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Blender-based recipes to cut down on your preparation times

You can use a blender to make so many meals. Not only does this kitchen staple bring out the best in veggies and fruits, it reduces the preparation times of some basic recipes.

Banana bread

Gone are the days when we just use our blender to make smoothies – we’re whipping up instant desserts, ice-creams, soups, sauces and more in our trusty appliance.

Here are a few of our fave ways to use it.

Caramilk mousse.
Caramilk mousse.

Easy Caramilk blender mousse

Whip up this easy Caramilk chocolate mouse in a flash with the help of a blender to cut down on prep time.

Broad bean, avocado and mint dip

This mint, avocado and broad bean dip will have your guests raving about your dinner party. Mint gives this quick snack a freshness that is perfect with raw veggies.

Smoothie bowl.
Smoothie bowl.

Mango and passionfruit swirl smoothie bowl

Enjoy a healthy brekky with this delicious mango smoothie bowl. You only need 5 minutes to whip it up.

Whole banana bread

Punch up the flavour by adding the entire banana – peel and fruit – to your baking. It gives the bread extra moisture, fibre and a strong banana flavour, but you’d never know the peels went it too. Plus, it cuts down on kitchen waste. Choose ripe bananas that only have a few brown spots on the skin for this recipe, and avoid any that are bruised or turning black.

Mayonnaise.
Mayonnaise.

Mayonnaise

Homemade mayo is surprisingly quick and easy to prepare and tastes fantastic served with fish, burgers or salad.

Mudslide

Ease into the weekend with this creamy cocktail.

Mango fro-yo.
Mango fro-yo.

Easy mango fro-yo

This four-ingredient mango frozen yoghurt is super easy. Pipe it into bowls to channel the fro-yo vibes and top it with summery goodies!

Tomato blender soup

Beat the winter chill with this super-speedy tomato blender soup, ready in 17 minutes flat. It’s also freezer-friendly for those nights when there’s no time to cook.

Rainbow popsicles.
Rainbow popsicles.

Rainbow smoothie popsicles

Turn your favourite smoothie flavours into fun and healthy popsicles for summer! They’re vegan friendly too. If you have more popsicle moulds, this recipe is easy to double.

Banana and oat blender pancakes

Make breakfasts delicious with these tasty banana and oat blender pancakes the whole family will love.

Curry paste.
Curry paste.

Rendang curry paste

Turn up the heat with our version of this fiery curry paste from Indonesia. It’s slightly less hot but still has lots of fresh chilli.

Frozen margarita

On a hot afternoon, there are few things as a refreshing as a sour, limey frozen margarita! Looking for an absolute classic version of a margarita cocktail? This is the recipe for you. This one only needs a few ingredients, including tequila, Cointreau and lime juice (as it should be). Better yet, you can blitz it all in a blender, which means you don’t even need a cocktail shaker (or a work-out to make it). The result is a slushie-like cocktail that’s perfect for a party on a balmy summer day. We like to chill the glasses before serving the cocktail to make sure it remains nice and icy. And of course, it’s not a margarita if the rim of the glass isn’t salted, (but if it’s too overpowering for you, feel free to leave it out). Sometimes when we’re in the mood for a bit of extra kick, we like to add chilli flakes to the salt too. Looking for something different? Try our mango, chilli and lime margs or our pretty, pink funfetti margarita. Cheers! Additional recipe notes by Alison Adams - Food Writer and Recipe Tester

PB and J smoothie.
PB and J smoothie.

PB and J smoothie

Shake up your breakfast routine with this PB and J smoothie. You and the kids will love it delicious brekkie smoothie, it’ll keep them happy and full until lunchtime.

Spicy magic sauce

Jalapenos add some heat to this herbed yoghurt dip, perfect for your prawn platter.

Fish cakes.
Fish cakes.

Fish cakes

Serve these delicious fish cakes at your next dinner party.

Easy mango blender ice-cream

For those hot nights when you’re craving ice-cream but the freezer is bare, make sure you have this hacky recipe on hand. Requiring only three ingredients and a blender, it’s super easy to whip up and enjoy a bowl at a moment’s notice. The hardest part is waiting for the mango to thaw out!

Roasted pumpkin mash.
Roasted pumpkin mash.

Roasted pumpkin, garlic and caramelised onion mash

Give your mash a sunny makeover with a liberal dose of pumpkin and gorgeous caramelised onion topping.

Lean brekkie smoothie

This smoothie recipe is fruity, fresh and creamy. Loaded with good fats and fibre from avocado and protein from chia seeds and protein powder, this one will actually keep you full until lunch. Plus, it’s quick, easy, low-cal and gluten-free.

Mushroom soup.
Mushroom soup.

Creamy mushroom soup

Serve this tasty mushroom soup with a drizzle of cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg to create a gourmet starter.

Mango and passionfruit soy cream dessert

This vegan-friendly dessert will spoil any sweet tooth this summer with tropical fruity flavours.

Barbecue sauce.
Barbecue sauce.

Spicy nectarine barbecue sauce

For something a little different, spice up your meat with this nectarine barbecue sauce.

Yoghurt and chickpea dip

Healthy dip that’s great with bread or crackers.

For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.

Originally published as Blender-based recipes to cut down on your preparation times

Original URL: https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/lifestyle/food/recipes/blenderbased-recipes-to-cut-down-on-your-preparation-times/news-story/937027b081d08d2382012f52e79ca47f