Lebanese Smoothie with Avocado

Lebanese Strawberry Avocado Smoothie Recipe! If you're looking for a new and delicious way to get in more fruits and vegetables, then try my Lebanese Strawberry and Avocado Smoothie recipe! This delicious Lebanese smoothie is made with frozen fruit, avocado, and honey.

It's been a couple of months since I posted a new recipe and I am back with this delicious and easy Lebanese avocado cocktail recipe. I'm always looking for new ways to get more vegetables into my diet and adding an avocado to a smoothie was is a easy way to do it!

Here we call them smoothies, but in the Middle East, a smoothie is called a cocktail, even though there is no alcohol in them. If you translate a smoothie in Arabic, you literally ask for a "fruit cocktail."

If you love Middle Eastern food, and are looking for more recipes, make sure to read my complete guide on Cooking Arabic Food at Home where you'll learn all about the spices, cooking techniques and some popular dishes like Maqluba and Ouzi!

This is one of the first smoothies I drank in Jordan it was so fresh and delicious. I also tried this tasty avocado smoothie topped with nuts, honey comb, and fresh cream.

INGREDIENTS IN A LEBANESE SMOOTHIE

Let's get started with the ingredients you'll need for this delicious Lebanese cocktail, or smoothie! It is super simple to make and incredibly healthy! I had my first Arabic smoothie when I was in the Middle East last year and I've been craving them ever since.

Ingredients for 1 Lebanese Smoothie

• ½-1/4 ripe avocado
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• ½ ripe banana or ½ cup mango chunks
• 2 tablespoons raw honey (raw has the best honey flavor and most nutrients)
• 1 cup milk of choice
• ½ teaspoon rose water (found at Middle Eastern Markets)
• ½ teaspoon orange blossom water
• Ashta (clotted cream), Almonds, Pistachios, Honey, and Honey comb for topping

Note that some shops make their cocktails with fresh fruit and others make it with frozen fruit. I prefer mine with frozen fruit because it will stay cold a lot longer but you can use fresh fruit if you prefer that!

If you are using fresh fruit in your Lebanese smoothie, make sure they are very fresh and ripe for the most flavor.

HOW TO MAKE A PERFECT LEBANESE COCKTAIL

Gather all the ingredients. If you are using fresh fruit in your Lebanese smoothie recipe, make sure to wash them very well! I like to do a vinegar rinse on my fresh fruit.

STEP 1: Blend

Add all the ingredients into a blender except for the toppings:

• ½-1/4 ripe avocado
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• ½ ripe banana or ½ cup mango chunks
• 2 tablespoons raw honey (raw has the best honey flavor and most nutrients)
• 1 cup milk of choice
• ½ teaspoon rose water (found at Middle Eastern Markets)
• ½ teaspoon orange blossom water

Blend on high speed until your smoothie has no chunks of avocado or fruit left. If you want to have a thinner strawberry avocado smoothie, you can add extra milk.

STEP 2: Serve

Pour your smoothie into a glass and add authentic Middle Eastern toppings like nuts, honey comb, and the iconic Ashta (clotted cream). If you don't have a Middle Eastern market near you and can't find clotted cream you can easily substitute yogurt or ricotta cheese.

Enjoy!

VARIATIONS

Fresh vs Frozen fruit. Some smoothie shops make their Lebanese cocktails with frozen fruit, others with fresh fruit, and others with fresh fruit and ice cubes. Since you're making this smoothie at home, the choice is up to you! I prefer to use frozen fruit to make a delicious milk shake like texture. But my husband loves fresh fruit mixed with ice cubes.

Layering. You can either blend all the ingredients together. Or, if you want a really fun Middle Eastern cocktail, you can blend the avocado milk and honey. Then, layer it in your glass with another layer of blended strawberries and banana. Followed by a layer of the clotted cream and honey.

MIDDLE EASTERN SMOOTHIE TOPPINGS

Smoothies, called cocktails, are not the same in the Middle East as they are here. If you have ever had any Middle Eastern food, you will know that they are big on nuts and toasted nuts. Almost every dish and drink is garnished with toasted almonds, pine nuts, or other types of nuts. So it was not a surprise that when I drank my first fruit cocktail in Jordan it was garnished with toasted cashews.

An authentic Lebanese cocktail also typically has Ashta, which is a thick clotted cream that is used in Middle Eastern dessert recipes like basbousa and qatayef. If you can't find clotted cream, you can use ricotta or even Greek yogurt.

And finally, the sweet chewy and delicious honey comb. Like most Middle Eastern desserts, honey is used in some way shape or form. In this delicious Lebanese smoothie, use little chunks of honey comb for the most authentic experience!

SUBSTITUTIONS

• Dairy Free- Simply substitute the milk with your favorite plant based milk. And either skip the clotted cream or use a coconut yogurt.
• Fruits- If there is a fruit you don't like in this recipe, simply substitute your favorite fruit. You don't have to use any of these fruits at all even!
• Toppings- Use any nuts that you like you can even chop up some different nuts with dates for a fun chewy smoothie topping.

TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST LEBANESE STRAWBERRY AVOCADO SMOOTHIE

• Frozen fruit and ice cubes. Make sure to use cold fruit from the fridge if you are using fresh. And throw in a couple ice cubes to keep your smoothie cold. I personally like to use frozen fruit so that the flavor of the smoothie is not watered down.
• High quality fruit. By the highest quality fruit you can afford and choose organic if you can. Make sure you wait for your fruit to ripen before using them in your smoothie. If you are using frozen fruit, this is much more cost effective and is picked ripe and in season!
• Make it your own! The best thing about Middle Eastern fruit cocktails is that you can change ;so many aspects and still call it a fruit cocktail. It is just a smoothie after all so use the fruit you love, the milk you love and the toppings you adore.
• Don't skip the toppings! The thing that makes a Middle Eastern fruit smoothie unique is the toppings so make sure to add some honey comb, clotted cream, and nuts!

FAQ'S

Frequently asked questions about my strawberry avocado cocktail recipe.

How long does it last? This fruit smoothie should be enjoyed immediately, and will not taste very good if you store it in the fridge overnight as the fruit will begin to separate and go rancid.

Where can I get Ashta? Ashta is a clotted cream used in many Middle Eastern desserts. You can find it at your local Arabic or Middle Eastern market.

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If you try my Lebanese Avocado and Strawberry Cocktail Recipe, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube!