Simple Mango and Banana Smoothie for Two

A mango and banana smoothie is one of the easiest blends to make at home: it takes a ripe mango, a ripe banana and a liquid you likely already have, and comes together in a few minutes in a standard blender. This recipe makes two generous glasses with exact quantities, so you can repeat it without guessing.

For other combinations, the blend menu on the GoBlendy home page lists a few more simple starting points.

Ingredients for two servings

• 1 large ripe banana, about 120 g peeled
• 200 g ripe mango flesh, about 1 medium mango, peeled and stoned
• 250 ml milk, or water for a lighter blend
• 2 tablespoons plain yogurt, optional, for a thicker result
• A very small pinch of salt, optional

Ripe fruit matters more than any other detail. A banana with a few brown speckles and a mango that gives slightly when pressed will blend smoothly and taste sweeter than firm fruit.

How to make it: step by step

1. Peel the banana and break it into three or four pieces.
2. Cut the mango flesh away from the stone and chop it into roughly 2 cm chunks.
3. Pour the liquid into the blender first, then add the mango, the banana and the yogurt if using. Liquid at the bottom helps the blades move freely.
4. Fit the lid or blade assembly exactly as your manual describes, then blend until smooth, following the manufacturer’s instructions for your model. Pause to check how the mixture is moving.
5. If the blend stalls, switch off, wait for the blades to stop completely, add a splash more liquid, then blend again.
6. Pour into two glasses and serve straight away.

Adjusting the texture

For a thicker smoothie, use 200 ml of liquid instead of 250 ml, add the yogurt, or blend in an extra half banana (about 60 g peeled). For a thinner one, add liquid two tablespoons at a time and blend briefly between additions.

If the result tastes grainy, blend a little longer. If you prefer some texture, pulse the fruit a few times at the end rather than running the blender continuously.

Two optional substitutions

Instead of mango: use 200 g of ripe peach slices or 200 g of soft pineapple chunks. Both are soft enough to blend easily and keep the same quantities.

Instead of milk and yogurt: use 250 ml of oat, soy or coconut drink and leave the yogurt out, or use a plant-based yogurt in the same quantity.

Using frozen fruit

Frozen mango or banana can be used, but follow the instructions supplied with your blender, especially when fruit is frozen. Maximum fill lines and limits on frozen ingredients or ice differ between models, and a recipe cannot tell you what your machine is rated for. Check your manual first, add the liquid first, and follow the guidance for your model.

Cleaning up

Rinse the jar or cup as soon as you have poured the smoothie, while the fruit is still soft. Follow your blender’s cleaning instructions and keep electrical parts away from water unless the manual says otherwise.

Once you are comfortable with the ratio of fruit to liquid, the same method works for most soft fruit.