Korean Mugwort Banana Smoothie

Korean Mugwort Banana Smoothie

Quick answer

This smoothie combines blanched mugwort with frozen banana, plain yogurt, and milk, blended into a thick, creamy drink.

What makes this special

  • Blanched mugwort and frozen fruit create a creamy, herbal breakfast drink in this Ssuk-banana-smoothie.
  • Mugwort blanched 20 seconds to reduce bitterness before blending
  • Frozen banana achieves thick smoothie texture without extra ice
Total time
10 min
Level
Easy
Servings
2 servings
Ingredients
7
Calories
214 kcal
Protein
7 g

Key ingredients

blanched mugwortbananaplain yogurtmilkhoney

Core cooking flow

  1. 1 Rinse 35g blanched mugwort under running water if needed, then dip it in lig...
  2. 2 Squeeze the cooled mugwort firmly by hand until no water drips out, and remove any tough stems.
  3. 3 Slice 220g banana into pieces about 2cm thick and freeze for about 15 minutes.

This smoothie combines blanched mugwort with frozen banana, plain yogurt, and milk, blended into a thick, creamy drink. The mugwort is briefly blanched for 20 seconds to tame its raw bitterness, while pre-freezing the banana adds body without relying on excess ice. A touch of vanilla extract bridges the grassy herbaceous notes of the mugwort with the banana's tropical sweetness, and honey rounds out the overall flavor. The result is a vivid green drink with a simultaneously earthy, fruity, and tangy profile, finished in under 10 minutes from start to pour.

Prep 8min Cook 2min 2 servings
Recipes by ingredient → milk honey

Instructions

Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.

6 steps
  1. 1
    Season

    Rinse 35g blanched mugwort under running water if needed, then dip it in lightly salted boiling water for only 20 seconds.

    Move it straight into cold water so the color stays bright and the raw bitterness softens.

  2. 2
    Step

    Squeeze the cooled mugwort firmly by hand until no water drips out, and remove any tough stems.

    Extra moisture makes the smoothie taste thin and weak, so press it well before adding it to the blender.

  3. 3
    Control

    Slice 220g banana into pieces about 2cm thick and freeze for about 15 minutes.

    When the outside feels firm, it will thicken the drink more effectively and reduce the need for extra ice.

  4. 4
    Step

    Add 180ml milk, 220g plain yogurt, 20g honey, and 2ml vanilla extract to the blender first.

    Keeping the liquid base at the bottom helps the blades catch immediately instead of spinning in an air pocket.

  5. 5
    Step

    Add the mugwort, frozen banana, and 160g ice, then blend on high for 40 seconds.

    Stop when no visible mugwort flecks remain and the smoothie looks evenly pale green, thick, and glossy.

  6. 6
    Finish

    If the texture is too thick, add milk in small splashes and blend briefly again.

    If the mugwort tastes too strong, add 5g more honey, then pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately.

After the steps

Pick a recipe that fits this dish.

Continue with shared ingredients, meal pairings, or a similar method.

Recipes That Go Well With This

More Drinks →

Based on shared ingredients and meal pairing

Korean Banana Milk
Shared ingredient: banana Drinks

Korean Banana Milk

Banana milk is a homemade version of one of Korea's most consistently popular packaged beverages, sold in its distinctive small barrel-shaped bottle since 1974. Fresh ripe bananas are blended with cold milk, a spoonful of condensed milk, and a drizzle of honey to hit the characteristic level of sweetness. A small amount of vanilla extract bridges the fruit flavor and the dairy base, smoothing out any sharpness. Blending with ice produces a thick, smoothie-like consistency, while leaving out the ice gives a thinner, pourable drink closer to the original product. Unlike the commercial version, the homemade result contains no artificial flavoring or coloring, so the color stays a natural pale yellow rather than the vivid shade of the packaged drink. The sweetness varies with banana ripeness, and honey can be adjusted accordingly. Using frozen bananas in place of fresh ones plus ice delivers a cold, creamy texture without dilution. The whole preparation takes under five minutes, making it a practical option for a quick snack or light breakfast.

