I still love those smoothies, but the smoothies we’ve been making lately remind me a lot of green juice… but with all of the pulp and fiber still intact.
I find them a lot more filling than typical green juice and since we just use a blender, clean up is super simple. (I’ve never used a juicer but have heard that cleaning them is a big pain.) I love making a green smoothie for a morning or afternoon pick-me-up and think they’re a great way to sneak extra fruits and vegetables into my diet.
Since we’ve started making green smoothies so often, I’ve played around with various flavor combinations and wanted to share my go-to green smoothie with you guys today!
I love ginger and lemon in my smoothies and add them to nearly every single green smoothie I make, so they take center stage in this smoothie as well.
My Go-To Green Smoothie
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My Go-To Green Smoothie
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: recipes, smoothies, snacks
Description
I love making a green smoothie for a morning or afternoon pick-me-up and think they’re a great way to sneak extra fruits and vegetables into my diet.
Ingredients
- 2 large handfuls fresh kale
- 1 large handful fresh spinach
- 1 apple or pear, chopped with seeds and stem removed
- Juice of one lemon
- 1/2 cucumber, chopped (I leave the skin on)
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- Fresh ginger (to taste)
- 1 cup cold water
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a high-powered blender, blend until smooth.
- Add water as needed until the smoothie reaches your preferred consistency.
Notes
A note about this smoothie: If you don’t have a high-powered blender, you may need to chop the fruits and veggies up very finely and blend it for quite a while. The texture will still likely not be very smooth, but the flavor should be the same.
A note about this smoothie: If you don’t have a high-powered blender, you may need to chop the fruits and veggies up very finely and blend it for quite a while. The texture will still likely not be very smooth, but the flavor should be the same.
Enjoy!
Question of the Afternoon
- Do you make green smoothies or green juice? What is your favorite flavor combination?
Ryan loves adding carrots and avocado to his green smoothies and I often add beets to mine. Ginger and lemon are my key ingredients! They definitely amp up the flavor.
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Mmm…. I’m definitely a fan of green “smoothies” more than juice! I like a banana and Greek yogurt and a little bit of peanut butter in mine to make it more breakfast-y 🙂
I’ve never had a green smoothie but I’d never say no to a taste!
You do not add ice to your smoothies? Is it at room temperature when you drink it, or does that cold water and the refrigerated ingredients do the trick to keep it cool?
Almost all of the ingredients come out of the fridge, so it’s always cold enough for me. You could definitely add ice or pour it over ice if you prefer something colder. 🙂
Another trick I do sometimes is to add half a frozen banana – makes is thick and smooth but also cold!
I love green smoothies! My favorite is vanilla greek yogurt, cocoa powder, banana and spinach! Mmmmm
Can you share what blender you use? I’m in the market for a new one.
I love to juice in the mornings! My favorite juice combination is nearly identical to your smoothie: kale + pear + cucumber + celery + lemon + ginger. More lemon and ginger make everything better.
This is a great recipe, thanks for sharing. I also use a blender (Ninja for me) for my green juices vs. a juicer and really like how they are filling enough for a snack or breakfast!
Another tip though is sometimes I use Coconut Water instead of regular water! Adds a little more sweetness and “island” flavor 🙂
I have tried to make smoothies, but my blender just doesn’t cut it. I might have to add a high-powered blender to my Christmas list. 🙂
Love green smoothies! Adding spinach to almost any flavor of smoothie is a great way to pacik in the nutrients!
When you add beets do you do anything to them first? I want to try adding beets but not sure how to do it. (I’ve never even cooked beets before, so I’m totally clueless!)
I’m more of a smoothie kinda gal myself! Not really into juices, but I do add spinach or kale! 😉
I love pear – frozen in chunks, vanilla extract (or vanilla stevia if I’ve any at hand!), half a frozen banana, a whole load of spinach, also love and pretty much always add ginger and also cinnamon. Half an avocado is a great way to thicken it up and make it more creamy! I also usually add a powder..my go to at the moment is Maca!
I have had green smoothies but usually with banana or fruit I have never tried it with these ingredients. Thanks for sharing I will have to give this a shot!
I know smoothies and juices are something that I SHOULD get behind, but I am just stuck on eating my grub! I just feel like I’m not as satisfied when I don’t chew!
this does sound really good! i don’t use fresh ginger nearly enough, but always do enjoy it in my juices!
I like to do banana, oranges, and spinach to my morning smoothies. Tastes like an Orange Julius!
Yum! I love apple, spinach, broccoli, ginger and lemon. I agree the blender is the way to go. Much easier than a juicer!
I used to make my own juice (either like this or in a juicer) but I usually ended up only making one and then the rest of my veggies would go to waste… I’d have to be better about making them consistently!
I used to work in a lovely coffee shop and we were selling fresh juices as well. Oooh, how I miss those days of drinking what was left just after badly estimated amount of fruits put into the machine. If you ever get a change, I can’t recommend you more a combination of oranges, beetroot, little bit of ginger and few apples. It looks incredible, too!
But as you mentioned…the cleaning of the machine! It was a workout on its own! 😀 We had quite a big one, so it took me about 20 minutes to clean it properly1. But I miss the juices. They made my skin glow so much! 🙂 I will have to try your smoothie, winter is coming here (we get a lot of snow in the Czech republic) and vitamins are always good for you!
Yum this looks so good! We don’t own a powerful enough blended to make green smoothies like this but I’ve been thinking of buying a Thermomix or Vitamix
Hi Julie — a quick question: What would you say is the prominent flavor of this particular combo? Is it fruity from the apple & lemon? Or just a mix? Thanks!
