie bags for the freezer as well. It makes busy mornings so much easier!
Janet says
I was intrigued about adding black beans and cauliflower to a smoothie so had to try this recipe. I had some leftover cauliflower so put that in the freezer the night before, then read a comment below saying that the cauliflower needed to be lightly steamed first (whoops!), but gave it a try anyway and it worked. There was no cauliflower taste at all. I love adding as much protein as I can to my smoothies and this makes a great change from protein powder, plus adding fibre at the same time, so this recipe is a definite winner for me. This would be a great recipe for little ones with an aversion to vegetables, but a love of chocolate. For mine I only added one date and cacao instead of cocoa powder and that was perfect for me. Thanks again for yet another successful recipe!
TH says
Hello, can you use raisins instead of dates and if so, how much? Thank you!
Katie Trant says
I have never tried this recipe with raisins. They have quite a different taste and texture to dates, so I don't really recommend.
Kim says
What magic is this?! Doubled for my fam of 4 for breakfast and no one believed me when I told them there was beans AND cauliflower in it!! Love it 🫘
Marie says
So easy to make and you're right, you can't taste the beans or the cauliflower but I love the extra body and nutrition they add. Great recipe!
Beth says
This smoothie is delicious! If I feel like I haven't ate great during the day it's the perfect bedtime snack. I've made it with and without the frozen cauliflower and both taste great. I like having a high protein smoothie option without added artificial protein powders
Laura says
This smoothie is legit. The real deal. I've been making it a few times a week for months now, and I can truly say I'm living my best life. I use cashew or oat milk, and it always comes out perfect!
Lenora says
This was fabulous! Felt like I was having a milk share for breakfast. Will definitely keep this recipe as a breakfast or snack option. Thanks for sharing!
John Sullivan says
I made this and it was awesome and filling! I put some protein powder in for more protein but I was wondering if I could swap out cauluflower or banna for canned pumpkin?
Katie Trant says
You could, but the taste and texture would be different.
Donna says
Hi - I am excited to try this, as I was reading it I was already thinking of some changes... I would leave out the dates, add avocado. Instead of cocoa, I will use cacoa (love this) and add a smidge of Vermont Maple Syrup! I will let you know how it goes. Newbie to plant based eating...
Naomi says
Awesome recipe! My family and I really enjoyed it this morning.
Katie Trant says
Yay! I'm so happy to hear that.
Yls says
This was great! I only used banana, cocoa powder, spinach, water and black beans and it turned out delicious. Tasted surprisingly like a wholesome brownie.
Holly says
Any ideas of what I could use instead of dates? A dash of maple syrup perhaps? Also, any ideas of what I could use as a substitution for frozen cauliflower?
Katie Trant says
A splash of maple syrup would be a perfect sub for dates, or you can just leave them out if your banana is sweet enough. If you don't have or don't want to use frozen cauliflower, you can use extra frozen banana (it'll make your smoothie sweeter for sure) or you could use another frozen vegetable with a neutral flavour like zucchini or even frozen broccoli.
Melissa says
Hi there, quick question. If I were to assemble some make-ahead smoothie bags, which ingredients go into the bag to be frozen? I am assuming just the bananas, beans, and cauliflower… But please let me know.
Or does it not matter?
Thanks ^_^
Katie Trant says
You can add everything except the liquids. Instructions are in this post: https://www.heynutritionlady.com/make-and-freeze-smoothie-packs/
Melissa says
Thanks for the tutorial— going to freeze some black bean smoothie packs. Great recipe, btw!
I might try adding some frozen ice cubes of coffee— seems like a flavor that would work AND it would kill two birds, as they say.
Elena says
Do you use dry beans or canned beans? Do the beans need to be soaked before blending?
Katie Trant says
The beans must be cooked, so either canned (which are already cooked) or soaked and then boiled until tender.
Carmen says
Same result with azuki beans?
Katie Trant says
Probably!
Jehanne says
I made this today, and it's a definite winner. The only major changes I made were swapping adzuki beans for the black beans, and chia seeds for the hemp. The flavor is akin to chocolate banana bread, which I love--I'm sure to be making this again!
Rianna says
I made this and it's really good! I used 1/4 cup of dried date bits instead of mejol dates and soaked them in hot water for 15or so minutes first. I also substituted the hemp seeds for ground flax seed which I soaked with the dates. I am amazed at how sweet it is considering the black beans and cauliflower. I gave it to my unsuspecting hubby and he really like it. ...until I told him there was black beans in it. ????????????
