People always joke about the lunch lady and her “surprise” specialties.
Surprise and tuna should never be in the same sentence.
Dishes with unidentifiable ingredients can be a scary thing. Â We all fear the unknown. Â Rest assured, this is one surprise bowl you need not fear.
The first surprise is the ingredient in Heather’s Meatless Monday round-up this week – Spinach.  My favorite!
Spinach may be the most versatile veggie in the land.  I like it in salads, sautés, sauces, soups… apparently anything that starts with an S… I especially like it in smoothies.  It’s the perfect way to sneak extra veggies in you diet and to make your drinks a very pretty color.
Today’s Pear-Ginger Tofu Surprise Smoothie is the thickest, creamiest smoothie you’ll ever have.  Guaranteed.  The tofu and avocado together make this reminiscent of a soft-serve treat.  The pear and ginger flavors are a fun, refreshing combination… and you’d never detect the green surprises if it weren’t for the color.
The strange but goodness doesn’t end with the surprise ingredients.  How I stored the ingredients is also a thing of curiosity.
Do you ever eat half an avocado and wonder what to do with the rest? Â No matter what I do, they don’t store well. Â So I freeze them. Â Remove the skin and toss it in a baggie for safe keeping in the freezer. Â I toss the frozen chunks into smoothies for the added creaminess and healthy fats.
Warning: You can thaw it for use in a dip, but it won’t be the same if you try to eat it in slices.
Same goes for the pear.  I had a massive pear and only wanted half.  The other half went into my freezer, and was used in this smoothie.  Awesome, right?  We all knew this worked with bananas.  Don’t be afraid to try it with everything!  I’ve done oranges, cherries, berries, mango, peaches… beans….
Pear-Ginger Tofu Surprise Smoothie
- 3 oz tofu
- 1 C fresh spinach
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I use Sun Warrior)
- 1/2 large pear
- 1/4 avocado
- 1/4 in piece fresh ginger
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 small slice fresh lemon
- 5-6 drops liquid stevia
- Water + ice, to taste
- Optional toppings: oats, muesli, cinnamon, etc.
Throw everything into a high-speed blender and mix until smooth. Â
Add toppings of your choosing and enjoy!
Serves 1.
***
Week 1 of Junk-Free January was amazing.  It sounds funny, but I almost forgot how good it feels to eat clean.  Energy is awesome!  11 weeks until my next competition and I am PUMPED!
Do you freeze your leftover produce?
Are you detoxed from the holiday yet?  Or are you one of those “good” people with self-control? 😉
My brother just messaged me yesterday about how I “must try” avocado in my smoothies..I’m even more convinced now! I find that as long as the stone is still in tact, leftover avocado stored in the fridge seems to keep well. Produce aside, I also freeze bread as I don’t go through a loaf fast enough- works well too!
You must let me know when you try it!
I’ve tried the seed thing, coating it with citrus, and I have a special avocado saver container but I can’t get them to last much more than 12 hours. *sigh*
And YES to the bread! There’s no way I could go through a loaf fast enough.
We cruise through avocados at my house so I rarely have a half laying around. I’ll have to purposely cut one up for the freezer just to try it out. Sounds great!
I apologize in advance if this is a dumb question, but can you chew SF gum during junk free January? 🙂
Oh yes. Some people are against it, but I cannot workout withouht gum in my mouth!
I don’t eat avocado that often but I also have some in my freezer. Mainly because I usually eat them fresh on top of salads which is why I haven’t unfrozen them. I also made the mistake of freezing 3 together! I need to make some avocado smoothie or pudding or cake or something! I can’t get them apart! 😛
I’ve made that mistake… they freeze HARD!
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh freeze them!! I never thought of that. You genius you! Stocking up on avo!
I’ve never tried freezing them- but I freeze about everything else. Love that idea! And a thicker smoothie sounds delicious… might be trying this for breakfast!
Let me know if you try it! I always love your creations. 🙂
Im in…after I find the grocery here and snag me more TOFU!!
sounds like an oddly delicious combination!
Strange but good, perhaps? 😉
Interesting. I bet that could make a good soup too!
For sure! I used tofu to make my tomato-basil soup creamier: https://www.sprint2thetable.com/2012/03/creamy-tomato-basil-soup/
Definitely checking out your recipe. My attempts at tomato soup have not been that great. I love using silken tofu in lieu of cream for soups. Plus it adds in protein that lots of soups can lack
Very creative!
I never would have thought to try freezing avocados – that’s pretty brilliant! I don’t usually freeze my produce, but I freeze bread/buns, because I don’t actually use them too often.
I think I showed you this pear ginger combo this summer ?? 😉 my fav shake!!!!!!!! You introduced me to nectarine and ginger, though 🙂 YUM
Love you twin
So that made me go back and look… I forgot I made nearly the same thing but with frnech vanilla chai. Must have been good. Haha!
LOVE THIS! I would never think to combine ginger and pear AND tofu, in a smoothie no less, but dang. That looks soo good!
I had amazing self control through the holidays…and then January 1st came and it was like all self-control went out the window. What’s up with that??? Perhaps being back at work (ugh!) starting today will get me back to ‘normal.’
Love this. Also, I freeze everything. Everything.
Awwww… it was all pent up from you not feeling well! At least you’re doing with when the brakroom isn’t filled with holiday cookies.
This looks pretty good!! I like pear + ginger 🙂 … as for freezing produce–yes.. I freeze everything!
I’ve heard good things about avocados in smoothies but I have yet to try it. I can never seem to save enough to do it – I always end up going through them in the form of guac before I can get to the smoothie part! Need to try this at some point though!
