Pomegranate Yogurt Smoothie

Name: Pomegranate Yogurt Smoothie
Prep time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup pomegranate juice; 1 tablespoon raw honey; 1 tablespoon chia seeds; 1 cup labneh, plain Greek yogurt, or plain yogurt; 1 cup ice cubes; 1 cup frozen raspberries or strawberries; 1 scoop vanilla protein powder; Pomegranate seeds, to garnish

Maureen Abood / November 7, 2014 / Last Updated March 12, 2023 /

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This Pomegranate Yogurt Smoothie packs intense pomegranate flavor with high-protein yogurt. A healthy way to start the day, or post workout wonder.

Pomegranate yogurt smoothie, MaureenAbood.com

This past year has upped the ante in a big way for the appliances in my life, and I can’t help but find it thrilling. I’m not a woman who shrinks from a gift of a great tool (for the kitchen, not the tool shed).

Jewelry or perfume have their place of course, but so do pizza ovens and Vitamix blenders. For years I’ve pined after both, with little decorum about my desire (here, here, here, and that’s just on the blog).

I have sung arias to my unrequited Vitamix blender, a pro-tool that makes a smoothie smoother and a hummus hum. In 2014, an auspicious year for dreams-really-do-come-true in the life of Maureen, my Vita-dream was realized.

My brother Tom and his wife Amara, they put that baby in my hands after I took care of their baby, my godson, on their first trip away from him. I think they must have known that I’d cry like a baby myself when I had to leave him after being with that boy all week; here was something special to ease the pain (I’m sure they were just saying thank you, but I was in deep) and replace the tears with a smile (the tears kept coming, but I smiled right through them over the blender).

Here’s the first thing I made, my Pomegranate Yogurt Smoothie, and it remains my go-to!

Ingredients for a Pomegranate Yogurt Smoothie

Remember that smoothies are flexible recipes. The main idea is to keep the quantities in place for balanced thickness, but beyond that: play!

Pomegranate juice. So tart, so colorful. So healthy! Use any Pom Wonderful juice blend or pure pomegranate juice.

Raw Honey. A little sweetness just brings it all together.

Chia seeds. High protein, high fiber.

Yogurt. Take your pick of labneh, Greek yogurt, or plain yogurt. Any fat level will be fine! Fruity yogurts are also fine but they do have in them and we don’t need more of that here.

Ice cubes. These are key for amping up the thick texture of the smoothie and also making it: ice cold!

Frozen berries. Go for strawberries or raspberries. Frozen again does the texture and cold temp of our smoothie good.

Pomegranate seeds. Use them here for garnish. Can you throw some in the blend as well? Sure!

Protein powder. I love how protein powder makes a thick shake. But also it packs this smoothie with high protein goodness.

How to make this smoothie

The only work of this smoothie is gathering your ingredients. From there, it’s as simple as blending everything in the blender. But there are still a few steps to follow:

Step 1. First ingredient to add to your blender is the juice. If protein powder or even ice cubes go in first, the blender gets stuck and has to be stirred frequently to set the blades free.

Step 2. Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and pulse until smooth. Stop and stir a couple of times if needed. Sometimes rather than stir, I give the blender container a shake or two to loosen things up.

Step 3. Serve immediately! Your smoothie has all of that frozen goodness from the berries and ice cubes right after it’s blended.

Tips to make this Pomegranate Smoothie Recipe

Cut your own pomegranate! I do enjoy buying the little cups of seeds available now, for ease. But it’s economical to cut your own pomegranate, like this.
Be sure to use frozen fruit and/or ice cubes. If your fruit is fresh, that won’t be a problem if you do use ice cubes. But better not to replace the ice cubes with water! Your smoothie won’t have the same thick texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this smoothie vegan? If you leave out the yogurt and honey, this smoothie becomes vegan easily. Substitute the yogurt with nut milk, oat milk, or any vegan yogurt. Replace the honey with maple syrup.
Can I make my smoothie ahead of time? Smoothies like this one that include ice cubes and frozen berries will have its best texture and flavor if served immediately after it is made. To make it ahead, simply refrigerate the smoothie and then stir before serving.
Is it a healthy breakfast? By all means yes! My Pomegranate Yogurt Smoothie is packed with protein and fiber, which will keep you satisfied and ready to start the day. It’s also a great post-workout replenishment.