Green Smoothie

This Green Smoothie with 3 simple ingredients is healthy, easy and tastes sweet, creamy and delicious, so your entire family will enjoy!

Vegetable Smoothie

This is a very basic green smoothie we make all.the.time.

Over the years, I tried to make my green smoothie as healthy as possible. Never following a recipe. Often adding trending ingredients like chia seeds and turmeric.

What I ended up with was “a surprise smoothie”. Too bitter, too sour or too sweet. Kids wouldn’t drink it and my husband couldn’t make it because “only I knew the recipe”. Well, even I didn’t know that green smoothie recipe.

Finally, I decided to act like a responsible parent and create yummy green smoothie recipe everyone will drink. The one that tastes good! This is THE BEST green smoothie, my friends!

Ingredients for Green Smoothie

This vegetable smoothie contains 6 cups of leafy greens and is made with 4 simple ingredients.

Water: Instead of water you can use coconut water, almond milk or other milk.
Frozen mango: Mango is one of sweetest fruits that balances out bitter taste of greens. Using frozen fruit, gives smoothie creamy texture. It is also affordable and widely available.
Spinach: Spinach is a sweet-er leafy green with mild taste. I would not replace it with anything as it offsets more bitter kale taste.
Kale: Any type of kale works. Dinosaur aka lacinato, green, purple etc. Just remove the bitter rib cage. And always add more spinach than kale.

How to Make a Green Smoothie

Add ingredients to a powerful blender in exact order (don’t change): Water, frozen mango, spinach and kale. An order of liquid, frozen fruit and greens last, ensures heavy frozen fruit will get blended with liquids first and blender won’t cavitate.

Blend until smooth: Use preset button “smoothie” if you have one, or just blend long enough until consistency is smooth to your liking. If your blender isn’t powerful enough, just pause, stir and blend more.

More Tips and FAQs

Can I use other frozen fruit? Frozen pineapple makes tasty green smoothie too, it’s just less sweet. We often add it if we run out of frozen mango. You can always add honey or maple syrup to taste. Some readers have used papaya.
Can I add frozen banana? Yes, you can. However, I personally find banana bloating in a green smoothie particularly. There is already kale that is high in fiber and adds to a puffy belly.
Can I use fresh fruit? Yes, absolutely, but add 1/2 to 1 cup ice for more creamy and pleasant texture and taste.
Freezing spinach tip: If you see about to expire spinach on sale (especially organic, pre-washed, in a box), stock up and freeze right in a box. Then add to smoothies or soups frozen. It saves money and is so easy to use.
Freezing kale tip: Got a garden or bought too much kale? Wash, remove ribs, coarsely chop and freeze in resealable bags. You can also do the same with regular spinach.
Protein additions: Protein powder – just a small scoop not to make smoothie too thick. 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, or 3 tbsp of peanut butter/almond butter.
Healthy fats additions: 1 tbsp ground flaxseed, chia seeds or hemp hearts.
1 tsp additions: Turmeric, matcha powder, fresh ginger.
What is the best blender? The blender you use to make a green smoothie matters. To the point whether you will drink green smoothie or not, especially when it comes to kids. It has to be a high speed blender that makes smoothies smooth. I use this Blendtec and Vitamix is great too.

How Long to Store Green Smoothie?

What I love about this smoothie is that it doesn’t separate much and tastes delicious even the next day.

If you have leftovers, you can refrigerate in glasses or a blender jug for up to 24 hours. If refrigerated in a jug, I give it another quick blend before serving. Easy-peasy.

Health Benefits of a Green Smoothie

Weight loss: Green smoothie does help with a weight loss if you drink it on a regular basis. Fiber from fruits and vegetables keeps your belly full longer. Plus it is low calorie – less than 100 calories.
Detox: From the mix of chlorophyll contained in the greens to the high level of fiber to keep things moving.
Energy: Leafy greens and fruit contain many nutrients, vitamins and naturally occuring sugars that feed your body cells with energy.
Fruits and vegetables: Because smoothies are so easy to make, they make you eat more fruits and vegetables you wouldn’t have eaten otherwise.

Ingredients

3 cups water
3 cups mango frozen
4 cups spinach
2 cups kale coarsely chopped

Instructions

1. In a powerful blender, add ingredients in the order listed above (don’t change): water, mango, spinach and kale. Press “smoothie” button or blend until smooth. I like to blend more after “smoothie” cycle for a super smooth smoothie. If your blender isn’t powerful enough, just pause, stir and blend more.

2. Enjoy! What I love about this smoothie is that it doesn’t separate much and tastes delicious even the next day.

Store: Refrigerate in glasses or blender’s jug for up to 24 hours. If refrigerated in a jug, I give green smoothie another quick blend. Easy-peasy.

Notes

Water: Instead of water you can use coconut water, almond milk or other milk.
Frozen mango: Mango is one of sweetest fruits that balances out bitter taste of greens. Using frozen fruit, gives smoothie creamy texture. It is also affordable and widely available.
Spinach: Spinach is a sweet-er leafy green with mild taste. I would not replace it with anything as it offsets more bitter kale taste.
Kale: Any type of kale works. Dinosaur aka lacinato, green, purple etc. Just remove the bitter rib cage. And always add more spinach than kale.
Why exact order of ingredients? An order of liquid, frozen fruit and greens last, ensures heavy frozen fruit will get blended with liquids first and blender won't cavitate.
Can I use other frozen fruit? Frozen pineapple makes tasty green smoothie too, it's just less sweet. We often add it if we run out of frozen mango. You can always add honey or maple syrup to taste. Some readers have used papaya.
Can I add frozen banana? Yes, you can. However, I personally find banana bloating in a green smoothie particularly. There is already kale that is high in fiber and adds to a puffy belly.
Can I use fresh fruit? Yes, absolutely, but add 1/2 to 1 cup ice for more creamy and pleasant texture and taste.
Freezing spinach tip: If you see about to expire spinach on sale (especially organic, pre-washed, in a box), stock up and freeze right in a box. Then add to smoothies frozen. It saves money and is so easy to use.
Freezing kale tip: Got a garden or bought too much kale? Wash, remove ribs, coarsely chop and freeze in resealable bags. You can also do the same with regular spinach.
Protein additions: Protein powder - just a small scoop not to make smoothie too thick. 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, or 3 tbsp of peanut butter/almond butter.
Healthy fats additions: 1 tbsp ground flaxseed, chia seeds or hemp hearts.
1 tsp additions: Turmeric, matcha powder, fresh ginger.
What is the best blender? The blender you use to make a green smoothie matters. To the point whether you will drink green smoothie or not, especially when it comes to kids. It has to be a high speed blender that makes smoothies smooth. I use this Blendtec and Vitamix is great too.

Nutrition