Korean Banana Misutgaru Smoothie
Shared ingredient: banana Drinks

Korean Banana Misutgaru Smoothie

Banana misutgaru smoothie combines Korea's traditional roasted multigrain powder with banana for a filling, grain-forward drink. Misutgaru is made from roasted barley, glutinous rice, soybeans, and other grains ground into a fine powder; dissolved in liquid, it produces a toasty, earthy flavor that sets it apart from any standard smoothie base. Banana adds natural sweetness and body, while a spoonful of peanut butter deepens the nutty undertone. Honey fine-tunes the sweetness, and blending with ice makes the whole thing cold and thick. The grain fiber from the misutgaru and the potassium from the banana make this a substantial breakfast replacement in a single glass. Increasing the misutgaru proportion thickens the consistency toward something closer to porridge, and swapping in soy milk for regular milk intensifies the grain character.

Gotgam Cream Cheese Roll (Dried Persimmon Rolls)
Serve together Desserts

Gotgam Cream Cheese Roll (Dried Persimmon Rolls)

Gotgam cream cheese roll is a no-cook Korean dessert that requires nothing more than a knife, a bowl, and a refrigerator. Dried persimmons are slit open and flattened into thin sheets, each one acting as the outer wrapper. The filling is cream cheese mixed with honey and fresh lemon juice to balance its natural richness with acidity, and finely chopped walnuts are folded in throughout to add a crunchy, nutty element to every bite. The filling is spread across the opened persimmon, which is then rolled tightly and wrapped in plastic wrap. Twenty minutes in the refrigerator firms the roll enough to slice cleanly. Dipping the knife in warm water and wiping it dry before each cut produces the smoothest cross-sections. The finished slices reveal clearly defined layers: the chewy, caramel-sweet dried persimmon on the outside, the tangy cream cheese in the middle, and flecks of walnut distributed throughout. The combination makes it a natural pairing with wine or a polished addition to a traditional holiday table.

Korean Melon Smoothie (Chamoe Korean Melon Yogurt Blend)
Similar recipe Drinks

Korean Melon Smoothie (Chamoe Korean Melon Yogurt Blend)

Chamoe smoothie blends peeled and seeded Korean melon flesh with plain yogurt, milk, honey, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. The melon's clean, juicy sweetness meets the yogurt's tanginess to create a refreshing, well-rounded flavor, while the lemon brightens the finish and prevents the drink from tasting flat. The pinch of salt is a small but functional addition that amplifies sweetness across the whole glass. Ice goes in only at the final thirty seconds of blending - adding it earlier dilutes the flavor and produces a watery consistency. When the melon is particularly sweet, halving the honey maintains balance without masking the fruit's natural character. The smoothie should be poured immediately into a chilled glass so the fresh melon fragrance does not fade before serving.

Serve with this

Korean Curry Flavored Tempura
Street food Easy

Korean Curry Flavored Tempura

Curry twigim mixes curry powder directly into the frying batter, giving it a vivid golden color and distributing spice throughout the coating before any frying begins. Sweet potato, carrot, and onion slices are dipped in this batter and deep-fried at 170 degrees Celsius. The key technical requirement is ice-cold water in the batter: cold temperature inhibits gluten development, which keeps the coating thin and produces a shattering, light crunch when bitten. Using warm or room-temperature water causes the gluten strands to develop fully, resulting in a thick, chewy crust that absorbs oil rather than repelling it. Because the curry powder is built into the batter itself, every piece carries turmeric, cumin, and coriander flavor in each bite without needing a dipping sauce. Compared to standard Korean vegetable tempura, the curry spices add an aromatic warmth and complexity to the sweet vegetables that distinguishes it clearly. The texture is best immediately out of the oil while the coating is still rigid.

🍺 Bar Snacks 🧒 Kid-Friendly
Prep 15min Cook 15min 4 servings
Korean Seasoned Glasswort Salad
Side dishes Easy

Korean Seasoned Glasswort Salad

Sebalnamul-muchim features 220 grams of glasswort, a succulent coastal plant that carries a natural salinity from the tidal flats where it grows. A 10-second blanch in boiling water is enough to barely soften the thin stems while preserving their distinctive pop when bitten. The dressing of gochugaru, vinegar, plum extract, and sesame oil coats the tender shoots without masking their inherent briny flavor. Thinly sliced onion adds a sweet crunch, and the plum extract mellows the vinegar's sharpness into a rounded tartness. Because no additional salt is needed, the final seasoning relies entirely on the balance between acid, sweetness, and the glasswort's own minerality.

