This super refreshing and creamy strawberry watermelon smoothie recipe features summer fruit and fresh mint. It’s a must-try healthy snack or breakfast smoothie! Plus, it’s a fabulous way to use leftover watermelon rind.
If you haven’t tried watermelon rind in smoothies yet, do it – it will be your new favorite because it freezes beautifully, and works even better than ice in smoothies! Plus, I’m all about using the whole watermelon for less waste!
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Watermelon Rind Smoothie with Summer Fruit
Hot weather has me craving all the juicy summer fruit lately, so this smoothie – packed with watermelon (the flesh + the white rind), strawberries, peaches, and bananas – is exactly what I needed.
It’s super creamy and flavorful. Perfect for cooling you down on a hot day! Plus, watermelon is a good source of vitamins and minerals, like potassium and Vitamin C.
Frozen watermelon rind is a perfect smoothie addition. Since it’s almost 100% water, it freezes solid and can replace ice cubes in any smoothie recipe. It adds a refreshing slight watermelon flavor (without being too sweet).
It’s super easy to freeze, so you can keep it on hand whenever that smoothie craving strikes, whether it’s summer or not! I love the light, frosty texture that both the watermelon and watermelon rind bring to smoothies.
Looking for a fall-inspired smoothie? Check out this spiced sweet potato smoothie!
What does watermelon rind taste like?
Watermelon rind has a really mild and refreshing flavor.
It’s similar to cucumber, but with a slight watermelon taste. This makes it a super versatile ingredient that tastes great pickled, fermented, in salads, and of course in smoothies!
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for this summer fruit smoothie:
- fresh or frozen watermelon flesh cubes & frozen watermelon rind cubes (instructions for how to freeze are below!)
- fresh or frozen strawberries
- fresh or frozen peach slices
- fresh or frozen banana (the riper, the better for a sweeter flavor!)
- fresh mint leaves
- hemp seeds (or flax seeds, protein powder, nut butter, etc.)
- milk (this can be dairy or nondairy, or you can replace this with coconut water)
Of course, this is a really versatile recipe! Most fruit would be tasty here, including pineapple, mango, and/or other berries.
You might also like this watermelon lime mojito sorbet!
How to Freeze Watermelon Rind
To freeze watermelon flesh and watermelon rind, start by removing the green “skin” of the watermelon. Separate the white rind from the watermelon flesh, and slice everything into cubes.
Next, arrange the watermelon chunks in a single layer in a wax paper-lined flat container or sheet pan. Make sure there’s a little space in between the cubes, so they don’t freeze together in a large clump.
After a few hours, they should be fully frozen. Transfer the frozen cubes to an airtight container for storage, or use right away in your smoothie!
How to Make a Smoothie with Watermelon Rind
For this recipe, I combined frozen watermelon flesh and watermelon rind with a couple other favorite smoothie fruits: banana, peaches, and strawberries!
You basically just add these to a blender with a little fresh mint, then blend until it reaches a creamy consistency.
Because the frozen watermelon and watermelon rind are used in place of ice, it creates a deliciously thick and frothy smoothie. Pour, garnish (if desired), and enjoy!
Flavor Variations
You can easily swap out your favorite fruits (or veggies) in this recipe! Here are some ingredients that would taste delicious here:
- tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, or papaya
- frozen riced cauliflower (you won’t even notice it!)
- berries: blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.
- spinach
- avocado
Want to make the smoothie extra creamy, with a boost of protein? Add Greek yogurt!
Here’s another fun smoothie to try: creamy spirulina smoothie with mango! You might also enjoy this strawberry cherry smoothie with lemon.
Using Watermelon Rind in Other Smoothie Recipes
If you’re just adding frozen watermelon rind cubes to a different smoothie recipe, I would suggest either adding them in place of ice cubes or substituting them for up to 1/3 of the fruit. (This will ensure the smoothie still has enough flavor/sweetness from other fruits.)
This watermelon rind smoothie is the ultimate refreshing summer drink. I hope you get a chance to try it! You’ll find the full recipe at the end of this post.
Looking for more tasty watermelon rind recipes? Check these out:
- Chicken Gyros with Watermelon Rind Tzatziki
- Watermelon Rind Coleslaw
- Watermelon Rind Gazpacho
- Vegan Tofu Curry with Watermelon Rind
Frosty Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie with Peaches
This refreshing and creamy watermelon rind smoothie features summer fruit and fresh mint. It's a must-try healthy snack or breakfast smoothie!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen watermelon flesh cubes
- 1/2 cup frozen watermelon rind cubes*
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen peach slices
- 1 small fresh or frozen banana
- 2-3 fresh mint leaves
- 3 tablespoons hemp seeds (or flax seeds, protein powder, nut butter, etc.)
- 1 1/2 - 2 cups milk (dairy or nondairy) or coconut water
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a high power blender..
- Turn the blender on low speed, then gradually increase speed to high. Blend for 30-60 seconds, until completely smooth, using a tamper tool to ensure even blending if needed.
Notes:
*To freeze watermelon flesh and watermelon rind: Slice into cubes, then spread them out on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan or wide container. Make sure they aren't touching or packed too tightly (so they won't freeze together). After a few hours, they should be fully frozen. Transfer cubes to an airtight container in the freezer for storage.