Katie Trant says
Haha, next time don't tell him!
Janice says
Simply amazing. This is a great post workout smoothie that tastes like a chocolate milkshake! I used a high powered blender to mix and left out the cinnamon (not a fan of cinnamon and chocolate together). My new favorite smoothie!!
Katie Trant says
I don't always use the cinnamon. I think it's just as delicious without!
Chrissy says
Can you use date syrup instead of buying dates?
Katie Trant says
I don't see why not.
Dorothee says
Absolutely loved this, I am trying to add more protein to my diet and this was delicious. I didn't have dates or black beans so used maple syrup and kidney beans instead. Thank you
Jackie says
I'm not sure why, but I can't find the recipe anywhere on this page. I clicked another smoothie link and found that recipe without a problem, so I don't know what could be wrong. I would love to check this out!
Katie Trant says
Ahhhhhh! Thanks for letting me know. I've got my tech support working on fixing that now, post should be fixed soon.
Katie Trant says
FYI the post is fixed now. Thanks Jackie!
Janet Nichting says
I love this smoothie and had enjoyed it several times! My 23-year old son has made it at my recommendation and he likes it, but even with only 1 date, he thinks the sugar content is high. I assured him it was okay since it is all naturally occurring sugar, but can you help explain why he should not be worried about it? He is healthy so there are no food issues to need to consider.
Katie Trant says
Hi Janet, the sugar content IS high since both the date and the banana bring quite a lot of carbohydrates to the table. Additionally, the beans and plant-based milk are a source of both complex (beans) and simple (plant milk) carbs. However, unlike eating a brownie or a chocolate bar, the naturally occurring sugars in the dates and bananas are coupled with dietary fiber, which helps to moderate the update of sugar into your blood stream. They're also packaged with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that you wouldn't find in a sugary beverage. This smoothie also has cauliflower and beans, which makes it more of a complete meal. Unless you're counting carbs for medical reasons such as diabetes, it's really nothing to be concerned about.
Courtney says
I went into this with such high hopes, but unfortunately this recipe did not work out for me. I absolutely could taste the beans in the smoothie (ick), and no matter how much I blended, it wouldn't go completely smooth and had a disgusting grainy texture. Really disappointed, as I wanted this recipe to work so badly!
Katie Trant says
Hey Courtney, I'm so bummed this didn't work for you! Can I ask what kind of beans you used? Were they canned or soaked and cooked from dried?
Clara says
I had the EXACT same experience! I read the reviews and everyone said it tasted amazing!! I was super excited and followed the recipe exactly but my cauliflower wasn’t frozen which seems like it should make a difference. Super disappointed
Katie Trant says
Hey Clara, using frozen cauliflower actually does make a big difference! Frozen cauliflower (and other veggies) are blanched (quickly steamed) prior to freezing, which removes the bite from the cauliflower. Using raw cauli would add a strong "cabbagy" taste to the smoothie, which wouldn't be pleasant at all. Frozen cauli on the other hand, blends up without adding any flavour at all. I'll add a note to the recipe about this for future users, but I do hope you'll try it again with frozen cauliflower rather than fresh.
Renee says
I just made the Chocolate Black Bean Smoothie. It is delicious! Although I love all the ingredients individually, I was not sure about being put together in a smoothie. I was sooo wrong! I am a new vegan and I often struggle with getting enough of my daily protein. To be honest, I struggled with this problem when I ate animal products as well. This smoothie helps with the struggle.????
Thanks for a rich macronutrient and delicious recipe.
Katie Trant says
Yay! So glad I've converted another person to being a bean smoothie lover. So weird sounding, but so good!
LARISSA says
Just made this and it tastes soooo good! I served 1/2 a portion of it in a bowl with a swirl of homemade almond butter and was deslish!!
Katie Trant says
Ooooh, I love the idea of making this into a smoothie bowl!
EmiLy says
I can’t believe I waited so long to try this. It’s unbelievably tasty. I’m addicted.
alice toth says
Absolutely FABULOUS smoothie! I was skeptical about the beans and the cauliflower but both were not noticeable at all, it was just delicious. I also added a tablespoon of ground flax seeds and used pumpkin pie spice because I was out of cinnamon. Both my husband and I loved it! I found out about this recipe from the Exam Room podcast through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, I'm so glad they shared it!