🥗 Light & Healthy 🏠 Everyday
Prep 8min Cook 1min 4 servings
Dasik (Korean Honey-Pressed Roasted Grain Confection)
Baking Easy

Dasik (Korean Honey-Pressed Roasted Grain Confection)

Dasik is a traditional Korean pressed confection made by kneading roasted grain or nut powders with honey and pressing the mixture into carved wooden molds. Unlike baked goods, dasik holds its shape entirely through the binding power of honey, with no heat applied during preparation. This technique produces a texture that is slightly resistant at first contact, then dissolves gently at body temperature in a way that releases the full aroma of the main ingredient. Roasted soybean powder yields a nutty version, black sesame produces a deeply aromatic one, and additions of pine nut powder or cinnamon develop the flavor in different directions. The wooden molds carve decorative patterns into the surface of each piece, giving dasik a visual refinement that matches its restrained sweetness. For centuries, dasik has been a standard offering at Korean tea gatherings, and its subtle flavor remains a natural match for the gentle bitterness of green tea.

🧒 Kid-Friendly ⚡ Quick
Prep 20min 4 servings

Similar recipes

Korean Black Rice Coconut Smoothie
Drinks Medium

Korean Black Rice Coconut Smoothie

This smoothie is built on cooked black rice, blended with coconut milk, banana, and ice into a thick, grain-forward drink. The black rice is cooked and cooled before blending, which gives it a chewy, starchy quality that thickens the smoothie from within and contributes a toasty grain flavor that fruit-based smoothies do not have. Anthocyanin pigments in the black rice bran stain the drink a deep purple. Coconut milk brings its fat content to bear on the coarser grain particles, smoothing the texture into something creamy and uniform. Banana adds natural sweetness and a binding thickness that allows the smoothie to come together without added sugar from the start. Date syrup deepens the sweetness further, and blending with ice brings the drink to a cold temperature while loosening the consistency. Toasted coconut chips scattered over the finished smoothie provide a layer of crunch that contrasts with the thick, smooth body below and reinforces the coconut flavor throughout.

🍺 Bar Snacks
Prep 12min Cook 20min 2 servings
Korean Abalone Mugwort Porridge
Rice Medium

Korean Abalone Mugwort Porridge

This seasonal porridge combines the mineral essence of abalone with the herbal freshness of young mugwort. The preparation starts by sautéing abalone innards in sesame oil, creating a concentrated base that anchors the entire dish. Soaked rice is then added and stirred continuously until the starch releases, resulting in a smooth and consistent texture. Using kelp stock instead of plain water adds another layer of oceanic character to the broth. Precise timing is essential when adding the mugwort to the pot. Incorporating the herb only during the final sixty seconds prevents the release of harsh bitter compounds that could otherwise dominate the flavor. This brief cooking period ensures only a subtle, clean bitterness remains to complement the heavy richness of the abalone. A light dusting of ground black pepper at the end provides a warm aromatic finish that highlights the greenery of the herb. Early spring is the ideal time for this dish, as that is when mugwort leaves are at their most tender and fragrant. With iron and taurine from the abalone alongside vitamins and folate from the mugwort, this meal offers significant nutritional value. Its gentle nature makes it an appropriate choice for those needing a restorative meal that is easy on the digestive system. If kept in the refrigerator, the porridge will thicken significantly; reheating it over low heat with a splash of water restores its original silkiness.

🎉 Special Occasion
Prep 20min Cook 30min 2 servings
Korean Spinach Tofu Soup
Soups Easy

Korean Spinach Tofu Soup

Sigeumchi-dubu-guk is a clear, mild Korean soup in which spinach and tofu float in an anchovy-kelp broth seasoned only with soup soy sauce - no fermented paste, no chili. The result is a bowl of quiet transparency where each ingredient's natural flavor is audible: the green, slightly mineral taste of spinach, the neutral creaminess of tofu, and the clean savor of the stock. A small amount of minced garlic builds umami in the background, and a single drop of sesame oil on the surface adds a whisper of richness. This soup is intentionally gentle, which is exactly why Korean families rely on it so heavily - it suits every palate and every age group, from toddlers to grandparents. Cooks often serve it alongside bold, spicy dishes because the clear broth acts as a reset between intense bites. The technique is straightforward but timing matters: tofu should be cut into generous cubes so it holds its shape during simmering, and spinach should enter the pot only at the very end to preserve its color and a touch of texture. The entire preparation takes under fifteen minutes and requires only four or five ingredients, making it one of the most practical everyday soups in Korean cooking.

🏠 Everyday 🥗 Light & Healthy
Prep 10min Cook 16min 4 servings

Tips

If mugwort flavor is too strong, add 5g more honey.
Use more frozen banana instead of ice to avoid dilution.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories
214
kcal
Protein
7
g
Carbs
37
g
Fat
5
g