Pink Guava Strawberry Smoothie with Sweet Cream and Whipped Topping

A glass of vivid pink smoothie, with strawberry slices showing through the sides and a swirl of cream on top, is ready in minutes.

Pink guava gives the drink its color and a bright, tropical scent, while ripe strawberries and sweet cream yogurt make it smooth and rich. Start with a clean board, a box grater and a blender, and you will have a glass ready to serve within the quarter hour.

This pink guava strawberry smoothie is a simple blender drink built around fresh fruit. Grated guava and sliced strawberries are blended with ice and a spoonful of sweet cream yogurt until the texture is silky and the color is a deep pink.

The finished smoothie is poured over layers of strawberry slices and whipped cream in a clear glass, then finished with a generous swirl of piped cream.

The result looks as good as it tastes, and it works equally well as a breakfast treat, a dessert in a glass or a drink for a warm afternoon. Every step is quick, and most of the work is in the preparation of the fruit. The whole recipe makes two generous glasses, so it is easy to scale up for guests.

Ingredients

Why this recipe works

Grating the guava is the key step. The box grater breaks down the fibrous flesh and releases pulp and juice that blend into the smoothie, giving a smooth texture and a deep, even pink color. Slicing the strawberries separately keeps their bright flavor and visible pieces that show through the glass.

Ice and yogurt do the work of thickening. The ice chills the drink quickly and gives it a frosty body without watering it down, while the sweet cream yogurt adds creaminess and a gentle tang that balances the fruit. Blending the ingredients together in a covered jar creates a smooth emulsion, so the smoothie stays uniform until it is poured.

Notes and substitutions

Choose ripe guava with a fragrant smell and a soft give when pressed, and pick strawberries that are deep red all the way through. Ripe fruit gives the best color and sweetness, and the smoothie will not need added sugar. Sweet cream yogurt is the flavor base here; a plain yogurt with a little sugar works as a substitute.

You need a wooden cutting board, a box grater, a chef's knife, a glass blender jar and a clear glass for the layers. A pastry bag with a star tip makes the swirl of cream neat and even, but a spoon can also be used.

Wear black gloves when handling guava if its skin stains your hands. Chill the glass before layering so the cream holds its shape.

• sweet cream yogurt: plain whole-milk yogurt with 1 tbsp sugar stirred in
• pink guava: ripe mango or 1/2 cup guava nectar, adding the pulp from the box grater

Equipment

• wooden cutting board
• box grater
• chef's knife
• glass blender jar with lid
• clear glass
• pastry bag with star tip