Overview

Argentine Licuado

Name: Argentine Licuado
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: Argentina
Ingredients: 400ml (1 2/3 cups) Whole milk; 200g (2 medium) Ripe bananas; 100g (1 small) Avocado; 24g (2 tbsp) Sugar; 5ml (1 tsp) Vanilla extract; 100g (about 6 cubes) Ice cubes; 15g (1 tbsp) Mixed nuts and seeds

Licuado de Banana y Palta, Licuado de Platano, Argentine Banana Milkshake

This argentine licuado recipe blends cold whole milk with ripe banana, avocado, a little sugar and vanilla into a pale, frothy drink that sits somewhere between a milkshake and a smoothie. It is the classic banana licuado of Argentine cafes, poured tall and cold, with a spoonful of mixed nuts on top if you like crunch. One serving is about 420 g.

Licuados are the milk-based blended fruit drinks of Latin America, thinner and frothier than a smoothie and creamier than a juice. In Argentina they are a cafe and kiosk staple, usually made with banana, the most popular flavour, and served ice-cold alongside medialunas.

Pairs well with: Medialunas, toast with dulce de leche and a strong coffee

Provenance

Argentina

Argentine Cafe Classic

Latin America & Caribbean

Time Dedication

10m

10m prep • 0m cook

Batch Yield

2 Servings

386 kcal per serving

1 serving ≈ 420 g

Technical Skill

Easy

Easy (Blender Only)

Meal Timing & Digestive Fit

Breakfast

Not Advised

Lunch

Inappropriate

Dinner

Inappropriate

Snack & Tea

Ideal Light Bite

Quick Prep (<30m) Occasions: Breakfast, Afternoon snack, Cafe-style treat, Hot day, After exercise Cost: Low — about $1–2 per serving at home

Tags: Sweet Vegetarian Gluten-free

A tall glass of creamy pale licuado with half an avocado and a small bowl of mixed nuts on a white plate

Argentine Cafe Classic

Photo: Artigas Pessio, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Heritage Formulary

Measured Ingredients

Whole milk 400ml (1 2/3 cups)

Cold, straight from the fridge. Substitute: Oat milk or almond milk.

How to choose: Fresh whole milk, well chilled.

How to prepare: Measure out and keep cold.

Required
Ripe bananas 200g (2 medium)

Ripe with brown speckles. Substitute: Frozen banana chunks (use less ice).

How to choose: Yellow bananas with brown speckles and a sweet smell; green bananas taste starchy.

How to prepare: Peel and break into chunks.

Required
Avocado 100g (1 small)

Flesh only, ripe but not brown. Substitute: Half a banana extra.

How to choose: Yields slightly to gentle pressure with no dark, sunken patches.

How to prepare: Halve, remove the stone and scoop out the flesh.

Required
Sugar 24g (2 tbsp)

To taste; less if the bananas are very ripe. Substitute: Honey, same weight.

How to choose: Fine white sugar.

How to prepare: Measure out.

Required
Vanilla extract 5ml (1 tsp)

Real vanilla extract. Substitute: A pinch of ground cinnamon.

How to choose: Real extract, not imitation flavouring.

How to prepare: Measure out.

Optional
Ice cubes 100g (about 6 cubes)

For chill and froth. Substitute: Frozen banana chunks.

How to choose: Clean, fresh ice.

How to prepare: Keep frozen until blending.

Required
Mixed nuts and seeds 15g (1 tbsp)

Optional topping for crunch. Substitute: Toasted coconut flakes.

How to choose: Fresh mixed nuts with no stale or rancid smell.

How to prepare: Chop roughly if the pieces are large.

Optional

Estimated cost: Low — about $1–2 per serving at home (USD)

Use a fully ripe banana with brown speckles for natural sweetness; an under-ripe banana makes the drink starchy and flat.

Execution Methodology & Culinary Technique

Step-by-Step Cooking Guide

Active 10m

Prep Stage: Chill Everything and Prep the Fruit

10 Mins • Prep Work

Put the milk and the glasses in the fridge so everything is ice-cold. Peel the bananas, halve the avocado and scoop out the flesh, measure the sugar and vanilla, and chop the nuts for topping.

Maestro Tip: A cold glass and cold milk are what make a licuado frothy instead of flat — do not skip chilling them.

1
Chill and prep the fruit

5 Mins No heat — keep everything cold, about 4°C (39°F)

Peel the bananas and break them into chunks. Halve the avocado, remove the stone and scoop the flesh into a small bowl. Measure the milk, sugar, vanilla and ice, and set the chopped nuts aside for topping.

Ripe bananas with brown speckles need less sugar — taste the banana first and adjust.

Done when: Fruit is prepped and everything is cold, ready for the blender.
2
Blend the licuado

2 Mins No heat — blender on high

Pour the cold milk into the blender, then add the banana, avocado, sugar, vanilla and ice cubes. Blend on high for 45 to 60 seconds until the drink is completely smooth, pale and frothy on top.

Add the liquid first so the blades catch the fruit straight away instead of spinning in air.

Done when: Drink is smooth with no visible fruit pieces and a light foam on the surface.
3
Taste and adjust

1 Min No heat

Taste a spoonful. Add a little more sugar if the bananas were not very ripe, or a splash more milk if the drink is thicker than you like. Blend for 10 seconds more after any adjustment.

A licuado should pour easily, thinner than a smoothie — if it sits on the spoon, it needs more milk.

Done when: Drink tastes sweet, creamy and balanced, and pours in a smooth stream.
4
Pour and top

2 Mins No heat — serve cold, about 4°C (39°F)

Pour into two tall, chilled glasses. Scatter the chopped nuts over the top if you are using them and serve straight away, while the froth is still standing.

