Cook’s notes
The best thing about this cucumber and mint smoothie is that you need to add very little sugar because cucumber is already naturally sweet. You just want to heighten that sweetness to make a more exciting drink.
It’s hard to put into words but there’s this feeling of elation when, after watching herbs grow, you snip off the leaves and use them in all their glorious freshness.
Spearmint is recommended
Adding mint to my cucumber smoothie was something I only started to do when we got into herb gardening. I love mint and I love adding it to drinks, hot or cold. And when you use mint straight from your garden?
It’s hard to put into words but there’s this feeling of elation when, after watching herbs grow, you snip off the leaves and use them in all their glorious freshness.
To peel or not to peel the cucumber
It’s one medium-sized cucumber per person. Peeling is optional if the skin is thin. Otherwise, the cucumber smoothie will have a not-so-good mouth feel if you puree the cucumber without peeling.Ditch the cucumber seeds
I know, I know. Cucumber seeds are perfectly edible. Sure, if you’re eating the cucumber. But since you’re pureeing it to make a drink, you want the puree to be smooth and free from “grits” which the ground seeds resemble. So, scrape off the seeds.Dice the cucumber before pureeing to make it easy for the blades of the blender to smash the pulp. Add coconut water too to help the motor along.
Coconut water
While plain ice cubes will do, if you’re not in a hurry to make this drink and you have coconut water in the fridge, an extra step will make your smoothie even better. Pour coconut water into an ice tray, and stick in the freezer until rock hard. You’ll need two to three cubes of frozen coconut water to make a glass of smoothie.Cucumber, coconut and mint smoothie
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1 medium cucumber chilled
- ¼ cup coconut water chilled
- 1 teaspoon sugar (if your coconut water is not sweet enough)
- 2 to 3 cubes frozen coconut water
- 2 to 3 spearmint leaves plus a sprig to garnish
Instructions
- Peel the cucumber (if the skin is thick).
- Cut the peeled cucumber lengthwise and scrape off the seeds.
- Dice the deseeded cucumber.
- Place the diced cucumber in the blender with the frozen coconut water and a quarter cup of chilled coconut water. Process just until smooth.
- Add the spearmint leaves and pulse two to three times.
- Pour the smoothie into a glass, garnish with a sprig of spearmint and enjoy!
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