Sugared lingonberries commonly grace the Scandinavian Christmas table. This simple mixture of lingonberries and sugar (sometimes cooked, sometimes not) is enjoyed as a sort of sweet relish. You will find them served alongside Swedish meatballs, potato pancakes and on Christmas morning spooned over buttery Swedish pancakes. But did you know that the lingonberry is considered one of the most nutritious berries in the world? Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, lingonberries are now touted as a superfood. They are believed to reduce inflammation, prevent urinary tract infections and, according to Dr. Oz, may even reduce the appearance of age spots. Superfood indeed!
Lingonberries are very tart in flavor, much like a cranberry, which is why they are almost always paired with some kind of sweetener before eating. Here in the United States, fresh lingonberries can be very difficult to find. Frozen lingonberries are available, especially if you live somewhere with a strong Scandinavian cultural presence (I buy mine at Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace in Minneapolis). You can almost always find preserved lingonberries or lingonberry jam no matter where you live.
This smoothie is a delicious way to enjoy your lingonberries without pairing them with sugar or something rich and buttery, as lovely as that is! Sometimes after the holidays are over, we crave something fruity, fresh and nutritious to balance out the overindulgence of the last few weeks. This smoothie is just that. Frozen berries, banana, almond milk and a bit of almond butter and honey come together to create a delicious concoction that is sure to get your 2019 started on the right foot.
PrintNordic Wild Berry Almond Smoothie
A vegan antioxidant rich smoothie made even more delicious with a dollop of almond butter.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 smoothie 1x
- Category: breakfast, smoothie
- Method: blender
- Cuisine: Scandinavian, Nordic
Ingredients
2 heaping tablespoons frozen lingonberries
1 cup frozen wild blueberries
1 frozen banana
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 tablespoon salted almond butter
1/2 tablespoon honey, more to taste
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a high-powered blender such as a Vitamix and blend until completely smooth in texture. Taste for sweetness and add more honey if desired. Serve immediately.
*Note: If you can’t find frozen lingonberries, use 2 tablespoons of preserved lingonberries and omit the honey.
Keywords: vegan, vegetarian, Scandinavian, Nordic, smoothie, lingonberries, breakfast, almond
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