Spicy-Sweet Green Pea Smoothie
This vegan, gluten-free, spicy-sweet green pea smoothie recipe is both healthy and delicious. Enjoy it as a snack or with a salad or sandwich.
For the sake of full disclosure, I confess I didn’t set out to make a green pea smoothie. I wanted to move past my usual set of ingredients. But my planning didn’t go beyond getting fresh tomato juice for the base. The recipe began to take shape when I decided to use frozen peas as a cooling and thickening agent.
Spicy-Sweet Green Pea Smoothie
I love the simplicity of this spicy-sweet green pea smoothie. It’s made with just five ingredients and a bit of salt and cayenne pepper.
Medjool dates add just the right amount of sweetness, while the cayenne pepper gives it a kick.
You can omit the salt if you can’t find unsalted tomato juice. Also, if you opt for homemade (see instructions below), you may want to add a splash of lemon. Most store-bought tomato juice includes a bit of lemon juice.
Soup or Smoothie
What exactly is the difference between cold soup and smoothies? You eat one in a bowl with a spoon and the other in a glass with a straw. But are there any other differences? I don’t know. So, I debated whether to call this recipe spicy-sweet green pea soup. Like soup, it goes great with salads and sandwiches.
I ultimately decided to call it a smoothie because, let’s be honest, it’s easier to drink from a straw.
Homemade Tomato Juice
If you have a garden full of ripe tomatoes, you might want to make your own tomato juice. I don’t have an exact recipe. But a juicer makes it pretty easy. I just wash and feed several tomatoes through the juicer on the low/soft setting. The machine separates the skin and seeds from the juice. (Technically, you could use a blender, but then you would need to strain the juice.) Sometimes, I’ll add a carrot for a bit of sweetness—or celery for some zing. Cucumber is also nice. And don’t forget to add a bit of lemon.
Experiment with different combinations to see what you like best. That’s the fun part—or why bother making homemade?
Spicy-Sweet Green Pea Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup natural tomato juice no salt added
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 4 baby carrots
- 2 Medjool dates pitted
- 1 stalk celery chopped into smaller pieces
- ⅛ tsp. fine sea salt
- ⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Place ingredients in a high-speed blender in the order they are listed.
- Begin blending on the lowest setting and slowly turn up to the highest setting.
- Blend on high for approximately 35 seconds.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Note: This page contains affiliate links. I earn a commission if you use the links—it’s how I keep the site ad-free. I only recommend items/brands I use or trust, and I appreciate your support.
After my lovely and talented wife made this smoothie – I found an unattended full glass in the refrigerator. Having had an early breakfast and missed lunch – it was satisfying, filling and tasted better than I expected. Keep in mind this is the opinion of a person that does not particularly like peas or pea recipes like pea soup. This recipe holds its own as a sweet and spicy treat.