This Mexican banana smoothie recipe, also known as licuado de platano, is a delicious way to consume bananas! It has many variations, but the most traditional ingredients are milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. And, banana of course! This tasty breakfast smoothie can be made with fresh or frozen bananas. Either way, it's delicious!
Did you know it is recommended to have 25-30 grams of protein before noon? More importantly, do you know when and how you’re getting your protein?
I didn't and I figured out I wasn't getting enough. That's why I started having a banana smoothie in the morning to get that protein in early.
What time you eat your protein during the day can affect how your body uses it. So, instead of leaving your entire protein intake for the evening, many nutrition experts recommend having a protein-rich breakfast so that you can be more focused and energized in the morning!
This really is no surprise, since we all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day!
With 8 grams of protein per 8-ounce serving, milk is a good addition to your meal, and sure to make your breakfast hearty and nutritious.
Today, I’m sharing with you this delicious banana smoothie recipe that is an excellent way to incorporate protein into your breakfast!
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I know this Mexican banana smoothie recipe is sure to be a hit this summer. It's the perfect way to cool down on those hot days. This licuado de platano is light, refreshing, and easy to make!
History Behind Smoothie Bars In My Hometown
Refresquería "La Bajadita", a traditional smoothie bar, is a very famous place in my hometown Tampico. It has been in business for decades!
Fruits shake (“licuados,” as we call them) are a very popular drink in Mexico, especially for breakfast. They’re fast, easy to prepare, and very versatile since you can use almost any type of fruit in them.
In large cities (and even in those not too big), there are certain snack bars known as “refresquerías” that sell fruit shakes from early in the morning until late afternoon. People will stop by to get one of these drinks for their breakfast, or even for their lunch.
And, the banana smoothie is one of the most popular ones!
You can get many fruit combinations in a single glass, although the most traditional fruit smoothies are those with a single fruit, such as banana, strawberries, mango, cantaloupe, or papaya. There are also many complex combinations using one or more fruits that can be mixed with granola, oats, honey, nuts, and even raw eggs and wheat.
There is also the Nopal (cactus leaves) smoothie with orange or pineapple juice, and the recently trending green smoothies.
This particular recipe is for the classic and ever-popular “Liquado de Platano” aka banana smoothie! It's also known as "Platanada" in the State of Oaxaca.
Frequently Asked Questions About Banana Smoothies
Before I share my recipe, here are a few questions I've been asked and wanted to answer.
What makes this banana smoothie taste like a Mexican licuado?
Aside from the flavor and color that comes from using different fruits to make it, what really sets my Mexican banana smoothies apart is adding cinnamon to it! This gives it an even more authentic feel.
I bet you can't resist taking another sip after tasting my recipe with cinnamon added!
Can I use a frozen banana?
Yes! I have found that using a frozen banana leaves your smoothie with a smoother texture. It's also a great reason to save and freeze ripe bananas instead of throwing them away.
Can I make this banana smoothie recipe dairy-free?
Yes, you can substitute almond milk for cow's milk. Soy milk works too.
How can I sweeten this licuado?
This recipe already has sugar in it. But, if you want it to be sweeter, you can add some more sugar or use honey. I know some people who like to sweeten their smoothies with agave syrup!
Back in my hometown, we sweeten the smoothies with red grenadine syrup instead of sugar. It gives a different flavor and color to the drink.
Though I should mention, the grenadine syrup sold here in the states is quite different in taste.
Can I add more fruit to this banana smoothie?
Yes, you can. Sometimes, I'll add in different berries, especially strawberries. I LOVE strawberry banana smoothies!
Sometimes, I'll also add in mangoes or papayas.
Mexican Banana Smoothie Recipe
My favorite part about making smoothies for breakfast is that they don't require many ingredients. This banana smoothie recipe only needs 6 ingredients!
Here's what you need:
- Milk
- Banana
- Ice cubes
- Sugar
- Vanilla
- Cinnamon
Please note: For exact measurements of the ingredients listed above, scroll down to the recipe card located at the bottom of this post!
How To Make A Banana Smoothie: Step By Step Tutorial
This smoothie recipe is so easy! All you need to do is:
- Add the milk, peeled banana, ice cubes, sugar, and vanilla to your blender.
- Blend until you have a very smooth consistency.
- Pour in glasses and dust with cinnamon.
- Enjoy!
Smoothie Tip:
- This is a lighter version of the original smoothie recipe served in my hometown. You can add more bananas if you’d like to give it a thicker consistency.
What To Serve With Licuado De Platano
To start your day off right, I recommend serving this banana smoothie with a bowl of old-fashioned creamy avena with some cinnamon and some fresh berries.
For a more protein-based breakfast, whip up some huevos a la Mexicana with a few strips of bacon or sausage. Delicious!
More Authentic Mexican Recipes To Enjoy
If you enjoyed this recipe for licuado de platano, take a look at some of these other authentic Mexican recipes:
I hope you make this Mexican banana smoothie! If this recipe was of any help to you, come back to let me know your experience. Please leave us a comment done below and tell us all about it!
¡Buen provecho!
