Mango Pineapple Smoothie

Ingredients

Ingredient Notes

Keep the mango, pineapple and banana frozen: that is what gives the smoothie its thick, cold texture without diluting the flavour the way ice does. Greek yoghurt adds creaminess and a little protein, and its mild tartness balances the sweetness of the fruit; leave it out for a lighter, dairy-free drink. Taste before reaching for the honey — ripe mango and pineapple are usually sweet enough on their own.

How to Make a Mango Pineapple Smoothie

1. Pour the pineapple juice into the blender first, then add the Greek yoghurt if using. Starting with the liquid gives the blades room to move and pulls the heavier frozen fruit down towards them once it goes in, instead of letting it sit in a dry pocket above the blades.
2. Add the frozen mango, frozen pineapple and banana on top of the liquid.
3. Blend on low speed for about 10 seconds to break the frozen fruit into smaller pieces, then increase to high speed and blend for about 45 seconds, until the mixture is circulating freely and no fruit fragments remain. If the blender stalls — the motor note changes and the top of the mixture stops moving — stop, scrape the sides and tamp the fruit down towards the blades with a spatula before restarting, rather than pouring in extra liquid straight away.
4. If the smoothie is too thick to blend smoothly even after tamping it down, add pineapple juice one tablespoon at a time, blending briefly after each addition, until it moves freely. Taste, and blend in the honey only if the fruit needs it.
5. Pour into two glasses and serve straight away, while the fruit is still fully frozen and the drink is at its thickest.

Tips for the Best Texture

Liquid in first, frozen fruit on top

Starting this way gives the blades a vortex to pull the chunks into, instead of spinning uselessly under a mass of frozen fruit.

Add extra liquid by the tablespoon

A little at a time keeps the drink thick; a generous splash all at once is hard to undo; if that happens, add a little extra frozen fruit to bring it back.

Use frozen fruit rather than ice

Melting ice waters a smoothie down as it sits; frozen fruit keeps the flavour as it melts, since it is the drink itself.

If the blender stalls, stop rather than force it

Switch off, scrape down the sides and tamp the mixture towards the blades with a spatula, then restart on low before returning to high speed.

Freeze the banana ahead of time

A frozen banana thickens the smoothie further without any extra liquid, and keeps the fruit flavour from tasting diluted.

Substitutions and Variations

Orange juice

use 1 cup orange juice in place of the pineapple juice for a brighter, more citrus-forward drink.

Coconut water

use 1 cup coconut water instead of the pineapple juice for a lighter result with less fruit intensity.

Extra creamy

use a full cup of Greek yoghurt instead of ½ cup for a thicker, more substantial smoothie.

Protein boost

blend in a scoop of vanilla or unflavoured protein powder with the fruit; add an extra tablespoon of juice if the powder makes the blend too thick to move.

Hidden greens

add a small handful of spinach with the fruit. Expect the colour to shift towards green and the flavour to change slightly.

Smoothie bowl

use ¾ cup of pineapple juice instead of a full cup so the blend stays thick enough to eat with a spoon, then top with granola and extra fruit.

Make-Ahead and Storage

This smoothie is thickest and coldest straight after blending, while the fruit is still fully frozen. If you have leftovers, pour them into an airtight glass bottle or jar and keep them in the fridge for up to 24 hours. The fruit pulp will settle and the juice will rise to the top on standing — this is normal, not spoilage — so shake or stir well before drinking.

Freezing the finished, blended smoothie to thaw later is not recommended: the thick, frosty texture turns thin and separated once it melts. If you want a frozen treat instead, pour the blended smoothie into ice lolly moulds for fruit ice pops.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do to thicken this smoothie?

Add a little extra frozen mango or pineapple and start with less juice — ¾ cup rather than a full cup — adding more only if the blender genuinely needs it. Freezing the banana ahead of time also thickens the drink without watering down the flavour.

Can I use fresh fruit instead of frozen?

Yes, but add a small handful of ice to make up for the cold, thick texture that frozen fruit provides. The smoothie will be a little less thick, though it will still blend smoothly.

Can I add protein powder to this smoothie?

Yes. Blend in a scoop of vanilla or unflavoured protein powder with the fruit. Depending on the powder, you may need an extra splash of juice to keep everything moving.