Great… now you have me craving guac. 😉
I was just thinking this weekend how I add spinach to everything sans oatmeal. But other than that, pretty much everything!
I saw someone in Instagram put it in her oatmeal!!! I don’t know about that one…
Actually i did see some recipes in a health magazine for “savory” oatmeal recipes and i believe i thought about making one that had spinach and cheese in it. and then i was like “nahhh” i like my oats sweet.
So I freeze my bananas all the time but I had no idea about avocados. I actually stopped buying avocados because of this very problem, I could never eat the whole thing fast enough before it would start to brown and look all weird and yucky. I’ll freeze it next time and make it into a dip! Does it still brown if it’s frozen?
Nope – they stay the same beautiful shade of green!
I freeze my avocado more than I do bananas! 🙂 I love freezing fruit for my smoothies – then I don’t have to add ice but I get the cold.
I love spinach. spinach, spinach, spinach. here it goes down, down into my belly.
Looks delish!
I freeze my bananas 🙂
K that does look like one hell of a surprise…I would have to try it to know its deal though….
I promise you can’t taste the tofu, avocado, OR the spinach. 🙂
oh my gosh! You can freeze avocado??!? That changes everything.
*insert parting clouds and angels singing…* 🙂
Thanks for the tip on freezing avocado. I didn’t know you could do that!
You’re amazing! I never thought of freezing avocados. Whenever i buy them it’s usually in a pack of 5 and it’s hard for me to finish them on time. Plus, as you’ve said they don’t store well. I will be giving freezing them a try 😉
You can also put them in the fridge (un-cut) to get a couple more days out of them!
Interesting, creative smoothie! Looks like it turned out pretty good! 🙂 Way to go keep it clean and eat well – keep it up! And wow…only 11 weeks until your next comp? Super exiting. I think I’m more or less detoxed, yes, and feeling good about my food (aside from being sick right now).
I freeze everything I can. With just two of us, we don’t always use up what we buy. And as far as detoxing from the holidays, I am trying my best. My main focus is to get my mind and body on the same page. 🙂
And THAT is the biggest challenge. 🙂
I never freeze my produce, but it’s a great idea!! I didn’t end up making the pizza I planned yesterday, so I have a few things that may go bad if they don’t get eaten soon. I think I’ll try this freezing thing…;)
I have half an avocado sitting in my fridge and I was wondering the what the heck to do with it. Now I know; thanks much!!
I’m back on my clean eating train (although still eating out too much) and the difference in energy is remarkable.
Isn’t it crazy? I also notice I’m sleeping much better.
Me too! Although I didn’t make the connection until you just said it (or typed it; whatever, semantics).
Great idea for spinach/Meatless Monday!
I freeze most everything, but woah, never thought to do it with an avocado! I usually end up throwing out a brown, rather fuzzy, second half of an avocado a few weeks after eating the first…
I was reasonably detoxed from the holidays, and then my birthday happened. A few cupcake induced sugar comas later, and it’s time to start again 😀
The awesome thing is that you start over any time! Birthday cupcakes are necessary. 🙂
I love avocados in smoothies! Makes it so creamy! Wahoo 11 weeks already until your next competition! Crazy! You are going to rock it.
Looks like guac! 🙂 I LOVE the freezing advice – so cool! I am not a kitchen wiz so 😉 I need a blender! My old one broke & can’t afford the really good ones that will last & blend every dang thing.. gonna wait till I can get a good one!
I had a Magic Bullet before the Vitamix. It worked pretty well…. I still use it for smaller tasks!
I have a magic bullet but certain foods just don’t work in it & it is small for larger “jobs”. I use it for some things… I so want a Vitamix more for baking than smoothies since I burned myself out on protein drinks when I was younger to my 40’s. 😉
True… it never would get kale blended unless it was frozen. And cinnamon sticks… that’s my #1 fav thing about the Vitamix. That and the soups. I swear it’s worth every cent.
frozen beans!! LOL!! I love the idea of adding tofu to a smoothie!! I always try protein powder and it just never works for me… I’mma try tofu next time!! And thanks for the avocado tip!
Sounds delicious, I love the taste of ginger
It’s really good for the tummy too!
The pear-ginger surprise sounds wonderful!! Gotta start making Smoothies! Have a great day, Laura!
This sounds like a really good smoothie! I am boring with smoothies lately. Just sticking to frozen fruit, protein powder and almond milk. Heh. You always remind me to jazz it up!
Those are good too! I love a fruit smoothie… but I always have to play with the spices too. 🙂
In now way would I ever think of putting Tofu in a smoothie, I cant even begin to imagine what it tastes like. Remember being a Veggie for four years and Tofu no matter what it was mixed with was so bland. Cant say I am going to try that one though some of your others look great :O))
Tom, you are just the person I want to try it then! It’s not in here for flavor. tha bland works in your favor here because it allows the ginger and pear to shine. 🙂
You’ve sold it to me with the shine bit lol I will have to get the ingredients and let you know how I get on. Thanks :O)
Right on! Keep me posted.
When you put in the pear and with tofu and the surprise I thought of mystery Monday cafeteria food haha BUT when I read your recipes and looked at the photos, I died! I want to devour 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Hee hee… much better than cafeteria. Guarenteed!
I never thought to freeze pears before…or to even add them to a smoothie. I guess I just figured the flavor would get lost in the mix! I’ll have to give it a try sometime! But wait a minute…beans? Are you just talking about freezing or freezing, thawing, and adding to a smoothie? Because THAT my friend would be some MACH 1 serious #strangebut…good? 😉
I keep frozen edameme in the freezer and use it as a topping. Not thawed – I like the crunch. 🙂