Katie Trant says
So glad you enjoyed this smoothie, Alice! And thanks for tipping me off - I had no idea they'd shared the recipe 🙂
ChristA says
I just discovered this recipe. Bought black beans to try it... and it’s absolutely delicious ???? Thank you!! Would never have come up with it myself. Straight into my top 5 for sure! Used less almond milk to thicken it as I love to spoon my smoothies.
Love from Holland, Christa
stacy says
I've love black bean brownies but never thought of putting them in a smoothie. This was delicious! Thanks!
Katie Trant says
I'm so glad you tried it! It's one of my favourite recipes, and once you get past the idea of beans in smoothies it's incredibly delicious!
MNAsh says
As always, soooo good!
Kimberly Adkison says
Love, love, love this smoothie. So satisfying when I want a treat, and it sure tastes like a treat even though I know what's in it! I always have a few bags prepped in the freezer so I can quickly whip one up. Having my favorite smoothies prepped in the freezer was a game changer for me since I often am in a hurry when I want a smoothie. Thanks Katie.
Maclean says
I just rediscovered this recipe! Still so good! I love how chocolatey and rich it is!
Your recipes never disappoint!
Katie Trant says
It's one of my all-time favourites - I'm glad you enjoy it as much as I do!
Rochelle says
I am so happy my fiance found this recipe. It's the best smoothie I ever had!!!! We love the original recipe and we also added vanilla and fresh nutmeg which intensied the flavors beautifully. For a more ice-cream feel you can chill it 🤤
Jessica J Tschida says
Are you using cooked, riced, or raw chunks of cauliflower from the freezer?
Katie Trant says
I use frozen cauliflower straight from the freezer, but I've definitely used chunks of raw cauliflower from the fridge before, too.
Elaie says
What can I use in place of cauliflower?
Katie Trant says
Well, you can just leave it out of cauliflower doesn't work for you. Or if you want to replace it with another vegetable you could throw in some spinach (I often use frozen spinach) or broccoli (same, frozen broccoli). You really can't taste any of those options so long as you use them in moderation.
Donna says
Hi, Katie
This smoothie is really looking so delicious. The ingredients are healthy. I love Banana and Almond milk in my smoothie. . Thanks for putting them together.
Katie Trant says
Banana and almond milk and BEANS! It's the ultimate combo!
Maren says
Not sure why I've never thought of using black beans in my smoothies.. genius! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Katie Trant says
I hope you like it! One of my favourite ways to pump up the protein without using protein powders.
Mickey says
I've been making smoothies like this for a while no and love them. Do you use raw beans or lentils or do you soak and cook them first? I have also used chick pea power as a protein source and I am wondering about the danger of lectins, I would appreciate your thoughts.
Katie Trant says
I use beans that either come from a can (well rinsed!) or that have been soaked and cooked. I don't think that raw beans would blend up very well! Legumes, are almost always cooked in some way before we consume them, which leaves only a negligible amount of lectins, making these foods safe to eat for the majority of people.
Anna Powell says
Wow, what an interesting idea using black beans in the smoothie. Just pinned this recipe. thanks,Anna
Katie Trant says
I hope you enjoy it!
Jamie says
Thank you so much for this recipe! I used less almond milk to make it a smoothie bowl and added kidney beans & spinach. It was amazing 🙂
Katie Trant says
Yum! I bet that would make a great smoothie bowl!
Donna says
Just made this - DELICIOUS! I didn't have dates on hand so I sweetened with a little Agave. You would never know there are beans in this drink. So different and very satisfying after a hard workout. I plan or checking out your other recipes.
Nataly Beyer says
How long should the black beans be soaked before using?
Katie Trant says
No soaking required - you want to use cooked or canned black beans.
Abigail says
Loved it. A tad too much cinnamon I think. Thanks for the share
Katie Trant says
Sometimes I skip the cinnamon altogether, but I do enjoy it with the kick as well!
Autumn says
I found your blog yesterday while searching for a mung bean recipe--- I made the mung bean and coconut curry recipe last night and it was amazing! I'm really loving your site and have found quite a few recipes I want to try.
I've got a question about this smoothie--I live in Thailand, so unfortunately black beans are really hard to find. I can buy them imported but they're quite expensive. However, Japanese black soybeans are everywhere and very cheap. Do you think those would work in a smoothie?
Thanks!
Katie Trant says
You could use any bean that has a relatively neutral flavour. So soybeans, adzuki beans, white kidney beans etc, would all be just fine!
