Favorite Green Smoothie
The best things sometimes come from throwing together what you got and this is exactly that. I was visiting my parents house and made a green smoothie using what they had around. After so many times of following green smoothie recipe, trying to re-create a smoothie I had purchased somewhere and more, I finally nailed a green smoothie that I can honestly say I’m in love with.
The smoothie gets its green color from spinach, yum! Now the key here that it’s cooked spinach. All my parents had was cooked spinach that had been frozen. Now I thought it was going to ruin the smoothie, but turns out that is the KEY to making the smoothie a little creamier and not taste like a salad. So now I cook spinach and keep it in the freezer or buy precooked frozen spinach.
Additionally there is mango and pineapple. Both fruits that are sweet! I use apple sauce in my recipe because A) it makes the smoothie thinner than an actual apple and B) I’m allergic to raw or uncooked apples so I use apple sauce because it has been cooked before jarred, You can feel free to use an actual apple if you like, you may just need to add more liquid. Lastly, I use banana because it’s good for you and makes the smoothie nice and smooth.
I use orange juice for my liquid because I personally like to avoid creaminess in my green smoothies. I’m more of a tart person to begin with so it’s honestly personal preference. I bet the smoothie would still taste great if you use milk, water or some other liquid. It also makes it dairy free for anyone who is sensitive to dairy!
Makes a 24 oz Smoothie
Ingredients
1/2 banana
1 c cooked spinach
1 1/2 c mango and pineapple chunks
1/2 c unsweetened apple sauce
1/2 c orange juice
1 handful of ice cubes
Directions
Mix all ingredients in a blender. I start on low and work my way up to high and then back down to low. I find it get all the stubborn chunks out.
Notes
Gluten-free: This recipe is gluten-free.
Dairy-free: This recipe is dairy-free.
Vegetarian/Vegan: This recipe is vegetarian/vegan.
Banana: Try to use as ripe of a banana as you can. I use frozen bananas that I keep in my freezer but fresh works as well.
Cooked Spinach: Yes, cooked. I have been keeping a bag of cooked spinach in my freezer just to make these smoothies. I find the texture and taste of the smoothie is a lot better when the spinach is cooked.
Mango & Pineapple: I use both frozen and fresh depending on what I have, either works. It just may affect the thickness of your smoothie. You can use other fruits such as peaches or nectarines, I just suggest keeping to more tart and sweet fruits and stay further away from things like berries. Berries can be added, but I wouldn’t recommend them being the bulk of your fruit.
Apple Sauce: I used apple sauce because I am allergic to raw or uncooked apples and so applesauce allows me to get the apple flavor in. It also is a liquid that helps thin out the smoothie. You can use raw apple if you’d like, however you may need to add more liquid.
Orange Juice: I like the tartness orange juice gives to the smoothie and I personally don’t like creaminess in my green smoothies. However you can always opt for milk, water or something else if that’s what you have or prefer.
Ice Cubes: About 4-6 ice cubes will do.
Meal Prep Notes
I would suggest making this smoothie right as you plan to eat it. Smoothies don’t do great saved in the fridge or freezer.