Your Smoothies Will Benefit From a Little Jam
Sometimes the morning is too busy to cook or even chew. On these mornings (and sometimes afternoons) I make myself a protein shake. I make it simple: a large scoop of protein powder , frozen fruit, water, and a little halved . The taste is pleasant, but recently I found myself craving a more intense fruity taste. So instead of adding more frozen fruit, I reached for a jar of strawberry jam.
Why You Should Add Jam to Your Smoothie or Shake
You might think that the easiest way to add more “fruity flavor” to a smoothie or smoothie is to add more fruit, but the reality is that fruit isn’t very concentrated. Adding fruit, whether frozen or fresh, adds bulk to your smoothie by increasing the amount you should be consuming with each addition. It also adds water, which can dilute the flavor and, if your fruit is frozen, more liquid may be needed to mix it properly (which brings us back to the volume issue).
Blending devices for all your smoothie needs:
- Powerful batch immersion blender: Mueller Ultra-Stick 500 Watt 9-Speed Immersion Blender
- Plug-in blender that allows you to mix drinks right in the cup: Ninja SS151 TWISTi Blender DUO
- A very serious blender for very serious blenders: Vitamix A3500 Ascent series smart blender
Jam is made from fruit, yes, but fruit boiled with sugar. Most of the water evaporates during cooking, creating a thicker, concentrated fruity substance that adds flavor without bulk (either water or ice). Jam is also high in sugar, which means it tastes good, but it also prevents freezing, keeping your smoothie or shake fluid. As for dessert, this is an easy way to make a strawberry (or cherry or blueberry) milkshake, even if the only ice cream you have is plain vanilla ice cream. There is no need to adjust the liquid-to-solid ratio; just spoon to taste.
How much jam is enough?
For most smoothies and shakes, a tablespoon or two is enough, but I won’t be mad if you add more, as I’ve been known to spoon-feed Bonne Maman’s Strawberry Jam . Mix smoothie or shake as usual, taste to get baseline, then add jam of your choice and blend again. Give it another taste and repeat as needed.
I usually make my protein shakes to taste, but this morning I really measured everything. Feel free to use my recipe as a template, or ignore it entirely and go on your own smoothie adventure.
Protein shake with strawberry jam
Ingredients:
- 1 scoop (24 grams) unflavored whey protein powder
- 4 ounces of water
- 2 tablespoons half and half
- 1 full cup frozen fruit of your choice
- 2 tablespoons strawberry jam
Add the first three ingredients to a blender or a cup large enough to hold an immersion blender and blend to dissolve the protein powder. Add remaining ingredients and mix until smooth. Taste and add some more jam if you like. (I often do.)