Jan says
Nice recipe, Katie. I never tried a smoothie with chocolate in it so I might give it a try! 🙂
Katie Trant says
I hope you like it!
Sarah Grace Spann says
Wow so unique I might just have to try it! Even though maybe for dessert as that much beans in the morning may not be the best for my tummy 🙂
xo,
Sarah Grace
Katie Trant says
It's delicious enough for dessert, that's for sure!
Rob says
Would chia seeds work in place of hemp? Can't wait to try this smoothie.
Regards ...
Katie Trant says
You could use chia... it would change the consistency and the protein content, but would still be completely delicious!
Angel says
I just tried this and it was awesome! I didn't have almond milk but I had vanilla Westsoy so I used that. It upped the protein to 24g and the beans make it extremely filling and you can't taste them at all! Thanks for posting this yummy recipe 🙂
Anun says
Hey! This recipe looks great. I wanted to ask, could I add oats and peanut butter into this shake and blend it as well. Would it make the taste bad or make it taste even better? Oats and peanut butter are really great sources of protein and carbs as well. Since oats is generally tasteless, I was scared that the peanut butter may not complement the cocoa powder.
Katie Trant says
Hi Anun! You can add pretty much anything you want to a smoothie, that's the beauty! Try it out with oats and peanut butter and let us know how it turns out. Chocolate and peanut butter is pretty much one of my favourite combos, so I bet it'll be delicious! It might be thicker due to the oats, so you may need to add some extra liquid. Go for it!
Julieann Hanson says
I LOVE this smoothie. I wanted more plant based protein for my workouts. It's delicious!!!
Katie Trant says
It's one of my favourites for packing in so much protein without using protein powder. And it's delicious to boot!
Catherine Gale says
Just found your website and made this smoothie. I have to say that it is absolutely delicious.... thank you!
Katie Trant says
Glad you liked it, it's one of my favourites!
Emma says
Ooooh, will give this a try next week. Very clever!!
Chris H says
This is a silly question. I like using all frozen ingredients in my smoothie except for the almond milk. Can I use frozen cooked black beans? I'm not usually a fan of black beans but if I can't taste it in my smoothie that would be a plus.
Thanks!
Katie Trant says
Certainly you could use frozen beans! It'll make the smoothie thicker, so you might need to add a bit of extra almond milk, but the frozen beans should blend up beautifully so long as you've got a powerful enough blender, and make it like a thick and creamy (but healthy!) milkshake. Let me know how it works out.
Natalia says
Yes! this should work gorgeous together! Love your pictures, do delicious!
Katie Trant says
It's a great combination, so healthy and filling!
grannkyklump says
Random question - do I need to cook the beans first? Or do I use the straight out of the box uncooked?
Thanks!
Katie Trant says
If the beans are from a can then they're already cooked - simply give them a good rinse and they're ready to use. If they're dried beans then they will need to be soaked and cooked before you can use them in the smoothie, or anywhere else for that matter!
Amy says
This sounds perfect, but I'm a smoothie newbie. If I were going to add greek yogurt - would I just add a container of yogurt, or would I substitute it for some of the almond milk?
Katie Trant says
Hi Amy, sorry for the delayed response - I was away on holidays without my computer! If you were going to add Greek yoghurt you could reduce the almond milk a bit. This smoothie is already quite thick due to the banana and black beans, so you'll definitely want some of that liquid in there. It really depends on how think your Greek yoghurt is. If it's quite thick you could add almost all of the almond milk. If it's less thick try reducing the almond milk by about 50%. Experiment a bit and let us know how it goes.
Jess says
This recipe is delicious!! I made it this morning with canned Eden Organic no salt added black beans and I could not even taste the beans! I will definitely be enjoying this smoothie on a regular basis. Thank you 🙂
Katie Trant says
Glad you like it! You can't taste the beans at all, can you? Now you'll be adding beans to all kinds of smoothies!
Mae says
Just did this! I used 3 fresh figs, chia seeds, and added a bunch of greens and I can't even tell. This is the fullest I've ever been off a smoothie and it is also one of the most delicious I've had!
Katie Trant says
Mmmmm, fresh figs would be so good! I'm so glad you liked the smoothie. People think the beans are weird, but you can't taste 'em and you get so much good nutrition, and like you said, satisfaction. Yay!
Marie says
Oops, I see it doesn't come up that way when posted. Forget my comment:)
Marie says
I'm loving this right now! I soak the dates and seeds (I used chia) in the almond milk for 15-20 minutes before blending to help my processor along and it comes out great. I've also been adding maca, which is new to me, and it works well. Thanks for the recipe!
