Thought your blender was only made for pulverizing vegetables and milkshakes? Think again. With our recipes and handy ideas, this machine is going to become an indispensable kitchen staple.

1. Smoothies

Smoothies make a great anytime treat – breakfast on the go, midday snack, or post-gym fuel. The trick to perfectly blending a smoothie is adding the liquids first, followed by the soft foods and finally the heavy frozen ingredients. We love our Peanut Butter & Banana Bran Smoothie and Cucumber, Ginger & Cherry Smoothie.

2. No-cook Sauces

Nothing elevates a weeknight meal quite like a fresh sauce. Our Sorrel Pesto comes together in minutes and can be tossed with fresh pasta or used as a sauce with chicken or fish. To kick your ice cream sundae up a notch, try whipping up Mango Sauce – simply blend frozen mango, lime juice and zest with icing sugar and you’ve got a fresh, tropical treat.

3. Dips

If you’ve never made your own hummus (try our Almond and Olive Hummus) before, you won’t believe how easy it is. Toss the ingredients in a blender and process until you reach your desired consistency. Serve it with pita chips and fresh veggies. For a blended twist on bruschetta, try our Roasted Tomato & Fennel Dip – it’ll wow your taste buds.

4. Soups

Soups puréed in a blender take on a smooth, velvety texture. Try whipping up our classic Potato Soup with Pesto or Cream of Mushroom Soup to chase the winter blues away. If you’re using a high-speed blender you can skip the stovetop and prepare and heat soup right in the blender.

5. Alternative Butters

Making your own alternative butters is an exercise in culinary creativity! If you like peanut butter and honey on toast, try making honey-peanut butter. All you have to do is blend peanuts (raw or roasted) and honey until they reach the desired texture. Then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. Enjoy on toast or drizzled over sliced bananas and apples. For a special treat, try making your own cookie butter. Blend a package of your favourite cookies until they reach a flour-like consistency, then add ½ cup of oil and sugar to taste. Blitz until combined and store in an airtight container. Cookie butter can be drizzled over apple or banana slices, on pancakes and waffles or can replace peanut butter in a PB&J sandwich.

6. Batters

If you loathe lumps in your waffle or pancake batter, try whipping up your weekend batch in a blender. The key is adding the wet ingredients to the blender first; otherwise, the dry ingredients won’t get mixed properly.

7. Nut Milks

Homemade nut milks are easier to make than you think. Start by soaking a cup of your favourite raw nuts in cool water overnight. Once they’ve plumped up, drain, rinse and toss them in a blender. Add three cups of water, maple syrup to taste, one teaspoon of vanilla extract and a pinch each of cinnamon and salt. Blend until smooth and strain through a nut milk bag or fine cheesecloth. Enjoy!

8. Nut Flour

Bakers rejoice! With a high-speed blender by your side, making freshly ground nut flour is a breeze. Simply add your nut of choice (almond, hazelnut, chestnut, etc.) to the blender and process until you reach the desired consistency. The longer you process the flour, the finer the texture will be. Store freshly ground nut flour in an airtight container in the fridge.

9. Juices

High-speed blenders make quick work of raw fruits and vegetables. Start out blending classic combos like strawberry, orange, banana and carrot. Once you feel comfortable, work in greens like spinach or kale. Nutritional bonus: When you make juice in a blender rather than a juicer, you don’t lose any of the fibre since all the pulp is preserved.

10. Raw Chocolate Pudding

A raw chocolate pudding that’s fruit-based? Believe it! Avocados’ creamy texture and mild taste make them the perfect vegan pudding base. For an individual serving: toss a small peeled and pitted avocado into a blender along with two tablespoons of cocoa powder, two tablespoons honey or maple syrup, a quarter cup of nut milk (or more to adjust consistency), a splash of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth, chill and enjoy.