50+ Recipes to Make In Your Blender - That Aren't Smoothies (2024)

Alison Murray Recipes, Resources 8 Comments

50+ Recipes to Make In Your Blender - That Aren't Smoothies (1)

ATTN: As of 16.01.16 this post has now been updated with lots ofnew content!

Some links on this posthad disappeared over the last two years so I’ve added lots of new recipes to bring the total well over 50+ links. I’ve also added more books covering the subject of blender recipes that I’ve bought over the past few years.

Enjoy! xx Ally

Nine times out of ten, when I’m plonking ingredients into my blender, it’s to make a morning smoothie. How boring and predictable! Stopthinking of your blender as a ‘smoothie making machine’ so I’ve gone and enjoy these50+ recipe ideas to get your creative juices flowing!It’s time to think outside the jug!

All these recipes may be suitable for a Ninja Bullet-style blender, however some of these recipes require pulverising hard materials (nuts, seeds) or using blade friction to quickly cook ingredients. For these more intensive tasks I would recommend a high-powered blender like the Optimum blender rangefor better results.Check out my blender review for more information on the Froothie Optimum range.

Best Healthy Blender Cookbooks

Since I first wrote this article, there have been some fantastic cookbooks that answer the question “What can I make in my blender – besides smoothies?”.

For example, the following list are my favourite books for getting the most use out of your full-size or ninja bullet blender:

Blender Kitchen Basics

Some ingredients are just better home-made and from scratch – whether it’s fresh breadcrumbs, baking ingredients or breakfast. A good blender can help you with your kitchen adventures by easily turning day-old bread into breadcrumbs, whipping up cream, applesauce and jam or even scrambling your eggs for you for the quickest breakfast ever.

Blender Sauce

It’s probably no surprise that a blender can help you make pureed, silky sauces for cooking. What about using your blender to make the easiest mayonnaise ever? Read on!

Blender Soups

When using a high powered blender, such as the Optimum range, you can turn whole vegetables into warmed soup in minutes thanks to the friction caused by the blades. Simply add your favourite vegies and seasonings, set the blender to high and watch it pulverize and cook your soup.

Cauliflower ‘Couscous’ and Cauliflower ‘Rice’

Great for raw or paleo, grain-free, gluten-free or rice-free diets, cauliflower is an easy alternative for couscous and rice when whizzed up in a blender. Simply cut the cauliflower into florets, pop it all in the blender and pulverise!

Blender Nut Butters and Spreads

If you have a good quality blender, you should never have to buy nut or seed butters ever again. Add nuts of your choice to the blender bowl, and a little oil if needed to get the machine going and watch it all turn into your new favourite spread in minutes.

Blender Nut and Seed Milks

Home-made nut and seed milks have a few major advantages.

  1. They taste amazing – richer and fresher than their packaged counterparts.
  2. No nasties – no added oils, vegetable gums, sugar or carrageenan.

All you need it a high quality blender like the Optimum Blender range and a nut milk bag or very fine strainer. Check out the following links for a range of nut, seed and grain milks that are extremely simple to make yourself.

Blender Dough and Batter

Did you know that a high-powered blender can knead dough? Or that the easiest way to get out lumps in pancake, waffle or baking batter is to blitz it in your blender?

Try the following recipes next time you have a hankering for home-baked bread, muffins or pancakes and let that mixing arm have a rest!

Blender Ice Cream

You read that right, ice cream made in a blender! You don’t need a fancy machine or a frozen mixing bowl to make a chilly dessert – for these recipes your blender will do the hard work for you! Read on for dessert bliss:

Blender Juice

I’m not trying to trick you, but these juices somewhat resemble the process of making a smoothie. Some recipes may feature added water to thin out the drink for a juice-like consistency, while others are strained through a nut milk bag or fine sieve to remove the fibre. You can have all the benefits of a cleansing juice using these too methods without having to buy another expensive machine.

Got some favourite non-smoothie recipes to make in your blender that you believe should be listed? Email me at ally@omnomally.com or leave a comment below.

This post is linked to: LHITS DIY Linky.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.
50+ Recipes to Make In Your Blender - That Aren't Smoothies (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with a blender besides smoothies? ›

What can I make in a blender?
  1. Almond milk.
  2. Blended ice drink.
  3. Cheesecake.
  4. Chopped fruits.
  5. Chopped vegetables.
  6. Coffee shakes.
  7. Cream cheese-based spread.
  8. Cream soup.

