In a nutshell, we love pistachios. So, we thought it’d be a good time to grab a bottle of Lifeway Kefir and make a yummy frozen treat with these healthy little gems. Did you know? Pistachios are a gut-healthy favorite here because they’re rich in prebiotic fiber and polyphenols, a compound that acts as an antioxidant and supports the microbiome. They’re also high in plant protein, so they mix perfectly with probiotic, protein-packed Lifeway Kefir!
Blending Lifeway Kefir with pistachios creates a sweet, nutty dessert with earthy undercurrents of goodness. But our Pistachio Ice Cream recipe isn’t just delicious; it’s also loaded with probiotics to support gut health, plus calcium, vitamin D3, and vitamin K2 for bone and muscle health. We also added an extra boost of protein to this recipe with vanilla protein powder, so you can get your gains in the most gut-healthy way and enjoy dessert on us!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Servings: 2Ingredients
- 2 cups Lowfat Plain Kefir
- 1 full scoop of vanilla protein powder (like whey or milk protein isolate)
- 1/2 a packet of sugar-free pistachio jello pudding mix (or you can omit and just add in 1/4 cup pistachio butter or crushed pistachios with a tsp. of honey for sweetness)
- 2 tbsp. unsalted, shelled pistachios
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Directions
- To make this without a Ninja Creami®: Blend all the ingredients in a blender or food processor, then freeze in a shallow (preferably glass) container and cover. Or, use a silicone ice cream container. Freeze at least 8 hours, no more than 24 for best results. Remove, then add more pistachios on top, if desired, then enjoy!
- For the Ninja Creami®: Add in the Lowfat Lifeway Kefir, vanilla protein powder, and sugar-free pistachio jello powder (or pistachios/pistachio butter and honey). Blend together and freeze for 24 hours. After 24 hours, blend together in the Ninja Creami®. You might need to add in a small amount of Lifeway Kefir and process/mix again. Add in unsalted, shelled pistachios as a mix-in option.
