What 2 fruits go well together in a smoothie?

Smoothies are a delicious and nutritious way to get your daily serving of fruit. The possibilities are endless when it comes to combining fruits to create a tasty and refreshing smoothie. While all fruits can be blended together, some combinations complement each other better than others when it comes to flavor. The key is finding the right balance between sweet, tart, and creamy. When selecting fruit combinations for smoothies, you’ll want to consider factors like texture, taste, color, and nutritional value. With so many options, it can be tough to narrow down fruit pairings that go well together in smoothies. This article will explore some of the best 2 fruit combinations for smoothies and provide recipes to help you get started.

Complementary Flavors

When choosing fruits to blend together, you’ll want to pick options that have complementary flavors. For example, combining sweet fruits with tart fruits creates a nice balance. Fruits with softer flesh tend to result in a creamier texture versus fruits that are crunchy or seedy. Here are some complementary fruit combinations that work well in smoothies:

• Sweet + tart: strawberries + kiwi, bananas + raspberries, mangos + pineapple
• Creamy + crunchy: bananas + apples, avocados + strawberries, passionfruit + kiwis
• Sweet + sweet: peaches + mangos, pineapples + apples, cherries + grapes
• Tart + tart: raspberries + blackberries, blueberries + pomegranates, grapefruits + oranges

When fruits naturally complement each other, you create a more complex and dynamic flavor profile. The sweetness balances out the tartness, while the textures play off each other to provide a smooth drinkable blend.

Nutritional Benefits

In addition to flavor, you’ll want to consider the vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant content of fruits when pairing them. Blending fruits that offer different nutritional benefits helps create a smoothie with a complete nutritional profile. For example:

• Vitamin C: strawberries, oranges, grapefruits, kiwis, pineapple, mango
• Vitamin A: apricots, mangos, cantaloupe, peaches, cherries
• Potassium: bananas, prunes, papaya, dried apricots, raisins, cantaloupe
• Fiber: raspberries, pears, apples, strawberries, blackberries
• Antioxidants: blueberries, blackberries, pomegranates, acai berries

Pairing fruits that deliver different nutrients ensures you get a wide spectrum of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in each smoothie. Some healthy nutritional fruit pairings include:

• Bananas + strawberries (potassium + vitamin C)
• Blueberries + mangos (antioxidants + vitamin A)
• Pineapples + kiwis (vitamin C + fiber)
• Cherries + pears (vitamin A + fiber)
• Oranges + blackberries (vitamin C + antioxidants)

Color Variety

The color of your smoothie can be enhanced by selecting fruits with contrasting hues. Fruits and vegetables with deep, vibrant colors tend to be more nutrient-dense. Blending fruits of different colors results in a smoothie that pleases both the eyes and taste buds. Some color-combo fruit pairings include:

• Strawberries + kiwis (red + green)
• Blackberries + mangos (deep purple + orange)
• Pomegranates + pineapples (pink + yellow)
• Blueberries + peaches (blue + orange)
• Raspberries + apricots (red + orange)

Focus on finding fruits with deep, vibrant shades rather than pale or washed out colors for maximum visual appeal and phytonutrient content.

Fruit Pairing Ideas

Here are some of the top fruit combinations that complement each other wonderfully in smoothies:

Strawberries + Bananas

This classic pairing is a perfect match. Strawberries lend tartness, vitamin C and antioxidants while bananas provide natural sweetness and creaminess. The textures also balance each other out. Blend with milk or yogurt for a sweet treat.

Pineapple + Mango

Pineapple and mango are both tropical fruits that are naturally sweet and delicious blended together. Pineapple offers tanginess while mango provides creaminess and additional vitamins like A and C.

Blueberries + Peaches

The bold colors and flavors of blueberries and peaches make for an eye-catching and tasty combo. Blueberries supply powerful antioxidants and peaches deliver sweetness and texture. Greek yogurt pairs nicely for added protein and creaminess.

Raspberries + Kiwi

The tartness of raspberries complements the tropical sweetness of kiwi beautifully. These fruits also have gorgeous contrasting colors that look amazing together. Boost the nutrition with spinach or kale.

Blackberries + Cherries

Both superfoods in their own right, blackberries and cherries create a smoothie packed with antioxidants. The tang of blackberries balances out the sweetness from cherries. Use almond milk as a base for a nutty flavor.

Pomegranate + Orange

This duo makes for a nutrient-dense beverage. Pomegranate seeds offer a pop of tart flavor and citrusy orange sections add a dose of sweetness. Combine with Greek yogurt for a filling meal option.