What foods can you blend? ›

All you need to do is choose a food, blend it by itself with pure water, and see how your body tolerates it. Some good foods to consider blending and eating include bananas, apples, peaches, pears, plums, avocados, oats, rice, sweet potatoes, green beans, squash, peas, chicken, turkey, and beef.

Can you cook in a blender? ›

An immersion blender like the KitchenAid® Variable Speed Blender can help streamline the cooking process by allowing you to blend your ingredients directly in the pot, while the KitchenAid® Pro Line® Blender with Thermal Control Jar can blend and heat your room-temperature ingredients for soup that's ready in a matter ...

What do you use a food blender for? ›

Primarily, a blender is used to puree or crush ice. Use a blender if your final product is something you can drink, such as a mocktail or protein shake, drizzle or dip. In addition to pureeing, a food processor can slice, grate, shred, dice and more.

Can you put anything in a blender? ›

You can put many foods into a blender, including fruits, vegetables, milk, chickpeas (to make hummus), hard cheeses, and bread (to create breadcrumbs), but there are some ingredients that don't produce good results.

What can I use a personal blender for? ›

A great personal blender can easily whip up smoothies, shakes, and small batches of sauce or pesto. These compact machines aren't as powerful as full-size blenders, so they can't totally replace them for all tasks, but they are easy to use, clean, and store.

What foods can be puréed in a blender? ›

Foods that can be pureed include:
  • Cooked pasta, potatoes, and rice.
  • Cooked hot cereals, like oatmeal, grits, or Cream of Wheat.
  • Cooked meats, fish and chicken.
  • Dairy products such as cottage cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.
  • Cooked vegetables such as potatoes and beans.
  • Canned fruits.
  • Ripe bananas and avocados.

What is the hardest food to blend? ›

5 foods that don't blend well
  • 1- Nuts. Use soft nuts like pecans or walnuts instead of harder nuts like almonds or hazelnuts. ...
  • 2- Dried fruit. Soak in water until soft (refrigerate as this may take several hours).
  • 3- Stringy vegetables. ...
  • 4- Tough meats. ...
  • 5- Tough fruit and vegetable skins.
Jan 23, 2019

What foods shouldn't be blended? ›

6 Foods You Shouldn't Put in a Blender
  • Hot Liquids or Food.
  • Coffee Beans.
  • Ice.
  • Dried Fruit.
  • Potatoes.
  • Almonds (and Other Nuts)
Mar 8, 2024

Can I blend soup in blender? ›

When pureeing hot soup, do it in batches. Fill the blender 1/3 to 1/2 full, remove or loosen the center cap from the lid of the blender. Cover the lid with a folded dishcloth and hold it down when blending. Repeat with the remaining batches.

Can you put solid food in a blender? ›

To prepare foods for a puréed diet, start by cooking meats, vegetables, and grains until they're very soft (such as simmering or braising). Once they're soft, the next step is to make the foods smooth. Place the hardest foods (e.g., meat, chicken) in a blender or food processor.

Can I put nuts in a blender? ›

While you may be able to grind nuts in a blender with a watchful eye, the rapidly rotating blades can overprocess your ingredients, leaving you with a nut paste instead. When chopping or grinding nuts, a food processor is best for achieving the desired coarse or fine texture for your ingredients.

What do chefs use blender for? ›

Smoothies and frozen co*cktails definitely call for a traditional blender—again, that bossy motor can stand up to tough stuff, like ice. You can certainly use a blender to make puréed soup, but we prefer an immersion blender—more on why in a minute!

Can you use a blender like a food processor? ›

The blender is a food processor's close relative in the kitchen and makes a great food processor substitute for a few tasks. These two countertop appliances are sometimes interchangeable for things like emulsifying and pureeing, but a blender can more thoroughly break down foods for ultra smooth results.

What else can you use a ninja blender for? ›

22 Ninja Blender Recipes
  • Blueberry Power Smoothie. ...
  • Green Smoothie. ...
  • Homemade Enchilada Sauce. ...
  • Hummus (Super Simple Recipe in the Ninja Chef Blender) ...
  • 3 Ingredient Chocolate Frosty (Blender Recipe) ...
  • Peach Apple Butter. ...
  • Creamy Chicken Enchilada Soup – Cold & Hot Blender.
Sep 28, 2023

Can you blend food in a blender? ›

You can use fresh or frozen berries to make tangy fruit purees to top your favorite desserts, or blend together a combination of fruits and veggies to make homemade baby food. You can puree fresh, frozen and cooked foods and achieve smooth results.

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