Kesar Pista (Saffron and Pistachio) Smoothie

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Kesar pista smoothie is one of a kind – it combines saffron (kesar), pistachios (pista), with banana, cardamom, and milk to create a delicious and nutrient-rich drink that’s perfect for kids and as a post-workout drink.

Saffron and Pistachio smoothie garnished with pistachio powder and saffron strands.
Kesar Pista Smoothie

We have smoothies like every morning. While my kids love it most days, I knew they were getting to a point where they were getting bored of the usual combinations I was offering. So to change it up a bit, I decided to create new smoothie flavors based on popular Indian ice-cream flavors.

That’s how the idea of kesar pista smoothie was born.

Kesar (saffron) and pista (pistachios) have been successfully combined with milk a million times. If you grew up in India, you probably have had kesar and pista in your milk, kulfi, milkshake, shrikhand.. even as a garnish in your sweets.

That’s why I decided to include kesar and pista as add-ons to my banana smoothie. It seemed like an ingenious idea and when combined with cardamom powder and a tad bit of sugar, it felt more like a dessert than a nutrition-dense smoothie.

Is kesar pista smoothie good for you?

Kesar imparts a beautiful orange hue when combined with water or milk and is often used for coloring dishes. It is also very fragrant and a small quantity goes a long way. It also provides a myriad of health benefits that make it popular with expectant moms. Pistachios are considered rich in protein and low in fat. Together when they are combined in milk, they create a gorgeous looking, nutrient-rich drink that is perfect for growing kids, pregnant moms and post workout.

How to make kesar pista smoothie?

You must be wondering isn’t this a milkshake recipe? No, my friend the key difference between milkshake and smoothie is that milkshakes are supposed to have ice-cream whereas smoothies are fruit based.

Ingredients for Kesar Pista smoothie in a blender with a banana on the side
Kesar Pista Elaichi Smoothie

Looking for more smoothie ideas that your family will love? Here are my top picks –  

  1. Chickoo (sapota) smoothie –  This nutritious blended drink made from Date and Chikoo (Sapota) is a great treat for any time of the day – be it an after-school snack or a post-workout drink. 
  2. Apple smoothie is a delicious way to start your day with the goodness of milk and apples and with no added sugar. It is ready in less than 5 minutes – now you have no reason to skip breakfast.
  3. Papaya Mango Smoothie – This smoothie is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants and is the perfect way to start your day or recharge your body after an intense workout. 
  4. Banana Nutella Smoothie – Your kids will love this delicious Banana Nutella Smoothie Recipe – a healthy-ish drink made from bananas and milk with a hint of Nutella and hot cocoa. 
  5. Healthy Chocolate Banana Smoothie – Learn to make a creamy and nutritious chocolate banana smoothie with just 6 ingredients and 5 minutes! This delicious chocolate smoothie packs in all the flavor of a milkshake with far fewer calories!
a pouring shot of smoothie into a glass. 
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5 from 2 votes

Kesar Pista (Saffron and Pistachio) Smoothie

Kesar pista smoothie is one of a kind - it combines saffron (kesar), pistachios (pista), with banana, cardamom, and milk to create a delicious and nutrient-rich drink that's perfect for kids and as a post-workout drink.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

  • a pinch of saffron kesar
  • 2 tablespoons warm water
  • ¼ cup pistachios
  • 1 banana medium sized
  • ½ teaspoon cardamom seeds ground to a fine powder
  • 2 cups milk
  • 3 teaspoon sugar

Instructions
 

  • Soak saffron in 2 tablespoons of warm water for about 5 minutes.  Add the soaked saffron along with the water and rest of the ingredients into the blender.
  • Blend all the ingredients in a blender until the smoothie is of a consistency that you desire. Alternatively, if you are using the Blendtec blender, run the smoothie cycle.
  • Serve immediately.
Don't forget to..Read the post for helpful information on ingredient swaps, storage tips, meal prep ideas and variations!

Disclaimer: Approximate nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and can vary depending on the exact ingredients/brands used. If you have health issues, please work with a registered dietician or nutritionist.

Nutrition

Calories: 156kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 6gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 53mgPotassium: 345mgFiber: 2gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 250IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 146mgIron: 0.4mg
Diet: Vegetarian
Course: Breakfast
Method: No cook
Keyword: Delicious, smoothies, summer drink
Cuisine: Indian
A pouring shot of Kesar Pista smoothie
Kesar Pista Smoothie

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One Comment

  1. 5 stars
    Excellent recipe! For this Midwestern person, this hit the spot for an interesting if not exotic flavor.

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