Grapes + Watermelon

For a hydrating smoothie, try blending juicy grapes with refreshing watermelon. Both are made up of mostly water and deliver natural sweetness along with vitamin C. Dilute with water or coconut water.

Papaya + Apricot

Blend tropical papaya with brightly flavored apricots for a smoothie that’s sweet and creamy. Papaya supplies vitamin A and apricots bring fiber and potassium to the mix. A touch of honey enhances the flavors.

Plums + Figs

Deep purple plums and green figs taste wonderful together and also make for an elegant color combination. Plums offer tartness while figs provide subtle sweetness and tiny seeds for texture.

Fruit Pairing Recommendations

Here is a summary of recommended fruit combinations that work well blended together in smoothies based on complementary flavors, textures, colors and health benefits:

Fruit 1	Fruit 2	Benefits
Bananas	Strawberries	Creamy + tart, potassium + vitamin C
Pineapple	Mango	Sweet + tropical, vitamin C + vitamin A
Blueberries	Peach	Bold colors, antioxidants + sweet
Raspberries	Kiwi	Tart + sweet, color contrast
Blackberries	Cherries	Antioxidants galore, tangy + sweet
Pomegranate	Orange	Tart + sweet, nutrient-dense
Grapes	Watermelon	Juicy + hydrating, vitamin C
Papaya	Apricot	Creamy + bright, vitamin A + potassium
Plums	Figs	Tart + sweet, bold purple + green

Sample Smoothie Recipes

Here are a few delicious sample smoothie recipes using some of the recommended fruit pairings:

Sunrise Strawberry Banana Smoothie

• 1 banana
• 1 cup fresh strawberries
• 1 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 cup ice

Blend all ingredients together until smooth. Garnish with slices of banana and a whole strawberry if desired.

Piña Kiwi Colada Smoothie

• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 2 kiwis, peeled
• 1 banana
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 tbsp shredded coconut
• 1 tsp lime juice
• 1/2 cup ice

Blend all ingredients until creamy and frothy. Top with extra pineapple and kiwi if desired.

Blue Peach Cream Smoothie

• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 peach, pitted
• 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 tsp honey
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup ice

Puree until smooth. Garnish with extra blueberries and peach slices.

Black Forest Smoothie

• 1 cup blackberries
• 1 cup pitted cherries
• 1 banana
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1/4 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup ice

Blend all ingredients until combined. Top with extra cherries and dark chocolate shavings.

Tips for Making Fruit Smoothies

Here are some helpful tips for making delicious, nutritious fruit smoothies:

• Use ripe, fresh fruits for maximum flavor and nutrition.
• Freeze fruits like bananas, mangos, and berries for a thicker, colder smoothie.
• Add yogurt, milk, juice, or nut milk for creaminess.
• Supplement with powders like protein, greens, oats, chia or flaxseeds.
• Sweeten with natural options like honey, dates, maple syrup if needed.
• Add ice to achieve desired temperature and thickness.
• Blend until completely smooth with no chunks.
• Garnish with extra fruits, nuts, seeds, or mint leaves.
• Store in airtight container in fridge for up to 48 hours.

The Importance of Fruit in Your Diet

Fruits are an essential part of a healthy diet, providing important vitamins, minerals, fiber, and plant compounds like antioxidants. They are naturally low in calories and fat with zero cholesterol. Here are some of the top benefits of getting enough fruits in your diet:

• Vitamins & Minerals – Fruits provide essential vitamins like C, A, E, and K, as well as minerals like potassium and folate.
• Fiber – The fiber in fruits supports digestive and heart health, and may aid weight management.
• Antioxidants – Compounds in fruits help combat free radicals and reduce oxidative cell damage and inflammation.
• Hydration – The high water content in most fruits keeps the body hydrated and helps prevent dehydration.
• Phytonutrients – These plant chemicals are associated with reduced risk of health conditions like cancer and heart disease.
• Good source of carbs – The natural sugars in fruit provide an energy source and are healthier than processed sugars.

For these reasons, it’s recommended to get 1-2 cups of fruit per day as part of a balanced diet. Smoothies make it easy to incorporate a variety of fruits into your regular routine.

The Conclusion

Smoothies are a fun and delicious way to enjoy the many benefits of fruits. Selecting 2 fruits that naturally complement each other in terms of flavor, texture, color, and nutrition results in a tastier and more nutritious blend. Pairing sweeter fruits with more tart ones helps achieve a balanced flavor profile. Considering colors and nutritional profiles also adds to the experience. Some foolproof fruit combinations include bananas with strawberries, pineapple with mango, and blueberries with peach. The possibilities are truly endless for crafting fruit smoothies. Be creative and have fun coming up with your own winning combos!