Vietnamese Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. 
Serving Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Sinh Tố Bơ (Avocado Smoothie)
A rich and creamy avocado smoothie made with condensed milk.
Contains common allergens
In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.
Good to know
- Ready in under 30 minutes
Matched from this dish's own ingredients and timing. Browse more: 30-minute meals
Instructions
6 steps- 1
Prepare Avocado: Halve the avocado, remove the pit, and scoop the soft green flesh into a blender. Ensure there are no hard or stringy bits.
- 2
Add Dairy: Add the sweetened condensed milk and whole milk to the blender. The condensed milk provides the signature Vietnamese sweetness and creamy texture.
- 3
Add Ice: Pour in the crushed ice. Using crushed ice rather than large cubes ensures a smoother, faster blend without overworking the machine.
- 4
Blend: Blend on high speed for 30-45 seconds until the mixture is completely smooth, thick, and velvety. Stop to scrape down the sides if necessary.
- 5
Taste and Adjust: Taste the smoothie. If you prefer it sweeter, add the optional sugar or a drizzle more condensed milk and blend briefly.
- 6
Serve: Pour immediately into a tall glass and serve with a thick straw.
Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Listahan Family Score™
82/100
Good fit for most families
Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.
Nutrition
per serving120
Calories
3 g
Protein
19 g
Carbs
4 g
Fat
Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.
Listahan cooking guide
Chef notes & practical guide
Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.
Cultural context
Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia's largest avocado producers, with cultivation concentrated in the Central Highlands around Da Lat. The Vietnamese treat avocado entirely as a fruit for sweet preparations, in contrast to Mexican and Western culinary traditions where it is a savory ingredient. Sinh to bo — avocado blended with sweetened condensed milk and crushed ice — became one of the most popular smoothies sold by street vendors and juice stalls across southern Vietnam, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City, where it is drunk as an afternoon treat.
Listahan note
This version keeps the ratio simple — avocado, condensed milk, whole milk, and crushed ice — prioritizing the pure, creamy avocado flavor that gets lost in recipes that add too many competing ingredients.
Technique cues
- Ripeness is the single biggest variable: an avocado that yields to gentle pressure at the stem end will blend to a perfectly smooth, creamy texture, while a slightly underripe one produces a slightly grainy result with a grassy taste that the condensed milk cannot fully mask.
- Crushed ice rather than ice cubes is essential — it blends into the avocado in seconds rather than requiring prolonged blending that aerates and warms the smoothie before it can be drunk.
- Add the condensed milk conservatively at first and taste before adding more; avocado ripeness and natural sweetness vary significantly, and a slightly undersweet smoothie is much easier to fix (add condensed milk) than an oversweet one.
Kitchen flow
- Parallel prep
- This is a single-vessel recipe with no parallel steps; simply gather all four ingredients before starting.
- Make-ahead
- Sinh to bo does not hold well — avocado oxidizes quickly once blended; make it within 10 minutes of serving and drink immediately.
- Leftover move
- If any remains, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the smoothie in the glass to limit air contact and refrigerate for up to 1 hour; stir before drinking.
- Cleanup rhythm
- Rinse the blender jar immediately with warm water while the fat is still fluid; avocado fat is much harder to remove once it sets and dries on the blades.
Ingredient brief
Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.
1 large, very ripe avocado
primary ingredient and thickener
Purpose: A fully ripe avocado provides the dense, buttery fat that gives sinh to bo its thick, milkshake-like consistency.
Handling: Halve, pit, and scoop the flesh directly into the blender; any browning near the pit does not affect the taste.
Adaptation: No direct substitute for avocado in this recipe; it is the dish.
3 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
sweetener and creamy base
Purpose: Condensed milk provides sweetness and additional dairy fat that blends seamlessly with the avocado without thinning the texture the way regular sugar and milk would separately.
Handling: Add to the blender before blending so it coats the avocado and helps the blade draw everything into motion quickly.
Adaptation: Coconut condensed milk (available at Asian grocery stores) makes an excellent dairy-free version with a subtle tropical note.
1/4 cup whole milk
consistency adjuster
Purpose: Whole milk thins the blend just enough to make it drinkable through a straw while keeping the body thick and smooth.
Handling: Add in stages if the blend looks too thick after the first blitz; the desired consistency is pourable but not watery.
Adaptation: Full-fat coconut milk is an excellent dairy-free substitute and slightly intensifies the richness.
1.5 cups crushed ice
temperature and texture
Purpose: Crushed ice chills the smoothie instantly and integrates completely into the blend, keeping the texture smooth rather than chunky.
Handling: Use a blender-safe crushed ice function or wrap ice cubes in a kitchen towel and crush with a rolling pin if a blender ice function is unavailable.
Adaptation: Ice cubes blend adequately in a high-powered blender but may leave tiny ice chips in a lower-powered machine.
Technique notes
- Blend on high for a full 45 seconds even when it looks smooth at 20 seconds — the final 25 seconds removes the last small air pockets and produces a silkier, creamier texture.
- Serve in a tall glass with a wide straw or a spoon; the drink is thick enough that a thin straw collapses under suction.
- In Vietnam, sinh to bo is sometimes served with a drizzle of extra condensed milk poured over the top as a finish — this adds a sweet ribbon through the glass and makes the drink look beautiful at the table.
Ingredient swaps
- Dairy-free direction
- Use coconut condensed milk instead of dairy condensed milk, and full-fat coconut milk instead of whole milk; the result is richly coconut-flavored and fully dairy-free.
- Lower-sugar direction
- Reduce condensed milk to 1 tablespoon and add 1 teaspoon of honey; the natural fat sweetness of a very ripe avocado carries more of the flavor than most people expect.
- Protein boost option
- Add 2 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt for extra protein and a subtle tang that balances the richness.
Serve alongside
- banh mi sandwich as a filling midday pairing
- Vietnamese sesame rice crackers
- fresh mango slices
- served alone as a standalone afternoon drink
- alongside a small cup of Vietnamese iced coffee as a contrast
Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.
Storage & reheating
- Best consumed immediately after blending; avocado oxidizes and the color shifts to brownish-green within an hour.
- If storing briefly, press plastic wrap directly against the surface of the smoothie and refrigerate for up to 1 hour.
- Do not freeze — the emulsion breaks on thawing and the texture becomes icy and separated.
Equipment
- high-powered blender
- ice crusher or kitchen towel for crushing ice
- tall glass and wide straw
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