P.S. Sorry for the caps. It seems to be set to set like that as It doesn't make a difference whether I have caps turned on on my keyboard or not. Your fill in sheet still come up like this.
Katie Trant says
I love maca in my smoothies (or in overnight oats, yum!) and I imagine the malty flavour would work perfectly in this smoothie. Great idea!
Trish says
Are the beans raw or cooked?
themuffinmyth says
Cooked! Canned beans are also fine when you're in a hurry.
Randiah says
I don't know if someone asked this before, but are the beans raw or cooked? I have dry black beans (not canned) so do they need to be cooked fully before I can use them in the smoothie? I think this could be a great post-workout smoothie and I LOVE Black beans! 🙂
Katie Trant says
Hi Randiah, the beans definitely need to be cooked first. I like to cook up big batches of dried beans and keep them in the freezer, perfect for tossing into a morning smoothie!
tsooveere says
Great Post! And I must admit two things.
1. I've had a similar revelation lately in the way I practice (I'm a Nutritionist). I used to believe that if I just told people how to be 'Healthy' I would get people well. Now I realize that I have to inspire people to be healthy and they in turn inspire the world around them. It's been life changing.
And 2. Your photos are stunning and it's what caused me to read this post.
Keep up the good work.
Tam
themuffinmyth says
That's a great way to look at nutrition! And you're absolutely right - people definitely pay it forward when they're inspired. Thanks so much re: my photos 🙂
andmorefood says
I've been pondering the evolution of my eating philosophy too - I used to be so fixated on HEALTHY HEALTHY HEALTHY that it was unknowingly stressful.. now I just strive for variety and unprocessed food!
tsooveere says
What freedom that must have brought!
themuffinmyth says
A variety and unprocessed food is just the ticket in my opinion!
Em says
Yes, brilliant! I'm a vegetarian uncomfortable with the idea of protein powder as well, so this is such a smart idea for a post-workout smoothie. Made this for myself today after some strength training and appreciated that it's easy *and* delicious.
themuffinmyth says
I'm glad you liked it! It's nice to know we can source protein from whole foods and don't have to go to powders, isn't it?
alissa2014 says
Ohhhh...I love this idea! I'm on a smoothie kick lately and I've been looking for some new ideas. This just might be my after-workout snack later today 🙂
themuffinmyth says
I hope you like it! It may sound a bit funky, but I promise you you won't even taste those beans.
Veggie Bessie says
What a great idea! Will definitely be trying this! Thanks for sharing!
themuffinmyth says
Glad you like it! Let me know what you think 🙂
Rachelle says
There is an error in your article. 1/2 C Black Beans provides 6 or 7 grams of protein not 15 as stated in your article.
1 C = almost 15 grams. The Chocolate smoothie recipe is delicious but does not provide the full amt of protein you stated.
Katie Trant says
I'm not sure where you're seeing this, Rachelle? In the "Know What You're Eating Section" it does day 1 cup = 15g protein. I don't provide nutrition information for the smoothie its self.
Max says
Rachelle, the article does state that 1 cup of the smoothie contains 15g of protien. You are correct that 1/2 cup of black beans provides ~7g protein. However, there is no error in the 15g claim: the other ~8g of protein comes from hemp seeds, banana, and almond milk. The respective protein content of these foods may vary depending on the brand.
Katie Trant says
Great point, Max!
prasath says
hi there 🙂 if u want to increase the amount of protein , you can use mature black beans instead boiled one raw beans contain 21gram protein per 100 grams beans !! hope it helps u to find some protein. thank u .
Bonnie Nunley says
Ok so can I substitute unsweetened coco powder, can I use soaked flax seeds and what can be used from pantry if no dates. Dr is insistent that I loose weight due to my diabetes. I also have budget concerns and would also prefer going ALL NATURAL not using store/chemically enhanced protein powders.
Katie Trant says
Hi Bonnie, it is unsweetened cocoa powder that the recipe calls for. Soaked flax seeds would be fine. The dates add natural sweetness as well as some dietary fiber. You can leave them out, or add a touch of maple syrup if you don't have dates.
Catherine Gale says
I absolutely loved this!
Thank you for the recipe.
Katie Trant says
Yay! Glad you liked it!
Darla Phelps says
I want to try this but go dairy free. What could I use for liquid?
Katie Trant says
There is no dairy in the recipe as written.