Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach, packed (about 2 large handfuls)
- 1 ripe avocado, halved and pitted (about ½ cup mashed)
- 1 large ripe banana, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup milk of choice (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional, adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- ½ cup ice cubes (only if using fresh fruit; omit if using frozen banana)
Optional Add-Ins:
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flaxseed
- 1 tablespoon almond butter or peanut butter
- ½ cup frozen mango or pineapple for tropical flavor
- Juice of ½ lime for brightness
- Small knob of fresh ginger (½ teaspoon grated)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Wash the baby spinach thoroughly and pat dry. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, and scoop the flesh into your blender. Peel the banana and break it into chunks if it’s frozen.
- Layer Ingredients Properly: For the smoothest blending, add ingredients to your blender in this specific order: milk first (liquid on bottom helps blades start easily), then spinach (it will blend down into the liquid), then banana, scooped avocado, vanilla, and honey if using. Add ice last on top if using.
- Blend on Low, Then High: Start blending on the lowest speed for about 10-15 seconds to break up the larger pieces and get everything moving. Then increase to the highest speed and blend for 45-60 seconds until the smoothie is completely smooth, creamy, and uniformly green with no visible spinach flecks or avocado chunks.
- Check Consistency: Stop the blender and check the thickness. The smoothie should be thick and creamy, like a milkshake, but still pourable. If it’s too thick and your blender is struggling, add milk 2 tablespoons at a time and blend again. If it’s too thin, add a few ice cubes or more frozen banana and blend until thick.
- Taste and Adjust: This is crucial! Taste your smoothie before serving. Need it sweeter? Add honey or another piece of banana and blend briefly. Want it more tart? Add a squeeze of lime juice. Prefer it colder? Add more ice and blend.
- Serve Immediately: Pour into tall glasses and serve right away while cold and at peak creaminess. If making a smoothie bowl, use less milk for an extra-thick consistency that you can eat with a spoon, and top with your favorite toppings like granola, sliced fruit, nuts, or seeds.
Notes
- Avocado Ripeness: Your avocado must be ripe for the best texture and flavor. It should yield to gentle pressure when squeezed. Underripe avocados won’t blend smoothly and may taste slightly bitter.
- Spinach Quantity: Two cups of raw spinach may seem like a lot, but it blends down to almost nothing and you truly won’t taste it. Start with 1 cup if you’re nervous and work up to 2 cups.
- Frozen vs. Fresh: Frozen banana creates the thickest, coldest, most milkshake-like smoothie. If using fresh banana, definitely add ice.
- Sweetness Level: Smoothie sweetness depends entirely on how ripe your banana is. Very ripe bananas with lots of brown spots need no added sweetener at all.
- Color: Your smoothie should be a vibrant, appetizing green. If it’s brown or muddy-looking, you may have over-blended (friction creates heat which dulls color) or used too much banana.
- Make It Vegan: Use plant-based milk and maple syrup instead of honey.
- Protein Boost: Adding protein powder may require slightly more liquid, as protein powder absorbs moisture and can make smoothies thicker.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 smoothie (approximately 12-14 oz, or half the recipe without optional add-ins)
- Calories: 245
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 65mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9h
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg