Avocado Banana Smoothie | IDDSI Level 2 Recipe

IDDSI Level 2 (Mildly Thick) | 10 minutes | Easy | Vegetarian

Ripe avocado and ripe banana together create a naturally thick, creamy smoothie that typically requires no commercial thickener to achieve IDDSI Level 2 (mildly thick) consistency. The avocado contributes heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and vitamin E, while banana provides potassium, vitamin B6 and natural sweetness. This is one of the fastest high-calorie, nutrient-dense drinks to prepare for elderly vegetarians requiring modified-texture diets.

Ingredients (1–2 servings)

• 1 ripe avocado (approximately 150 g flesh, fully ripe — skin should yield to gentle pressure)
• 1 ripe banana (approximately 100 g, fully ripe — ideally with brown spots)
• 150 ml full-fat dairy milk or unsweetened soya milk
• 1 tablespoon honey (optional, for sweetness; omit for diabetic patients)
• A few drops of lemon juice (prevents browning)
• Pinch of salt (enhances flavour)

Method

1. Halve the avocado, remove the stone and scoop out all flesh; place in blender
2. Peel the banana, break into pieces and add to blender
3. Add milk, honey if using, lemon juice and salt
4. Blend on high for 60 seconds until completely smooth
5. Check consistency: pour slowly from a tilted cup — it should flow, but more slowly than water; for Level 2, the smoothie should coat a spoon and drip off slowly rather than flowing freely
6. If too thick for Level 2: add milk a tablespoon at a time and blend again
7. If too thin: add a small piece of banana or a half teaspoon of commercial starch thickener
8. Serve immediately to prevent browning

Texture Test

IDDSI Level 2 (Mildly Thick) confirmation: Pour slowly from a cup — the smoothie should flow noticeably slower than water, coat a fork when poured over it, and leave a thin film on the glass. It should not hold shape when poured. IDDSI fork drip test: drips slowly, not freely.

Safety Notes

⚠️ Use fully ripe fruit only — under-ripe avocado is too firm and fibrous; under-ripe banana does not blend smoothly and may leave resistant starch lumps that compromise texture.

⚠️ Serve immediately — avocado oxidises and browns rapidly; consume within 30 minutes of preparation.

⚠️ Honey for infants — do not use honey for patients under 12 months.

⚠️ Individual thickening varies — avocado fat content varies between fruits; always confirm final consistency before serving.

Sourcing Outside Hong Kong

For international care kitchens and home cooks outside Hong Kong, Cantonese ingredients are widely available at East and Southeast Asian grocery stores:

• United Kingdom: Wing Yip (Birmingham, London, Manchester), See Woo (London), Loon Fung (London)
• United States: 99 Ranch Market (West Coast), H Mart (East Coast), local Chinatown grocers
• Canada: T&T Supermarket (national chain), local Asian markets
• Australia: Burlington Supermarket, Tang’s, local Chinese grocers in Chinatown precincts
• Singapore & Malaysia: Sheng Siong, NTUC FairPrice (Singapore); Tesco, Mydin (Malaysia)
• Online: Sous Chef (UK/EU), Amazon.com (US), Yami.com (US)

Ripe avocados: universally available at mainstream supermarkets.

If a specific ingredient is unavailable in your region, the recipe notes alternative substitutions in the Ingredients section. For dishes requiring fresh Cantonese-specific ingredients (e.g. preserved century egg, fresh rice noodle rolls), check with your local East Asian grocer before substituting — texture compliance for IDDSI levels may require specific products.

Nutrition

Approximately 280 kcal per serving (250 ml), 4 g protein, 28 g carbohydrate, 18 g fat (mostly monounsaturated), 600 mg potassium. The high healthy-fat content makes this smoothie particularly valuable for elderly patients at risk of weight loss. The caloric density is useful for patients who can only consume small volumes per sitting.