First Class recipe: Cranberry-Ginger Smoothie

People commonly associate cranberries with the sweet side dish — sometimes saucy and sometimes gelatinous — that follows turkey around a holiday table, almost as an afterthought. Yet the little red fruits have so much more to offer and can be found in a variety of recipes, including Alaska Airlines’ Cranberry-Ginger Smoothie, all winter long.

Loaded with antioxidants and naturally low in sugar, the berries pack anti-inflammatory compounds and provide a powerful immune-system boost in the form of vitamin C. They also are positively bursting with tart flavor that pairs well with many other seasonal foods.

Originally cultivated in New England, cranberries are now a mainstay of Pacific Northwest agriculture, grown in coastal regions stretching from Southern Oregon to British Columbia. The humble red orbs usually don’t make the roster of standout Northwest foodstuffs, and in my mind, this is shabby treatment for a diminutive fruit that brings so much to the table.

The following smoothie recipe, now available on select breakfast flights in the first class cabin, combines sweet-yet-tart cranberries with ginger and turmeric — two more superfoods with invigorating properties of their own. Balanced by a touch of clover honey and blended with protein-rich Greek yogurt, the berries take a well-deserved turn at center stage in this energy-boosting treat. The smoothie pairs well with sweet or savory breakfast items, or as a stand-alone snack at any time of day.

You can use fresh cranberries in this smoothie if you can find them, but frozen berries also work. Ginger puree is available in jars or tubes at most supermarkets — look in the produce section or in the section with Asian-cuisine ingredients. Making smoothies works best in a high-power blender, but in a pinch you can use a food processor or a small hand-held immersion blender instead.

Cranberry-Ginger Smoothie

(Makes about 1 quart)

  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen whole cranberries
  • 3 tablespoons ginger puree
  • 5 tablespoons honey
  • 1 cup plain, whole-milk Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1 banana, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

Combine all ingredients in a blender and process at high speed until smooth and evenly combined. Do not over-blend or the texture will become gummy.

Serve immediately or refrigerate in a jar for up to 12 hours. If serving after refrigeration, shake the mixture well before pouring to ensure that it hasn’t separated. Or buzz briefly again in the blender to remix the ingredients.

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Comments

  1. I had the smoothie on 2/2/19. It was a pleasant surprise! Really good!

  2. I did not much care for this smoothie they served on our first class flight this weekend. Tumeric was absolutely overpowering. I would slowly add to suit one’s personal taste. Gave me GI distress…not pleasant on a first 3.5 first class flight.

  3. This was excellent!!!! I love the spiciness of the ginger and the tartness of the cranberries with the results of the turmeric…it’s a hit!

  4. Ginger is a bit over powering. Less would have been better.
    Half of my first class flight felt the same.
    Sometimes Simple is much better…

  5. Always delicious

  6. I fell in love with the recipe. Can’t wait to try it.

  7. I never dreamed ASA would be investing time and energy in stepping up to healthy and nutritious inflight food! Continue to work on replacing useless and harmful carb snacks (pretzels etc) with healthy stuff. You’ll be rewarded for this with repeat business. Signed: Almost a Million Miler

  8. Thanks for sharing Joshua!

  9. Sounds wonderful except I don’t care for the taste of ginger. On our last trip the menu choices were very good. Thank you, Sincerely, Susan Scelzi

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  10. I would love to have the Oatmeal recipe!

    1. Noted! Stay tuned for more recipes on the blog.

    2. I also like the oatmeal! It’s very good and I enjoy it every time I have it. Seems like it is a no fail recipe. Can you share it too?

  11. This might be my favorite smoothie ever. I’ve had it several times and each time I remember how unique the cranberry is… and I always wonder what exactly is in it… so thank you!

    1. Glad you like it, Jess!

    2. Mine too. It’s very unique and since the smoothies are small I think it’s perfect. I notice that most of the glasses go back empty.

  12. I did not like this smoothie as much as some of the previous ones – a bit “chalky”

  13. Yay! I have loved this smoothie since the first time I had it. Thanks for sharing the recipe. If you’re so inclined, the recipe for your beet hummus which I had on a first class lunch earlier this year, would be great too!

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