Healthy Newtella Smoothie

 
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Prep Time: 5 minutes

Prep Notes: The flavor is so much richer if you use roasted nuts.  I am talking about liquid-Nutella & Ferrero-Rocher rich kinda flavor.

If you buy raw skinned/blanched hazelnuts, you’ll save yourself the trouble (and mess!) of having to remove the skins yourself.  Just pop them straight into the oven for 10 minutes, then remove and set aside to cool.  If you can only find hazelnuts with skins intact, just follow the directions below and you’ll be sipping on this treat in no time.

Yields : 2 portions

Ingredients

3/4 cup water

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup roasted, skinned hazelnuts (see instructions below)

3 Tbsp raw cacao powder

2 Medjool dates, pitted

1 frozen banana, peeled

Pinch sea salt

To decorate

Raw cacao nibs

Extra hazelnuts

Directions

Roasted Hazelnuts

  1. Preferably the night before, roast hazelnuts in a single layer on a baking tray at 180C/350F for about 10 minutes until toasted and aromatic and the skins turn a couple of shades darker.
  2. Remove from oven and while the hazelnuts are still warm, rub between a towel or paper towel or your fingers to remove the skins. Aim to remove at least 70% of the skins (which can be quite bitter). If there are some stubborn ones, you can pop them back in the oven for a few more minutes and try again.
  3. Let the hazelnuts cool completely – preferably overnight – or they will not blend as finely as they should (and will be harder work for your blender).

Smoothie

  1. Place all ingredients into blender, liquids first.
  2. Blend on low speed, then high, until smooth and creamy.
  3. Pour into glasses, decorate, and enjoy!
 
SmoothiesElla Davar