Pear & Pomegranate Smoothie Recipe
Start your day with a burst of antioxidants in this pear and pomegranate smoothie recipe! Unlike most breakfast smoothies with pomegranate juice, this recipe uses both the juice AND pomegranate seeds. The combo transforms this sweet pear smoothie into a deliciously tangy treat with a gorgeous pink color, and double the antioxidant power! An easy all-fruit smoothie with juice and your choice of milk—no added sugar or sweeteners.
For another antioxidant smoothie recipe, try my purple pineapple ginger smoothie with beets, raspberries, and ginger root!
What pairs well with pomegranate in smoothies?
I love adding pomegranate to smoothies because it has such a fun, tart, and tangy flavor. It works well with all kinds of berries—especially tangy raspberries. But tangy pomegranate also pairs nicely with the sweet, creamy flavors in this simple smoothie with pear and banana. Typically, I prefer a pear smoothie with earthier, warm fall flavors like ginger, cardamom, or cinnamon. But this pear pomegranate smoothie is a different kind of delicious—bursting with bright, juicy, summery flavor!
Pomegranate Smoothie Benefits
Pomegranate juice is well-known for its high antioxidant content, with a more potent antioxidant effect than green tea. Those powerful antioxidants can help reduce inflammation and protect our bodies from disease, and this healthy smoothie is chock-full of ’em. Some studies have even shown that pomegranate extracts and juice can inhibit the growth of cancer!
Both pomegranate juice and pomegranate seeds (a.k.a. arils) are oozing with antioxidants, but most smoothie recipes with pomegranate use just the juice. The juice may be more convenient, but the arils are just as nutritious—and they contain the dietary fiber and vitamin C that gets lost during the juicing process. For the ultimate antioxidant smoothie, use both pomegranate juice and the seeds!
Where to Find & How to Prep Pomegranate for Smoothies
You can find pomegranate juice in most grocery stores, and it’s easy to recognize with its deep reddish-magenta color. I prefer to look for an option with no added sugar for smoothies, but you can use whatever variety of juice you like.
To use pomegranate seeds in a smoothie, either look for a pre-packaged container of arils in your produce section or buy a whole pomegranate. Typically, I use the pre-packaged arils—but they’re not always available, in which case you’ll need to cut the pomegranate and remove the seeds yourself. There are many different methods for seeding a pomegranate, and it can be a bit tricky at first, but it’s totally worth it. I now prefer to slice off the top and bottom, cut it into 6 wedges, then separate the wedges apart and peel out the seeds inside.
Once your pomegranate and pear smoothie is blended, add fresh arils on top for some fun bursts of tanginess in every sip! Or, when you want a change of pace, serve it as a colorful smoothie bowl with toppings and devour with a spoon.
Pomegranate Smoothie
Ingredients
Pomegranate Smoothie:
- 1 pear, chopped
- 1 banana, frozen
- ¼ cup pomegranate arils
- ⅓ cup pomegranate juice
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries, I used frozen strawberries & raspberries for the red color
- ⅓ cup milk of choice
Optional Toppings:
- pomegranate arils
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour into a glass, serve, and enjoy!
- I like to top mine with a few fresh pomegranate arils, but you can use any toppings you prefer!
