Fennel fronds, banana, and sweet pineapple chunks star in this delicious pineapple smoothie recipe with a twist. This is a great way to use up fennel fronds and not allow them to go to waste. The fronds have a very subtle flavor which pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the pineapple. The perfect way to cool down on a hot day. You get the tropical flavors of a piña colada but in a healthy fruit smoothie way.
We love smoothies with a little bit of a difference like this fennel frond and pineapple smoothie and this Super Green Celery Smoothie.
Fennel Frond and Pineapple Banana Smoothie
This banana pineapple smoothie with a twist of fennel fronds is just perfect for sipping when the sun is beating down outside.
I know fennel fronds won't be the first greens you will think to add to your morning smoothie, but you should.
Have you seen the number of fronds coming off of those plants?
They are just begging to be collected up and squeezed into a smoothie.
They are basically free produce people because let's face it, about 90% of us have just been throwing those fronds out along with carrot tops (use those in this carrot top pesto) and beet leaves.
If you think you can't handle that anise flavor in a sweet drink, don't worry, the banana and pineapple in this smoothie balance it out perfectly.
Of course, you can still taste it, but it is more of a surprising little aftertaste that makes you go 'oooh', and just takes the smoothie to a whole other level.
You will need:
- coconut water;
- fennel fronds: we want just the fronds for this recipe, not the fennel bulb, so strip those whispy leaves off the stems;
- frozen pineapple chunks: if you don't have frozen pineapple you can use fresh pineapple instead, but you will need to add ice to the blender as well to ensure you end up with a nice cold smoothie;
- ripe bananas: the more ripe the banana the more sweet it will be, so choose your bananas depending on your prefered level of sweetness. I like to use frozen banana to get the smoothie extra cold.
With just this handful of ingredients, you get a tangy pineapple smoothie with no added sugar and lots of potential health benefits.
Tips Tricks and Substitutions
As with any regular smoothie you are simply going to add all of the ingredients to a powerful blender and blend until completely smooth.
TIP: always add the greens and water to the blender first and blend this until completely smooth before adding the rest of the ingredients.
You want the smoothie to be cold, so don't be afraid to add some more ice to the mix if you feel like it needs it.
Why not try some of these twists to change up your smoothie experience:
- Want it creamy, why not add some coconut milk or almond milk instead of coconut water;
- Add a couple of fresh pineapple chunks to the top of the smoothie when serving;
- Add some pineapple juice or orange juice for a sweeter, thinner smoothie;
- Substitute the pineapple for other tropical fruits if prefered, or add as well as the pineapple - I love adding passionfruit pulp and mango to my smoothie;
Make this pineapple smoothie your own.
Fennel Fronds
For this smoothie, I used about a cup of loosely packed fennel fronds.
Be sure to use just the fronds and not the stalks as the flavor is a lot more mellow.
You can use more or less depending on how much you fancy the anise flavor.
I am partial to it but the hubby isn't, so I don't make mine too strong.
Need More Healthy Smoothie Recipes?
Need more delicious smoothie recipes to satisfy all your family members (little ones included)?
These yummy smoothies make easy breakfasts and are the perfect addition to morning meal plans for a busy week:
- Hydrating Pineapple and Grapefruit Smoothie
- Red Berry Protein Smoothie Without Protein Powder
- Super Green Celery Smoothie
If you are looking for more ways to use up those fennel fronds then check out this detailed post with lots of ideas: What to do with Fennel Fronds: 10 Great Recipes.
Let me know what you think!
I love to hear from you, so be sure to leave a comment if you give these delightfully refreshing smoothies a try.
Happy drinking.
xx
Recipe
Fennel Frond and Pineapple Smoothie
Equipment
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Ingredients
- 2 cups coconut water
- 1 cup loosely packed fennel fronds
- 2 cups frozen pineapple chunks
- 2 ripe bananas
Instructions
- Pop all of the ingredients into a high powered blender in the order listed. Blend until smooth and creamy.2 cups coconut water, 1 cup loosely packed fennel fronds, 2 cups frozen pineapple chunks, 2 ripe bananas
- Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Cheryl says
I just used a little soy milk and water rather than the coconut milk, but it was delicious! I wasn't sure how I would like it, since fennel can be a bit strong, but I couldn't even taste it! It just made the pineapple more pineapple-y. Fantastic, I will never compost my fennel fronds again!
Donna says
Yay, another fennel frond convert 🙂
Anicca says
I cut water and banana quantity in half because I wanted it thick and didn't want the banana to overpower the fennel flavor, and I used regular water, but I am sure it's dynomite with coconut water or even coconut cream - next time! Many thanks for fab recipe
Donna says
Glad you liked it, one of my favs for something a little but different!
Pamela J McNab says
Delicious! I don't like the flavor of coconut, so I substituted almond milk. The second time I made it, I was running out of pineapple, so I used half strawberries. Still delicious. This was my first time using fennel for anything and I loved it. Thanks for the great recipe!
Donna says
Yay, glad you loved it!! A great way to use up those fronds and not send them to the bin.
Andrea says
Donna this sounds amazing. totally down to making this smoothie in the mornings such a perfect way to get a different type of greens into your system. so loving this! thanks for the awesome recipe.
Donna1 says
Oh you are so welcome!! I hope you love it as much as we do, the flavor is seriously awesome!!
Leah says
This idea is fascinating to me! I love the idea of using the fennel fronds in this, as I have never thought of using that part of the fennel, and not in a smoothie! It sounds like a tasty combo, and one I can't wait to try!
Donna1 says
It is so good!! I have been adding the fronds to everything since realizing how tasty they are! And my herb guy at the market this week told me to sprinkle the fennel flowers in my salads, so I am excited to try that too 🙂
michele says
Ive never thought to use just the fronds for a mellower flavor. Usually fennel is so in your face bold that I hesitate to use it in recipes. I happened to have everything to make this and wow.... it was really great. And the fact I got my uber unhealthy eating husband to drink one... well that was just icing on the cake! THANKS for that great tip.... and know we'll be living on these for breakfast the next few weeks we enjoyed it so!
Donna1 says
Oh yay, I am so glad you guys enjoyed it!! Your husband sounds like mine, he is always so hesitant to try something new (especially if it is green and healthy), and this smoothie was no different, but he really enjoyed it 🙂 I am the same when it comes to using fennel normally though, I can only use it in a very select few recipes because of the bold flavor.
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes says
Make this for me and I'll let you know if it tastes like a fancy cocktail- I may or may not have just polished one off 😉 This makes me wish really hard that I'd planted fennel in my garden!!! I'm going to look for it with the fronds in the store though- this sounds like a delicious breakfast!!