Strawberry Beetroot Cashew Smoothie (vegan, dairy free)

May 12, 2021 • Updated Jun 20, 2023

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This Strawberry, Cashew and Beetroot Smoothie makes a great breakfast or snack that’s good for your gut! It’s the ideal recipe for spring. It’s vegan, gluten free, dairy free and made with only 5 simple ingredients.

I’ve partnered with Seed to bring you this #ScienceSmoothie, or as I like to call it, a Beetroot, Betalain, Beta-sitosterol Smoothie. Microbiome research indicates that an important piece of gut health is the amount and variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and beans or in other words, a diversity of fruits and vegetables in your diet.

How to Make a Strawberry Cashew and Beetroot Smoothie

Smoothies are one of the best options when you’re short on time or want something quick and easy. To make, I recommend a high power blender that can handle frozen banana, cashews and raw beetroot. Alternatively, you can steam your beets and soak your cashews to help your blender out.

For a thicker smoothie or a bowl consistency, use less plant milk and make sure your banana is nice and frozen. You could also add ice cubes to thicken things up, and you can check out my smoothie bowl guide for even more tips.

What’s in this smoothie?

To make this smoothie we’re blending beetroot, strawberries, cashews and banana with almond milk.

Beetroot (ie. beets) contains a bioactive compound called betalain, which is a powerful phytochemical with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities.
- Betalains consist of betacyanins (responsible for red pigments) and betaxanthins (responsible for yellow pigments).
Research has also investigated the role of nitrates in beetroot as a potential modulator of the oral microbiome.
Cashews and nut milks are rich in phytosterols (plant compounds) including Beta-sitosterol—which has a number of beneficial health implications
- This includes cardiovascular + metabolic health effects.

These ingredients were selected from a Periodic Table of Microbiome-Friendly Foods that I used to develop this easy peasy recipe because research suggests that “intestinal microbiome plays an important role in modulating risk of several chronic diseases. It is now understood that diet plays a significant role in shaping the microbiome, with experiments showing that dietary alterations can induce large, temporary microbial shifts within 24 hours.

Can you use canned or frozen produce?

Frozen and canned produce are generally more cost effective options, and both work when making a smoothie. They also will last in the freezer or pantry for months, if not years, so it’s a great way to avoid food waste too!

Additionally, ingredients tend to be frozen or canned at peak ripeness, meaning they are just as, if not more nutritious than fresh produce. Two independent studies by the University of Chester and Leatherhead Food Research found in 66% of cases, frozen fruit and vegetables contained more antioxidants such as vitamin C, polyphenols, beta carotene and lutein compared to fresh varieties stored in the fridge for three days!

Consider using frozen strawberries when making this smoothie, or if using fresh strawberries, include the strawberry tops to reduce food waste and enjoy additional fiber.
You can find pre-steamed beets that are canned, just be sure not to use pickled beets. Opt for canned beets in water.
While frozen bananas aren’t as commonly found at grocery stores, I like to freeze my bananas as they ripen so they don’t go bad or unused. Again, this will contribute to a thicker, creamier smoothie!

More Quick Smoothie Recipes

Learn more about Seed and gut health

I’ve been taking Seed’s Daily Synbiotic (which is a 100% vegan pre + probiotic) for over 2 years. If you’re interested in learning more about Seed and trying their Daily Synbiotic, click here and use code REMY15 for 15% off your first month’s supply.

Be sure to follow @seed on Instagram for more information about gut health and the microbiome throughout the month of May. You can also take their @seeduniversity course for free to nerd out and learn more about how your gut works.

Learn more about Seed and gut health