0 from 48 votes
A Truly Delicious Green Smoothie
This green smoothie is truly delicious - it's packed with spinach and even cucumber, but balanced with the two things bitter greens need most: fat and sugar. Bananas, pineapple, apple, and mango add vital sweetness and tons of nutrition, and a little avocado adds a luscious green flavor as well as healthy fats.
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 314 kcal
Course:
Drinks
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 2 cups baby spinach or other greens, see notes
- 1/2 small avocado
- 1 Small apple cored, or 1/2 large apple (I like fuji because it's sweet)
- 1/2 cup sliced cucumbers about 1/4 of a medium sized cucumber
- 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks see notes
- 1 cup frozen mango chunks see notes
- 2 bananas
- 1 cup water see notes
Instructions
- Add the spinach (2 cups), avocado (½), apple (½ small, cored), sliced cucumbers (½ cup), pineapple (1 cup), mango (1 cup), and bananas (2) to your blender. Pour in the water.
- Turn your blender on low until the ingredients combine well, tamping down as needed (or pausing to scrape down the sides). Then, turn your blender on high until the smoothie has blended thoroughly (about 30 seconds).
- Pour into two - four glasses and enjoy!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- This smoothie recipe is good for 2-4 servings, depending on how much you want, but the nutrition information is estimated at 2 servings.
- Baby spinach is easily accessible, has a mild taste, and usually comes pre-washed at the grocery store. Other greens can be used - mature spinach, kale, lettuce, etc., but keep in mind the more mature the greens the more bitter the taste. Read more about preparing kale here, including tips to remove some bitterness from the greens.
- Pineapple and mango add sweetness to the smoothie without muddying the green color. Other yellow fruit can be used - peaches, for example. A red peel on an apple won't muddy the color down in this smoothie.
- Frozen fruit is great because the cold temperature of the smoothie helps balance any bitterness from the greens. I usually use frozen pineapple and mango, and fresh bananas, but you can use frozen bananas and frozen avocado if you like.
- Avocado adds healthy fats to the smoothie as well as enhances the green color. The fat also helps balance any bitterness from the spinach and cucumber. Whole milk yogurt, nut butter, or even a little coconut oil, will achieve the same effect.
- Instead of water, you can use milk or plant milk (which will also add some fat and protein to the smoothie) or juice (for a sweeter smoothie - if you happen to use canned pineapple here, the juice it's packed in works great!)
- I love serving these in stemless wine glasses with a reusable bamboo straw.
Nutrition Information
Calories
314kcal
(16%)
Carbohydrates
69g
(23%)
Protein
5g
(10%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
5g
Sodium
38mg
(2%)
Potassium
1205mg
(34%)
Fiber
12g
(48%)
Sugar
44g
(88%)
Vitamin A
3976IU
(80%)
Vitamin C
98mg
(109%)
Calcium
75mg
(8%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 314
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 314kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 69g | 23% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Sodium | 38mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 1205mg | 26% |
| Fiber | 12g | 48% |
| Sugar | 44g | 88% |
| Vitamin A | 3976IU | 80% |
| Vitamin C | 98mg | 109% |
| Calcium | 75mg | 8% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.