Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach (packed)
- 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
- 1 medium ripe banana (fresh or frozen)
- ½ cup cucumber, roughly chopped (about ¼ of an English cucumber)
- ½-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled
- Juice of ½ lemon (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 cup liquid (coconut water, filtered water, or unsweetened almond milk)
- ½ cup ice cubes (optional, only if using fresh fruit)
- 1-2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup (optional, to taste)
Optional Add-Ins:
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 5-6 fresh mint leaves
- ½ teaspoon spirulina powder
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- ¼ avocado (for extra creaminess)
Instructions
- Prep Your Greens and Produce – Rinse the spinach thoroughly and shake off excess water. Peel the ginger using a spoon or vegetable peeler (the edge of a spoon works great for getting into all those knobby parts!). Roughly chop the cucumber into chunks. Cut the lemon in half and juice it, removing any seeds.
- Add Liquid First – Pour your chosen liquid (coconut water, water, or almond milk) into the blender first. This is crucial – liquid at the bottom helps the blender blades move freely and prevents the motor from straining or burning out.
- Layer Your Ingredients Strategically – Add ingredients in this order for best results: liquid (already added), spinach (it will wilt down), cucumber chunks, peeled ginger, lemon juice, banana pieces, and frozen pineapple last. If using ice, add it at the very end. This layering ensures everything blends smoothly without leaving chunks.
- Start Blending Low, Then High – Secure the blender lid tightly. Start on the lowest speed for about 10-15 seconds to break down the leafy greens and begin chopping everything up. This prevents big pieces from getting stuck. Then gradually increase to the highest speed.
- Blend Until Silky Smooth – Blend on high speed for 45-60 seconds until the smoothie is completely smooth with no visible flecks of spinach, chunks of ginger, or pieces of fruit. It should be uniformly green and velvety. The exact time depends on your blender’s power.
- Scrape Down Sides if Needed – If you see ingredients stuck to the sides of the blender, stop and use a spatula to scrape everything down toward the blades. Blend for another 10-15 seconds. This ensures even blending and prevents waste.
- Check Consistency and Adjust – Your smoothie should be thick but pourable – think milkshake consistency. If it’s too thick, add 2-3 tablespoons more liquid and pulse briefly. If it’s too thin, add more frozen fruit or a handful of ice and blend again.
- Taste and Perfect – Give your smoothie a taste test! If it’s not sweet enough, add honey or another piece of banana and blend for 10 seconds. If it’s too sweet, add a squeeze more lemon juice. If you can taste the greens too much, add more pineapple.
- Serve Immediately – Pour into tall glasses and enjoy right away while it’s perfectly cold and fresh. The nutrients are most potent when consumed fresh. Garnish with a lemon slice, fresh mint sprig, or a few chia seeds if you want it to look extra pretty for photos!
Notes
- Greens Intensity: Start with 1-2 cups of spinach if you’re new to green smoothies, then work up to 3 cups as you adjust to the taste.
- Ginger Level: Ginger has a strong flavor. Start with ½ inch if you’re sensitive, or increase to 1 inch if you love ginger’s spicy kick.
- Sweetness: The natural sugars from pineapple and banana usually provide enough sweetness. Only add extra sweetener if needed after tasting.
- Make it Creamier: Add ¼ avocado or a tablespoon of coconut cream for ultra-smooth texture.
- Protein Boost: Add protein powder to make this a complete meal replacement.
- Color Note: Your smoothie will be bright green! If it’s brownish, you may have over-blended or oxidized the ingredients.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 smoothie (approximately 14 oz)
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg