Looking to increase your protein intake, you withering vegan, you?! Step away from the protein powder! This black bean brownie smoothie is the cure for what ails you.
I’ve been a smoothie-making machine for the past 9 months or so, and I admit I may have gotten a teeny, tiny bit enamored with protein powder along the way. I’m no nutritionist, and I’m certainly not interested in discussing anyone’s protein needs; I just think it’s fun to pack a little extra nutritional value into every smoothie I make. Protein powders can get pricey, though, and some folks aren’t keen on the amount of processing that goes into them.
Enter black beans: they’re dirt cheap, easy to come by, and are packed with protein. For comparison, the various protein powders in my cabinet each contain 8-14 grams of protein per serving, while black beans contain 15 grams of protein in 1 cup! Pretty great, right?
For the record, I wouldn’t say this smoothie tastes like liquid brownies or anything; it was simply inspired by all those (also typically not-quite-brownie-like) black bean brownies people love to rave about. Black beans actually aren’t strongly flavored at all, so in this smoothie, they mostly just contribute creaminess, color, and protein. Dutch process cocoa does most of the heavy lifting, and a touch of blackstrap molasses takes the chocolate flavor up a notch (and contributes a little iron, too!). I think it’s pretty thrilling to know that you can make a protein-packed smoothie without having to buy any fancy nutritional supplements.
I lead a very exciting life, as you can tell.
- 1 c unsweetened plant milk
- ¾ c cooked black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 small frozen banana
- 1.5 Tbsp Dutch process cocoa powder
- ½ Tbsp blackstrap molasses
- splash vanilla extract
- splash almond extract
- pinch of salt
- handful of ice
- Combine all ingredients in blender until smooth.
13 comments
salontoast says:
Sep 3, 2014
Genius!!
Lindsay @ KitchenOperas says:
Sep 3, 2014
Oh yum. I am going to HAVE to try this!!! I’ve been trying to figure out getting more protein without resorting to protein powders, and this looks PERFECT!!!! Thank you!
lysette says:
Sep 4, 2014
Snap! This is a really good idea for mixing up my protein powder intake, mmm, adzuki bean pudding!
Sara says:
Sep 5, 2014
It IS healthy, but it doesn’t look healthy, awesome!
Sara says:
Sep 5, 2014
I’ve got to make this for my kids! Thanks for sharing!
Artistic Vegan says:
Sep 6, 2014
Chocolate smoothies just got better!
Beth Hornback (@EatWithinMeans) says:
Sep 6, 2014
Brilliant! Genius! Etc….. My wheels are spinning with possibilities now.
Lazy Sunday I: Protein-Heavy Recipes You Should Totally Make | vegga says:
Sep 7, 2014
[…] a surprising and inventive dessert, look no further than this Black Bean Brownie Smoothie from Hell Yeah It’s Vegan. The 3/4 cup of black beans gives you 11 grams of protein in […]
Deryn @ Running on Real Food says:
Sep 15, 2014
What an interesting smoothie idea!! That’s a fab way to sneak in extra protein and fibre 🙂 I love the molasses in there too, sounds perfect.
Chad Burnett says:
Jun 11, 2015
My name is Chad and I thank you for this recipe I’ve been thinking on the healthiest way to add protein to my every day work outs and now I have it..
Autumn says:
Mar 1, 2016
I was so excited to try this recipe when I saw it and it did not disappoint. This smoothie is totally delicious! It tastes just like a chocolate shake. I wondered if it might need more sugar, but the ripe banana adds enough sweet.
claryn says:
Mar 8, 2016
I’m glad you liked it, Autumn!
Karen says:
Jul 9, 2016
OMG! I’m LOVING this!!! I was trying to think of something sweet with black beans other than brownies. It’s so hot to to bake now. Healthy and DELISH! You ROCK!