If you like to add nut butter to your morning smoothie, you’ll love this tahini smoothie with dates! Tahini adds a subtle nutty flavor to this smoothie made with frozen banana, dates, and vegan protein powder.
We love starting off our day with a yummy plant-based smoothie like this tahini smoothie with dates. I’ve been adding peanut butter or almond butter to my smoothies for years, but wanted with try something new so I added tahini instead and fell in love with the flavor!
Tahini has a mild nutty flavor that pairs really well with fruit and warm spices like cinnamon and cardamom. It’s a great way to use up any tahini you may have leftover from making homemade hummus. (Tahini has become a staple ingredient in our house; love using tahini in this miso sauce for roasted cabbage.)
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Healthy Breakfast/Snack Option: this tahini smoothie with dates is a delicious way to switch up your usual smoothie routine with something new. We love the flavor of tahini in smoothies like this one!
- Easily Customizable: This is a basic tahini smoothie recipe, so feel free to add more fruit, spices, or chocolate. I’ve added a few suggestions for variations in the post below.
- Diet & Allergen Friendly: This recipe is vegan, gluten free, dairy free and made with no added sugar.
Looking for more vegan smoothie recipes created by a plant-based dietitian? Check out my roundup of 15+ delicious vegan smoothies!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Frozen Banana: Banana adds to the creamy texture of this tahini smoothie recipe while also providing some natural sweetness. (Check out this guide for how to freeze bananas.) If you don’t have any frozen bananas, you can also use a fresh bananas – but you might want to add a bit of ice to thicken the smoothie. If you don’t like banana, you can use about 1 to 1 1/2 cups frozen cauliflower instead.
- Milk: I like to use unsweetened, plain soy milk in my smoothies because it is so creamy and has more protein than other plant-based milks. However, you can use any non-dairy milk that you like such as: unsweetened almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk.
- Tahini: Tahini is like a nut butter made from roasted sesame seeds. Adding it to smoothies like this banana and date smoothie adds creaminess and a mild nutty flavor. We love a creamy smoothie!
- Dates: Toss a couple of dates into your smoothie for a little sweetness. My favorite are medjool dates because they are often the softest and have great flavor. Dates and tahini are a classic pair. Don’t have dates? Use 1/2 to 1 tablespoon maple syrup instead.
- Protein Powder: This is optional, but if you want to add a bit more protein to this smoothie, mix in a scoop of your favorite vegan vanilla protein powder. (Mine is the vanilla protein powder from Sprout Living! Use code DEBBIE20 for 20% off your order) If you aren’t using a vanilla protein powder, add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract to your smoothie.
- Pinch of Salt: A small pinch of salt balances out some of the sweetness in this date smoothie and enhances the flavor.
Variations
- Cinnamon: Add 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon to your tahini shake before blending for yummy cinnamon variation.
- Chocolate: Add 1-2 tablespoons cocoa powder to this smoothie for a chocolate-y version. You could also use a chocolate protein powder to really lean into the chocolate flavor!
- Coffee: Coffee pairs well with the banana and tahini in this smoothie. You can add 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder OR reduce the milk to 1/2 cup and add 1/4 cup of strong brewed coffee or cold brew.
How to Make a Tahini Smoothie
Add all of your smoothie ingredients (frozen banana, creamy tahini, soy milk, sea salt, sweet medjool dates, and protein powder) to a high-powered blender and puree until you achieve a smooth consistency. Enjoy right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Health Benefits of Tahini
- Packed with Healthy Fats: Over half of the fats in tahini are monounsaturated which can be protective against heart disease.
- Good Source of Protein: Adding 2 tablespoons of tahini to your banana smoothie adds an extra 6 grams of plant-based protein.
- Loaded with Calcium & Phosphorus: The tahini in this smoothie provides over 10% of the daily value for calcium and phosphorus; two minerals that play an important role in bone health.
- Rich in Antioxidants: Tahini is rich in lignans which acts like an antioxidant in your body. Antioxidants in foods like tahini help neutralize the free radicals which damage tissue and increase your risk of chronic disease.
Recipe Notes:
- Use frozen fruit: I like to use frozen fruit to thicken smoothies rather than ice which can water your smoothie down.
- Don’t skip the salt: It may sound strange, but adding a pinch of salt to your smoothie can really make the flavors sing! Just like you salt any other dish to enhance the flavors, the same can be helpful for your morning vegan smoothie.
- Soak the dates: If you find that your dates don’t puree well in your blender, it can be helpful to let them soak in how water for 10-15 minutes to soften before adding them to this tahini date shake.
Recipe FAQs
Opened tahini can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. After 6 months or more, the flavor of the tahini may get bitter our sour which means it’s time to throw it out.
Yes! Tahini is vegan since it is made from ground sesame seeds that have been toasted. Some brands will also add oil and some salt.
It depends! If you have older dates that are a little dried out or you don’t have a high-powered blender, you’ll want to give them a 10-15 minute soak in some hot water before blending in your smoothie. It also helps to add the dates first so they are pushed into the blender blade as you add the rest of your smoothie ingredients.
More Vegan Smoothie Recipes
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Tahini Smoothie with Dates
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- 3/4 cup unsweetened, plain soy milk
- 2 tablespoon tahini
- 1 scoop vegan vanilla protein powder*
- 1-2 medjool dates, pitted
- 1 pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Add all of your smoothie ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth.
Notes
- If you aren’t using a vanilla protein powder, add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract to your smoothie.
- Use frozen fruit: I like to use frozen fruit to thicken smoothies rather than ice which can water your smoothie down.
- Don’t skip the salt: It may sound strange, but adding a pinch of salt to your smoothie can really make the flavors sing! Just like you salt any other dish to enhance the flavors, the same can be helpful for your morning vegan smoothie.
- Soak the dates: If you find that your dates don’t puree well in your blender, it can be helpful to let them soak in how water for 10-15 minutes to soften before adding them to your smoothie.
Nutrition
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