Fresh Beetroot Juice (Healthy & Naturally Sweet)

So beetroot juice is a quick, 4 ingredient blended drink: You blend together beetroot, carrot, a fresh banana and some fresh orange juice until smooth and then strain if you want to (I serve it unstrained) and you serve it cold. It’s naturally sweet, bright and ready in minutes.

This bright, ruby drink is one of my favourites when I want something refreshing that still feels like food. The banana provides a balance of flavor, and the orange juice keeps things sunny and fresh-tasting.

You can strain for a silkier drink but if you’d like something thicker and more smoothie-like, serve as is. Either way, it’s stress free, colorful and quick to prep using basic kitchen tools.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Only 4 simple ingredients and you’ve got a healthy snack ready for snacking!
• No-bake and quick to make
• Naturally sweetened with fruit and veggies (no added sugar)
• Strain it or don’t — there’s a use for both parties
• Perfect for breakfast, snack time or an ice-cold drink with ice

Ingredients

• 1 medium banana
• 150 grams carrot (about 1 1/4 cups chopped; 150 grams)
• 150 grams beetroot (1 to 1 1/4 cups diced; 150 grams)
• 200 ml orange juice (3/4 cup to 2 tbsp; 7/8 pint)

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

• Banana: Sweetness! It brings much of the sweetness to this smoothie and also contributes towards a smoother texture. If you like it less sweet, either use a smaller banana (guessed) or a very ripe one for extra sweetness.
• Carrot: Peeled carrots will give you the cleanest flavor. Baby carrots are an acceptable substitute — weigh them for accuracy.
• Beetroot: Fresh beetroot provides the strongest color. If you have cooked beets the flavor will be more mild and the puree may be a bit smoother – (assumption).
• Orange juice: Freshly squeezed or bottled, either is fine. Opt for 100% orange juice so you get the best flavor.

How to Make Beetroot Juice

• Prep your produce: Peel the carrot and beetroot. Peel the banana.
• Chop: Chop the carrot and beetroot into small pieces to soften faster. Slice the banana.

• Smoothie: In a blender, combine beetroot, carrot, banana and orange juice.
• Smoothie: Purée until smooth, about 30–60 seconds (timing is an estimate).

• Strain (optional): For a slightly smoother, more juice-like texture, pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl and press down with the back of a spoon to extract liquid.

• Serve: Pour into glasses over ice and serve immediately.

Expert Tips

• For the beetroot and carrots, just cut them up a little smaller so the blender doesn’t have to strain itself too much.
• If you’d like a thinner drink, strain it; if you’d prefer it thicker, do not strain.
• Squeeze firmly in the straining step — this is where you extract most of the juice.
• Taste and add more orange juice, a splash at a time (I’m guessing here), if it needs to taste less earthy.
• Chill the orange juice; this will prevent watered down drink.
• Don’t put ice cubes in the blender, but you can use them in the serving glass to make the texture smooth.
• Anticipate some natural separation after sitting — stir or shake before enjoying!

Storage & Freezing

• Refrigerator: Keep in well-sealed jar or pitcher for 2-3 days. Shake or stir before pouring.
• Freeze: Store in freezer safe jars, leaving some room at the top) or ice cube trays for up to 2 months.
• Thawing: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, and shake it well. For cubes, purée a few in smoothies (guess).

Variations

• Ginger kick: Combine the smoothie as directed, but add a tiny piece of fresh ginger to the blender (guesstimation).
• Citrus swap: 50/50 orange juice and pineapple juice for a tropical spin (assumption).
• Lemon brightener: A splash of lemon kicks up the flavor (guessing on this one).
• Creamier smoothie style: Add a scoop of plain yogurt and don’t strain (my assumption).
• More hydration: Stir in cold water or coconut water (assumption; not an ingredient listed).

FAQs

Do I have to strain it?
No: Straining is up to you; don’t bother if you want a thicker, smoothie-like drink.

Can I use store-bought orange juice?
Yes. Opt for 100% orange juice for the purest flavor.

Why did my drink separate?
That’s par for the course with fresh-blended produce. Stir or shake before drinking.

Can I prepare it ahead the next day?
Yes. Cover tightly and refrigerate; stir well before serving.

Can I use cooked beets instead of raw?
Yes (assumption). The cooked beets blend better and taste mellower, but the drink might lack a little of that “fresh” character.

What’s the best way to do cold service without dilution?
Cool the components first and pour them over ice just before you drink.