This spinach smoothie recipe is among our favorite healthy recipes at the moment because it is simple to make and tastes absolutely delicious.
Don’t let the green color deceive you — this drink tastes nothing like what its name suggests.
Health Benefits
The benefits of our spinach smoothie lie in the ingredients themselves:
- Spinach
Spinach is a type of leafy green vegetable native to central and western Asia and is praised to be one of the most healthy veggies because of its high nutrient content.
Consuming spinach may boost eye health, reduce oxidative stress, aid in cancer prevention, and lower blood pressure.
Spinach is low in carbohydrates but high in insoluble fiber — a type of fiber that may have a beneficial effect on your digestion.
It’s also an antioxidant-dense vegetable. Vitamin A, C, K, and many vital minerals can be found in these leafy greens.
Spinach can be prepared in a variety of ways. You can purchase it fresh, frozen, canned, cooked, or raw. It’s delectable on its own or in combination with other foods.
That being said, spinach should be eaten in moderation as a part of a healthy diet. Overconsumption of spinach can lead to a few possible risks — it may promote the formation of kidney stones and blood clots in some cases.
- Pineapple
Pineapples contain trace amounts of vitamin A and K, phosphorus, zinc, and calcium. They are also particularly high in vitamin C, containing about 88% of the daily value (DV).
Vitamin C is a crucial vitamin that can bring a number of health benefits including helping you absorb iron and calcium from foods, maintaining a healthy immune system, aiding in overall growth and development, and contributing to healthy skin.
- Bananas
Bananas provide digestive, cardiovascular, and weight-loss benefits. A medium-sized banana contains around 10% of your DV of potassium.
Potassium, a mineral and electrolyte, is essential for all tissues, cells, and organs. Increased dietary potassium has been demonstrated to help lower blood pressure.
In addition, we took advantage of the natural sweetness of ripe bananas to minimize the smoothie’s sugar content. In the end, we only added 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar to make 4 servings of smoothie.
Reducing the amount of sweetener in the recipe also eliminates quite a few calories per serving.
Main Ingredients
The title “spinach smoothie recipe” may sound unappetizing, but spinach and ice aren’t the only ingredients in this drink. To give the smoothie a more complex and appealing flavor profile, here’s what we used:
- Spinach leaves: Yes, leaves only. Take the time to trim off the stems. But don’t discard them — you can save them for other recipes.
- Frozen bananas: As we always say, ripe bananas should be your go-to option for making smoothies. They add natural sweetness. Also, using frozen bananas for smoothies will give your drinks a much thicker texture than blending fresh fruits with ice.
- Frozen pineapple: Similarly, frozen pineapple can enhance the smoothie’s texture.
- Milk: We added a touch of whole milk to give the smoothie a rich, almost milkshake-like flavor.
- Lemon juice: We always like adding freshly squeezed lemon juice to our smoothie recipes as it adds a fresh citrus zest that will awaken your taste buds.
- Sugar: We used 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar in this recipe. It helps neutralize the sharp sour taste of lemon juice.
- Ice: You don’t necessarily need ice when your fruits are frozen, but the additional ice keeps the drink nice and cool for a long time.
- Mint: Spearmint, peppermint, chocolate mint, etc. Pick your favorite and top your smoothie with it for a fresh and cool scent.
Can You Use Frozen Spinach in a Smoothie?
You can, but we prefer not to.
Frozen spinach from the supermarket is chopped and packed into thick nuggets that don’t blend easily into smoothies. You will need to defrost and let it drain to remove excess moisture.
If the spinach isn’t drained thoroughly, that excess moisture will be added to the smoothie, which may dilute the flavor.
Can You Drink Spinach Smoothie Daily?
Yes, you can if you want to.
Our spinach smoothie contains only 133 calories per serving, which isn’t a lot and shouldn’t contribute too much to your daily diet.
However, we don’t actually recommend drinking the same drink every day. If you want to diversify your menu, you can try our other spinach-based smoothie recipes:
- Spinach Banana Smoothie Recipe: This tasty, nutritious smoothie is the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth and give your body a boost of vitamins and minerals all at the same time.
- Avocado Spinach Smoothie Recipe: This silky smooth and creamy smoothie is ideal as a quick and healthy breakfast or a light snack after an energizing workout.
- Healthy Green Smoothie Recipe: This funky-looking smoothie is packed with all of your favorite fresh fruits: mangoes, bananas, and blueberries. It’s delightfully sweet and will surely become your favorite summer drink!
How Long Does It Last?
Typically, smoothies can last two days in the refrigerator. However, today’s spinach smoothie may not last that long.
To ensure food safety, we recommend finishing your spinach smoothie within 24 hours. Store it in an airtight container such as a mason jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid to minimize oxidation and spoilage.
You can also freeze the smoothie to enjoy later as a healthy ice cream. It should last for about two to three weeks.
Spinach Smoothie Recipe
Today's spinach smoothie recipe will show you how to make a healthy, green drink that tastes delicious. Here are the details.
- prep TIME 10 mins
- total TIME 10 mins
- COURSE Beverage, Smoothie
- CUISINE American
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 133 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 3 oz spinach (leaves only)
- 8 oz frozen bananas
- 8 oz frozen pineapple
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp sugar (optional)
- 6 spearmint leaves (for garnish)
- 2 cups ice
INSTRUCTIONS
Add ingredients: In a blender, combine 2 cups ice, 3 oz spinach, 8 oz frozen bananas, 8 oz frozen pineapple, 1 cup whole milk, 1 tsp lemon juice and sugar to your taste but no more than 1 tbsp.
Blend in 20 - 30 seconds until completely smooth.
Pour into serving glasses.
Garnish and serve: Divide the smoothie into four glasses, garnish each glass with spearmint leaves, and serve.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary Consultant
Luna Regina
Writer, Author
Natalie Butler, RD, LD
Nutrition Reviewer
- Anthony FHubby really liked it too! Nutritious spinach smoothie.