This smoothie combines milk kefir, chia seeds, ginger, and turmeric with mango and pineapple. With the tropical fruit addition, it makes for a healthy breakfast or snack that will make you feel like you’re on a tropical island! 

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Why You’ll Love This Mango Kefir Smoothie Recipe

This delicious smoothie is not just tasty and easy to make but it’s also packed with lots of great immune-supporting ingredients in one glass. 

Milk kefir is the liquid of choice in this smoothie. Milk kefir is a fermented dairy drink that tastes kind of like drinkable yogurt. It contains protein, calcium, vitamin D, and gut-friendly probiotics (aka live bacteria) that improve your gut health and boost your immune system.

If you’re hesitant on the idea of kefir in your smoothie, don’t worry! The added mango and pineapple will largely cover up the slightly sour and tangy taste of the kefir. 

The fruits, chia seeds, turmeric, and ginger also provide lots of nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, B vitamins and vitamin C. 

The Ingredients You’ll Need

• Milk Kefir – this liquid is thicker than most traditional milks so it makes for more creamy drinks. I recommend opting for plain kefir to keep the added sugars low. You can usually find this in the dairy section of your local grocery store.

• Frozen Mango Chunks – I love using frozen fruit in smoothies because it’s generally more cost-effective than fresh fruit and I don’t have to worry about it going bad on me. 

• Frozen Pineapple Chunks – similar to the frozen mango, these are pre-chopped and also replace the need for ice in smoothies. 

• Chia Seeds – these mighty seeds are packed with fiber (10g of fiber in 2 tbsp!) and heart healthy omega 3 fatty acids.

• Honey – this adds a little bit more sweetness to the smoothie but you can easily omit it if you wanted to.

• Ginger – I used a pre-made minced ginger as an easy shortcut but fresh ginger can work great also.

• Turmeric – this anti-inflammatory spice is gaining popularity in recent years, and for good reason! For more anti-inflammatory foods, check out this anti-inflammatory foods list.

How To Make It

1. Add all ingredients to a high speed blender and blend on high for 30-45 seconds or until smooth. 
2. Pour into a tall glass and enjoy!

Variations & Substitutions

• No kefir? Substitute 1 cup almond milk and ½ cup plain yogurt (Greek yogurt ideally for more protein). 
• Dairy Free Option – substitute the milk kefir for water kefir, coconut milk, or another plant based milk. Note that this will make for a thinner consistency. 
• For More Protein – add a scoop of unflavored collagen peptides or plant based protein powder. 
• You can substitute fresh fruit instead of frozen fruit. You will just need to add a few ice cubes to get the desired temperature and consistency. 
• No pineapple? Add half of a ripe banana instead. Or add some frozen peaches to make a peach mango kefir smoothie. 
• Swap flax seeds or hemp hearts for the chia seeds.
• Substitute maple syrup, agave syrup, or your favorite sweetener for the honey. 
• For a thinner consistency, add 1 tbsp of your milk of choice to the blender at a time until you achieve your desired consistency. 

Kefir Smoothie FAQs

Can you taste the kefir in this smoothie? 

Yes and no. Plain kefir has a slightly sour, tangy taste to it. Adding sweet fruits, like the pineapple and mango, really help to cover up the taste of the kefir. If you know what kefir tastes like though, you may be able to identify that it’s an ingredient in this smoothie though. 

What’s the difference between milk kefir and water kefir? 

Milk kefir is a fermented dairy drink. It has higher amounts of protein, calcium, and more probiotic strains (live and healthy bacteria). 

Water kefir is a dairy-free fermented drink. It has less protein, calcium, and not as many types of probiotic strains as milk kefir. This is still a really good option if you’re dairy-free though. 

Are Kefir Smoothies Good For You?

Yes, absolutely. Any smoothie made using kefir will provide you with healthy probiotics to improve your gut health, along with calcium and vitamin D. This mango kefir smoothie recipe provides a balanced smoothie that combines 11 grams of fiber and 15 grams of protein.

More Healthy Smoothies You’ll Love

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The Best Pumpkin Smoothie

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