The $3 Secret Ingredient for the Most Delicious Summer Drink

Decades before smoothies became a thing in the Western world, Vietnamese smoothie culture was incredibly popular. It reflects Vietnam’s diverse agricultural bounty of fruits and vegetables grown throughout the country. You’ll see smoothies sold at cafes and standalone joints — from the major cities to the countryside — displaying carts full of fresh, vibrant tropical fruits. Imagine mango, dragon fruits, soursop, guava, jackfruit, durian, papaya, pineapple, passion fruit, sapote, avocado, and watermelon ready to be blended with sweetened condensed milk into a luscious treat.

When the French colonized Vietnam in 1940, they introduced the avocado to Lam Dong province in the Central Highlands, which was known for its optimal soil and climate. Since then, avocados have flourished and grown throughout the country. With an abundance of avocados, local Vietnamese turned them into the iconic avocado smoothie. Besides its refreshing taste, avocado smoothies are packed with vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and antioxidants.

Since childhood, the avocado smoothie, or sinh tố bơ, has remained my favorite. Sinh tố translates to smoothie, and bơ means avocado in Vietnamese. My mom would mash avocados and sweetened condensed milk, leaving a few chunks, add in coconut milk, and top it off with ice. It was the perfect antidote to the humid, tropical heat. Consisting of four ingredients, avocado smoothies make a refreshing and nutritious beverage. The sweetness of condensed milk plays well with the richness of avocado to make a delectable, creamy concoction.    

1. Prep the avocado. Cut 1 large or 2 small avocados in half, remove the pit, and scoop 1 cup (about 8 ounces) of the flesh into a blender. 
2. Add additional ingredients. Add 1/2 cup 2% milk (or your favorite milk), 3 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk (my go-to brand is Longevity), and 1/2 cup of ice to the blender. Blend for 1 to 3 minutes until smooth.
3. Adjust the sweetness. If you’d like the smoothie to be sweeter you can add more sweetened condensed milk, or you can thin it out with milk.
4. Serve. Pour blended mixture into a glass and enjoy.

• Pick avocados that are ripe and soft to the touch. Some of my favorite avocado varieties for making smoothies are Hass, Reed, and Pinkerton. 
• Adjust the ingredients to your taste. If you have dairy intolerance, swap out dairy milk with nut milks (coconut, almond, cashew, hazelnut, etc.) and sweetened condensed milk with honey, agave syrup, or date syrup.
• Add additional fruit. Banana or mango is another fruit that adds sweetness and complements the flavor of avocado.
• You can make more than one at a time. This avocado smoothie recipe yields one serving, but can be scaled up for multiple servings (although you might have to blend in batches depending on the size of your blender).