Monkeylada Smoothie | Best Ever Smoothie - Monkeylada | Banana Milkshake | Banana Smoothie | Monkeylada Smoothie Recipe | Healthy Banana Smoothie | Strawberry Banana Smoothie | Strawberry Banana Milkshake |

 

Monkeylada Smoothie | Best Ever Smoothie - Monkeylada | Banana Milkshake | Banana Smoothie | Monkeylada Smoothie Recipe | Healthy Banana Smoothie | Strawberry Banana Smoothie | Strawberry Banana Milkshake | Monkey Lada Smoothie: A tropical, creamy smoothie inspired by the flavors of a Piña Colada—but with a banana twist! Raw, vegan, and gluten-free.

Ingredients

1/2 cup raw cashews (soaked for 4 hours or overnight, then drained and rinsed)

1 cup coconut water

1 large banana (fresh or frozen)

1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or frozen)

1 tablespoon Coconut Manna / Coconut Meat Butter (such as Nutiva Coconut Manna)

1 cup ice

Monkey Lada Smoothie (Banana Smoothie)

Instructions

Soak the Cashews – Place the raw cashews in water and soak them in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse them before use.

Make the Cashew-Coconut Cream – Add the soaked cashews and coconut water to a blender. Blend on high speed until completely smooth, for about 1 minute.

Add the Fruit – Add the banana, pineapple chunks, ice, and Coconut Manna to the blender.

Blend – Blend until smooth, for about 30–45 seconds.

Serve – Pour into glasses and enjoy immediately!

Tips and Variations

For Best Results, Soak Overnight – The longer the cashews soak, the smoother and creamier the smoothie will be. However, do not soak them for longer than overnight, as they may become slimy.

Use Frozen Fruit for a Thicker Shake – Both frozen bananas and frozen pineapple help thicken the shake and give it the authentic feel of a Piña Colada. Frozen pineapple is also often cheaper and more convenient than buying a whole fresh pineapple.

No Coconut Water? For the liquid base, you can use plain water, almond milk, or carton-based coconut milk (not the canned variety).

Coconut Manna imparts a rich coconut flavor and creaminess to the smoothie. You can typically find it at health food stores, usually located near the coconut oil or nut butters. A very small amount goes a long way—you only need 1 tablespoon per batch.

The "Monkey Lada" is actually called the Monkeylada—a playful fusion of "Monkey" (banana) and "Piña Colada"! 

Here are some of the highlights of this recipe:

1. It tastes exactly like a poolside Piña Colada, but with the addition of banana—hence the name "Monkeylada."

2. The two secret ingredients that set this recipe apart are: coconut meat (also known as "Coconut Manna") and cashews—both of which help make this smoothie incredibly creamy and unique.

3. A special trick involving the cashews is to soak them in the refrigerator for at least four hours, or preferably overnight; soaking them overnight ensures an ultra-smooth texture in the smoothie, leaving no gritty cashew bits behind.

4. You can use either frozen or fresh pineapple chunks. Frozen pineapple is not only more economical but also easier to use; furthermore, it adds thickness and a refreshing chill to the smoothie, giving it an authentic Piña Colada taste.

5. Coconut Manna adds a rich depth and intense coconut flavor to the smoothie, and a very small amount is all you need—you will only require 1 tablespoon of Coconut Manna per batch.