Mango Smoothie with the Ninja Slushi

Mango and banana make a naturally dense smoothie that the Slushi freezes into an ultra-icy drink without a single ice cube. I love this thick texture you sip slowly through a straw, with the orange’s tang waking up the fruit. It’s my late-afternoon drink when the air turns heavy, halfway between a smoothie and a granita. A real treat of ripe fruit, with no added sugar if your mango is nicely fragrant.

Mango Smoothie with the Ninja Slushi

Recipe by Camille Roos

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Smoothie / Frozen juiceCuisine: Difficulty: Easy

Servings

3

people

Prep

10

minutes

Freeze time

35

minutes

Total time

45

minutes

A mango and banana base transformed into an ultra-frozen drink, with no added ice cubes to preserve the full intensity of the fruit.

Ingredients

• 400 ml mango puree (or fresh mango flesh blended and strained)

• 1 very ripe banana (blended into a smooth puree)

• 300 ml milk (dairy, coconut, or oat)

• 100 ml orange juice (pulp-free)

• 2 tablespoons agave syrup (optional, depending on the ripeness of the mango)

Instructions

• Process the mango flesh and banana in a standard blender until you get a perfectly smooth and liquid puree. Pass through a sieve if your mango is very fibrous. The Slushi does not blend: any fiber or piece would block the auger.
• In a pitcher, mix the fruit purees well with the milk, orange juice, and agave syrup to homogenize the preparation. The natural sugar from the banana and syrup prevents the milk from crystallizing into a block.
• Pour the mixture into the Ninja Slushi bowl, ensuring the level is well between the MIN and MAX lines.
• Select the Milkshake program and let the machine freeze the preparation until it reaches the texture of a thick frozen smoothie.

100% juice version (dairy-free)

100% juice version (dairy-free) : Replace the milk and banana with coconut water and more orange juice, then choose the Frozen Juice program for a lighter and more refreshing result.

The importance of sugar for a smoothie that doesn’t freeze into a block

When making a standard smoothie in a blender, you can skip the sugar entirely. With the Ninja Slushi, it’s different. Sugar acts as a natural antifreeze that allows the drink to remain malleable and easy to sip under the action of the cold. If your mango is not very ripe or if you completely omit the agave syrup, the milk and fruit water may become too hard for the auger. I always adjust by tasting my preparation at room temperature: it should seem slightly too sweet before going into the machine, because the frost numbs the taste buds a bit. It’s the same principle I apply when preparing my Strawberry Banana Smoothie with the Ninja Slushi, where the sugar balance makes all the difference in the final result.

Plant-based or dairy milk: which program to choose?

To get that thick texture that you drink through a straw, I use the Milkshake program on my FS301. It’s the perfect setting for anything with a dairy base, as it handles fats very well without making them freeze unevenly. On the other hand, if you use a very light plant-based milk like pure coconut water instead of oat milk, the freezing dynamics change. In that case, it is sometimes better to switch to the Frozen Juice program, designed for water-based liquids and clear fruits. Just monitor the texture during the first few minutes: if the machine indicates it’s ready but you find the result a bit too liquid, let the auger run for another fifteen minutes.

For your smoothie, are you team dairy milk, coconut milk, or oat milk?

Frequently asked questions

Why is my machine making a clicking noise with this smoothie?

This is often a sign that mango fibers have wrapped around the auger. Make sure to strain your fruit puree well before pouring it into the bowl.

Can I use frozen mangoes?

Yes, but you must thaw and blend them to get a completely liquid preparation. The Slushi does not blend hard pieces, it freezes a liquid.

The mixture is freezing too fast and blocking the appliance, what should I do?

It is usually a lack of sugar. Add a splash of agave syrup and a little orange juice directly into the bowl to loosen the preparation, then restart the machine.