This looks amazing! Even though I live in Minnesota, you are motivating me to make smoothies while the snow is on the ground! 🙂 Love the addition of ginger too! Thanks for sharing!
I would really like to have a vitamix but I dont really want to spend over$400 for one! I wish someone would make a cheaper one that is still good quality, but then again you get what you pay for!
I feel the same way. I’ve been dying for a Vitamix or Blentec. I hear that the Ninjas are great & a lot less $$.
I love green smoothies too! My combo usually consists of: spinach, apple/pear, grapes, Greek yogurt, avocado, and lemon/lime juice. Can’t wait to try yours!
Green smoothies are so darn good!! I can have them every day 🙂
I love adding avocado to my smoothies, especially when i’m out of frozen bananas so I still get the creaminess I’m looking for. So good! Otherwise my go-to is usually banana, peanut butter, vanilla (or chocolate) protein powder, spinach and almond or coconut milk. Sometimes I’ll add cocoa powder or coconut oil.
Yum, just pinned for future reference. Thank you for sharing!
Love green smoothies! I especially love using spinach in them because it doesn’t have that strong of a flavor.
I love spinach, a whole peeled lemon, mango and handful of almonds. I can drink this every day 🙂
The ginger has got to be good in that smoothie!
I still have yet to try a green smoothie, but I really need to sometime soon! They sound like they are pretty yummy!
I love green smoothies more than juice too! So much more filling and not such a waste (and clean up). I have a high-powered blender, so it can chop anything, making any smoothie the bomb.
Great recipe idea!
I just read that green smoothies are actually more beneficial than juice anyway!! With the smoothies, you keep the skin which is where a majority of the fiber and vitamins are at. In juicing, all that is tossed to the side. I think I am going to try a straight up green smoothie sometime soon. I add spinach often but I have never tried other veggies.
Yum! I need to start making green smoothies again. I got into the habit over the summer (since my husband doesn’t like eating breakfast, I insisted he drink one!), but I’ve slacked off the last couple of months. My favorite combo is simple: spinach, frozen banana, almond milk, some fresh or frozen berries, and a splash of orange juice. I’ll usually add some nut butter, Greek yogurt, raw oats, or protein powder for extra heft. I haven’t ventured into the “super veggie loaded” smoothies yet, although I’ve made one with cucumber before and liked it. Even though I don’t own a juicer, I think I’d prefer smoothies since they’re full of fiber and are ultimately more filling.
Yum. This looks so good. I can’t wait to try it. My favourite combo is spinach, kale, banana, green apple, greek yogurt, chia seeds, and almond milk. It makes an amazing breakfast!
I love adding lemon or lime to mine also!
I love a good green smoothie recipe!
Since you’re from Florida, are you familiar with Florida avocados? I tried one in a smoothie for the first time the other day and it made it so creamy and delicious! What a great, new fruit discovery on my end.
You can find the recipe here: http://coffeewithkatee.wordpress.com/2013/12/03/creamy-florida-avocado-mango-smoothie/
I am so not a smoothie girl! I like them when someone else makes them for me (hello, Jamba Juice!), but I really despise using the blender.
Interesting- I use to put ginger and lemon in my juices when I made them, but have never thought to put them in my morning smoothie. I might have to give this a go!
Currently I have a green smoothie every morning (and then get weird comments from every person in my office while I drink it). My current favourite combo is: spinach, banana, avocado, pineapple, greek yogurt, peanut butter, cinnamon, honey and water. Delicious!
I love spinach, a little greek yogurt, ground flax, peach, and raspberries in mine. Yum!
I’ve never thought to add ginger to my smoothies; that sounds amazing! About how much do you normally add? I’ll adjust to taste, but wondered if you could offer a starting point. Thanks for sharing, will definitely try this out this weekend!
~Bre
http://bumpandrunchat.com
I definitely prefer smoothies over juices, but every once in a while I enjoy the benefits of a green juice. The problem is, I HATE using my cheapo juicer because of the clean up and because I don’t think I get enough juice out of the pulp.
I recently found this post about juicing without a juicer and it works wonderfully. I’m happy I can juice again! http://www.marinmamacooks.com/2012/09/how-to-make-a-mean-green-juice-without-a-juicer/
YUM! I love to add apple & beets with kale. Plus a touch of ginger. The flavors go together so well.
Thanks for this recipe! I’ve been looking for a good green smoothie.
I may just have to give this a try!
To those wondering about blenders, I just wanted to share that I have a Ninja and I absolutely love it! Even as a college student who has to be tight with money, I saved up for the Ninja 1200 set (I believe this is the version I have- not the newest with the to-go cup, but the one before it with the small and large blender sizes) and I would do it again in a heart beat! I found mine at Target on a summer sale and have used it all the time since then. The actual mixer in the middle is was makes it so great, as the smaller one has a double blade and the larger one has a triple, so your ingredients come out smooth and don’t get stuck at the bottom!
That green smoothie sounds really great! I just have a question, are you tasting more of the “green” ingredients, or more the apple/pear? I haven’t done green smoothies yet, but have always wanted to try. I think with being pregnant and really trying to eat healthy I’m a little more motivated. =)
That’s my exact go-to smoothie combination as well! Except sometimes I use a granny smith apple to make it uber green!
Thank you so much for this recipe! A high powered blender is on my want list so I’m starting to collect recipes.