Serve immediately — a licuado starts to separate and the avocado darkens if it stands around.

Done when: Two tall glasses of pale, frothy licuado with nuts scattered on top.

Finishing Touches & Plating

Drink the licuado at once, while it is ice-cold and frothy, with medialunas or toast on the side.

Nutritional Physiology & Benefits

Nutrition

Energy

386

kcal / serving

Protein

10g

Complete AA

Carbs

51g

Complex

Fats

18g

Healthy

Per serving (2 servings · 1 serving ≈ 420 g)
Energy	386 kcal
Protein	10 g
Carbohydrates	51 g
Fat	18 g
Fibre	6.2 g
Sugar	35.5 g
Sodium	92 mg

Per 100g
Energy	92 kcal
Protein	2.3 g
Carbohydrates	12.1 g
Fat	4.2 g
Fibre	1.5 g
Sugar	8.4 g
Sodium	22 mg

Nutrition values are estimated — calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for the listed ingredients.

Vitamins & minerals: Banana brings potassium and vitamin B6, avocado adds vitamin E and folate, and milk provides calcium, vitamin B12 and vitamin D.

Quick Energy

Banana and milk give natural sugars and about 10 g of protein per glass, so this is a genuinely useful snack between meals.

Potassium and Calcium

Banana is rich in potassium and milk brings calcium, two minerals that support normal muscle and bone function.

Healthy Fats from Avocado

Avocado adds mostly monounsaturated fat, the same kind of fat found in olive oil, and makes the drink creamy without ice cream.

Food Pairings

What to Eat With

To optimize nutrient absorption and elevate the sensory depth, pair with these authentic accompaniments:

Sides

Medialunas

Flaky, sweet medialunas are the classic Argentine cafe partner — the buttery pastry against the cold, creamy licuado is the whole point of the snack.

More Pairings

Toast with Dulce de Leche

Crisp toast spread with dulce de leche echoes the sweetness of the banana and gives the drink something to be eaten with.

Drinks

Cafe con Leche

A small, strong cafe con leche alongside the licuado is how Argentine cafes serve it — the bitter coffee sharpens the sweet, milky drink.

Complete menu

An Argentine licuado with warm medialunas and a small cafe con leche makes a classic cafe breakfast or afternoon snack for two.

Digestive Guardrails

What NOT to Combine

To prevent digestive distress, sluggishness, or palate clash, avoid pairing the dish with these elements:

Leaving It Standing

A licuado separates and the avocado turns brown within 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature, and milk left out spoils quickly; blend it fresh and drink it at once. This is general food safety information, not medical advice.

Turning It into a Milkshake

Adding ice cream or chocolate sauce turns a light milk-and-fruit drink into a much richer dessert with far more sugar and saturated fat; keep it to milk, fruit and a little sugar. This is general nutrition information, not medical advice.

General information only, not medical advice — consult a doctor for personal dietary decisions.

Who Should Eat It

Who Should Eat

General adultsA quick, filling snack that suits most adults, especially on a hot day.
ChildrenA good after-school snack for children; the banana and milk are familiar flavours, and the nuts on top can be left off for small children.
ElderlySoft, cold and easy to drink; a gentle way to get energy and calcium, but skip the nut topping if chewing is difficult.
Pregnant womenMilk, banana and avocado all fit well in pregnancy; use pasteurised milk and drink it freshly made.
Breastfeeding womenCalcium, potassium and energy in one glass make it a handy snack while breastfeeding; keep the sugar modest.
AthletesUseful after training for quick energy and some protein, though it is not a high-protein recovery drink on its own.
Weight gainAt about 386 calories a glass it is a useful calorie boost for weight gain; add an extra banana or a spoonful of peanut butter.
Weight lossRich and sweet, so it is a treat rather than a daily choice for weight loss; use skimmed milk, skip the sugar and leave off the nuts.

Health Conditions — Adjust or Avoid

Conditions

DiabetesBanana and added sugar raise blood sugar, so keep to one glass and count the carbs; ask your clinician about fitting it into your meal plan.
High blood pressureNaturally low in sodium; the small amount of salt comes from the milk, but ask your clinician if you follow a strict low-sodium plan.
Kidney diseaseMilk and banana are both sources of potassium, so people with kidney disease should check portions with their clinician.
GoutBanana and avocado are low-purine foods, so this drink is usually fine for gout; ask your clinician if you are in a flare.
Stomach issuesCold milk and banana are usually gentle on the stomach, but a large cold drink can cause discomfort; sip slowly and ask your clinician if symptoms persist.
Cardiovascular diseaseAvocado adds unsaturated fat and the drink has no added saturated fat beyond the milk; choose skimmed milk if you are watching saturated fat, and ask your clinician about your overall diet.
Fatty liverWhole milk and avocado make this an energy-dense drink, so it is best as an occasional treat for fatty liver; ask your clinician about your plan.
Food allergiesContains milk (dairy) and tree nuts in the topping; the nuts can be left off, but ask your clinician about any allergy.
Special therapeutic dietsA simple whole-food drink that fits many therapeutic diets, but always check with your clinician before using it as part of a prescribed diet.

If you have a medical condition, consult your doctor before changing your diet.

Storage & Use

How to store: Blend fresh and drink at once; if you must keep it, pour into a sealed bottle and refrigerate immediately.
In the fridge: Up to 1 day in the fridge at 4°C (39°F) or below; stir well and expect some separation.
In the freezer: Not recommended — milk separates and the banana turns grey on thawing.
How to reheat: Do not reheat; serve cold.
Freezing recommended: No — the licuado does not freeze well.
Signs it has spoiled: Sour smell, curdled look, dark brown colour or a fizzy taste — discard it.

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