Mely,
📖 Recipe
Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cup of milk
- 1 medium-size banana
- 1 cup of ice cubes
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1- teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Place milk, the peeled banana, ice cubes, sugar and vanilla in your blender glass.
- Process until you have a very smooth consistency.
- Pour in glasses and dust with cinnamon. And enjoy! It is so easy!
Notes
- This is a lighter version of the original served in my hometown; you can add more banana if you’d like to give it a thicker consistency.
- In my hometown, we sweeten the smoothies with grenadine syrup instead of sugar, it gives a different flavor and color to the drink. The grenadine syrup sold here in the states is quite different in taste.
Nutrition
Footnotes:
What We Eat in America, NHANES 2009-2010.
Layman D. Dietary guidelines should reflect new understandings about adult protein needs. Nutr Metab. 2009; 6: 12.
Gloria Marquez
Can wait to try smoothies. Awesome giveaway
Gloria Marquez
My morning protein is a bowl of oatmeal
Maria Soto
I love chia seeds with almond milk, mixed with baked apples, a dash of maple syrup and lots of pecans. However I grew up with the liquados, my mom would make us a strawberry and banana with milk and raw eggs (yolk only) in the morning before heading out to school, she would tells us if we didn't want to eat breakfast we had to drink it, so we would drink it on our way out the door. I still make these at home sometimes for my kids, I was just thinking last night about making a banana shake since I have two nice ripe bananas, guess I know what I'm having tomorrow for breakfast, oh and since the bananas are ripe, no need to add sugar or vanilla since I will be using almond milk.
Guadalupe Armstrong
Favorite morning protein is oatmeal with peanut butter.
Lupe A
Morning protein: oatmeal with 1/2 a banana and a spoon of peanut butter.
Sandy H
You didn't say healthiest breakfast, so my answer is bacon
Adrienne Martinez
This is such a good recipe! My favorite is enjoying a bowl of malt o meal!
Adrienne Martinez
This is such a great recipe and my favorite is enjoying a bowl of malt o meal in the mornings!
Susan Janson
Yoghurt with fresh fruit and a homemade granola spiced with cardamon.
Tifferella
My favorite protein shake includes 2 tbsp of natural peanut butter, 3/4 cup of almond milk, ripe banana, 1/4 cup of gluten free rolled oats and hemp seeds.
Jenny Aguilar
I drink a premier protein chocolate shake every morning. Yummy!
Cindy Wong
Hard boiled eggs with sriracha.
Janet Soto-Castro
Eggs and any kind of meat I have like sausage, Bacon or Ham.
Relish
Smoothie are great breakfast ideas...especially for those who aren't big breakfast eaters. My favorite breakfast protein is either eggs or delicious "doctor'ed up" greek yogurt!
Marco Antonio Cardoza Silva
My favorite morning protein is a pair of fried eggs with some refried beans with their respective portion of avocado and a delicious spicy sauce.
Jesse LaPaire
My favourite morning protein is 3 whole eggs! When I can't get the time for them; I generally have a smoothie blended with Kaizen Natural protein.
Lauren
I like to have yogurt in the morning for protein.
Linda
My favorite morning protein is the protein I get in Greek yogurt.
Gina M WildOrchid
I love making an omelette loaded with a variety of veggies, meats, and cheese, and pairing it with a large glass of ice cold milk. The protein really keeps me satisfieied through lunch!
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
Jennai
I get my protein from omelets and milk on my cereal. Love the idea of a quick banana smoothie.
Flor de Maria Holmes
Avocado--though I get oatmeal with milk and cranberries most mornings
Sean
Bacon, always, but I'm looking forward trying this smoothie
Cindy Orley
I make sure that I make instant hot cereal with milk, not water. It adds flavor and protein. We drink milk every breakfast and dinner as well.
BTW, does grenadine syrup have less carbs than sugar?
Rena Bello
always have a shake with protein powder, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, banana, a dash of cinnamon and a dash of pumpkin pie spice.
Unknown
I love licados.I add a bit of apple and peanut butter to mine. Great combinacion.
Gablis0808@gmail.com
April
Me too
Rachel Thomas
My favorite morning protein is about time protein pancake mix!!!! Or some zoats (zucchini oats!)
Resa
This is like, the perfect smoothie. For added protein, though, I like adding hempseed or peanut butter. Then again, I'm all about beef for breakfast, so....
Erica
Eggs.
Kayley
I like eggs - scrambled, omelette or hard-boiled.
Carol
Hi Mely! I’m Carol from SoCal! I follow you on Instagram and have made several of your recipes and have you pics of them... I made this today for my daughter and she loved it! Algo tan fácil pero no se me ocurre en hacerlo al igual con otras de sus recetas como la del camote endulsado! Muchísimas gracias por publicar tanta delicia, dios se lo pague y que esté bien.
mmartinez
Hello Carol, Gracias for seguirnos en Instagram. Saludos!
melissa
How do I subscribe to your website? I would love to learn more about cooking Mexican style. Mi esposo es de Michoacan. 🙂
Mely Martínez
Hello Melissa,
Check to the right-hand side column, there is a picture for a book. It says Join our free newsletter. Write down your email, and click sign up for free. Let me know if you were able to do it.