Blood Orange Frozen Berry Smoothie, a simple smoothie recipe featuring winter citrus, frozen berries, leafy greens, and chia seeds. Let’s celebrate citrus season!
UPDATE: This recipe was originally posted in January 2019 and update with more photos and information in February 2021.
It’s citrus season! Blood oranges are a gift this time of year, when the markets are bare from winter and we are knee-deep in root vegetables and squash. This simple blood orange smoothie turns winter around and features some of the best and brightest that the cold weather harvests have to offer.
👉 Here are three reasons why you should make a blood orange smoothie this citrus season:
- It’s seasonal. This orange smoothie is the perfect way to take advantage of citrus season.
- It’s healthy. This smoothie is full of antioxidants, which fight free radicals in the body and boost immunity in winter months.
- It’s an eco-friendly choice. This smoothie uses only winter or frozen produce, which makes is a sustainable choice for cold weather fruit smoothies.
Are you ready for this simple 5-ingredient blood orange smoothie recipe? Let’s do it!
🥤 How to make (step-by-step photos)
1️⃣ Step One: Peel citrus + add ingredients to blender
First, peel your blood orange and separate orange slices, removing seeds.
Add the blood oranges slices to a blender or food processor with frozen berries, leafy greens like kale or spinach, a bit of orange juice, a tablespoon or two of chia seeds to thicken, and a few ice cubes.
👉 Can you make a smoothie without ice? Smoothies can be made without ice by using frozen fruit. For this recipe we suggest freezing the blood oranges after peeled and separated, as well as using frozen berries. However, if your fruit is room temperature then using ice will work as well.
2️⃣ Step Two: Blend ingredients until smooth
Blend all ingredients until smooth, adding more ice cubes until you reach your desired smoothie consistency.
If your blood orange smoothie is too thick or thin after blending, here are some tips to get the right consistency:
- If the smoothie is too thick after blending, add a few splashes of orange juice or your favorite plant-based milk.
- If the smoothie is too thin after blending, add more frozen berries or add a ingredients that will bulk it up like oats, protein powder, or nut or seed butter.
3️⃣ Step Three: Pour + serve
When the smoothie is completely blended, pour it into a glass or a bowl and top with hemp or chia seeds, freeze dried fruit, or coconut flakes. A delicious and healthy winter fruit treat!
🍊 Blood oranges FAQ
Blood oranges get their name because of their deep red color, which is because they are high in anothyocyanins. Anthocycanins are antioxidants found in deep red and purple foods like grapes, berries, and eggplants.
Blood oranges are a naturally-occurring variety of orange that get their deep red color from high amount of the antioxidant anthocyanins.
Blood oranges are in season in the winter months of January, February, and early March. Unlike other popular orange varieties, it is hard to find blood oranges outside of the peak of citrus season, which makes them a special treat during their growing season.
The rich, almost sour taste of blood oranges pairs well with deep and smoothie flavors like vanilla, almond, and some herbs. Blood orange also pairs well with sweet berries that balance out its somewhat tart flavor.
💡 Recipe tips + tricks
This blood orange and frozen berry smoothie recipe is super simple and only have five ingredients, but there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind to make preparation even easier:
- Use frozen berries: berries are a summer seasonal fruit, so unless you live in a warm climate the fresh berries you find in the stores are likely shipped from far away and may not be at their peak taste
- Make it a bowl: make this blood orange smoothie into a bowl by adding dried hemp or chia seeds, coconut flakes, bee pollen, or other dried toppings that are available in winter
- Make it a meal: make this smoothie more filling (and more nutritious!) by adding oats, a protein like yogurt or protein powder, and a healthy fat like a nut butter to round out the meal
Recommended tools: a blender or food processor is necessary to make this smoothie recipe.
♻️ Sustainable kitchen tips
We’re all about building a sustainable kitchen here at Fork in the Road, so here are a few ways to make this smoothie as eco-friendly as possible.
🍊 Use blood oranges during citrus season.
Blood oranges are typically in season in the winter months from late December until early March, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, so enjoy this smoothie when citrus is at its peak.
🍓 Use frozen berries when making this out of berry season.
While citrus is in season in winter, what about berries? Berries are typically a summer crop, however they are a great fruit for freezing to enjoy all winter long.
🧡 More blood orange recipes
Check out our other recipes using citrus fruits like blood oranges:
Love this simple winter fruit smoothie recipe? Check out our other seasonal smoothie recipes, like this Creamy Avo Spinach Raspberry Smoothie, Powerful Purple Smoothie, or Mellow Yellow Superfood Smoothie.
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Blood Orange Berry Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 medium blood orange, peeled
- ½ cup frozen berries, blackberries, blueberries, etc.
- ½ cup leafy greens, spinach, kale, etc.
- ¼ cup plant-based milk, or orange juice
- 1-2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2-3 single ice cubes
- Optional: protein powder, matcha, adaptogens, seeds, etc.
Instructions
- Peel oranges and add ingredients to a blender: First, peel your blood orange and separate orange slices, removing seeds. Then add the blood oranges slices to a blender or food processor with frozen berries, leafy greens like kale or spinach, a bit of orange juice, a tablespoon or two of chia seeds to thicken, and a few ice cubes.
- Blend until smooth: Blend all ingredients until smooth, adding more ice cubes or plant-based milk or orange juice until you reach your desired smoothie consistency. You can also add in additional ingredients to bulk up the smoothie and make a more balanced mini-meal, like oats, protein powder, and nut butter.
- Pour and add optional garnishes: Finally, pour the smoothie into a glass or a bowl and top with hemp or chia seeds, freeze dried fruit, or coconut flakes. A delicious and healthy winter fruit treat!
Recipe Notes
- Make it a bowl: Use this Blood Orange Frozen Berry Smoothie recipe as the foundation for your next smoothie bowl. Top with colorful winter superfoods such as hemp seeds, sprinkled chia seeds, or freeze dried fruit.
- Make it a meal: Make it a meal by making this smoothie recipe more filling by adding oats, chia, or a protein like yogurt or protein powder, along with healthy fat such as nut butter.
- Tools Needed: blender, food processor
- Leftovers and Storage: Store any smoothie leftovers in the freezer and pull out about 20-30 minutes before eating.
- Nutrition notes: Nutrition information calculated without optional add-ins. This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and free from most major allergens.
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