The Best Green Smoothie

I was definitely one of those people that firmly believed you did not need a recipe when it comes to smoothies. Just toss a little bit of this and a little bit of that, and TA DA you’ve got yourself a delicious smoothie. However sometimes things don’t work out exactly how you’d imagined, and your smoothie can turn out bitter or you can accidentally add too much cinnamon or ginger which can ruin EVERYTHING.

This is why I created this GO-TO green smoothie recipe! It’s super simple with ingredients I always have on hand, and turns out amazing 10/10 times!

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:

• frozen banana
• frozen pineapple
• coconut water or almond milk
• cucumber
• spinach (fresh or frozen)
• flaxseed
• cinnamon
• turmeric
• fresh ginger or ginger powder
• unflavoured collagen (can sub vanilla or unflavoured protein powder)

5 blending tips to get your smoothie thick

1. Start with less liquid: Even though I’ve made this recipe about 286 times I still never add all the liquid in at once! Typically with this recipe I will add 3/4 of the liquid, and add the rest at the very end if need be! Depending on the size of your banana, or exact amount of fruit that’s added, it can alter the consistency of your smoothie!
2. Blend in stages so you don’t get spinach chunks: I also always add the liquid in with the spinach and blend first! This ensures that you can all the leafy chunks blended up nicely so you’re not chewing on your smoothie.
3. Use frozen fruit: I ALWAYS use frozen fruit in my smoothies! For one, it’s a life saver when you have fruit going bad in your fridge, just toss it in the freezer and you’re good to go! I will even freeze yogurt in ice cube trays sometimes too for other smoothie recipes! And for two, the bagged frozen fruit stays good forever so you don’t have to worry about using it super quickly.
4. Add in flaxseed or chia seeds: This will help things bind together and get everything nice and thick!
5. Add a bit of ice: I typically add anywhere from 3-6 ice cubes to my smoothie recipes! This definetely does make your smoothie colder on the teeth, so if you have sensitive teeth or don’t like your smoothie super cold you can skip this step! But it does make a difference in the thickness!

How to make a tropical green smoothie?

This green smoothie is simply frozen banana, frozen pineapple, liquid of your choice, cucumber, spinach, flaxseeds, collagen, and spices of your choice (I use cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric). I always have frozen bananas in my freezer, and I buy bags of frozen pineapple and always have a few in the freezer for when a smoothie craving strikes. I typically sweeten my smoothies with fruit, instead of artificial sugars or juice to reduce sugar intake. I also have made this recipe with coconut water which is naturally sweetened from coconut, or almond milk, but any nut milk will work!

This recipe is SO simple because you blend together the spinach and liquid briefly to get all the leafy chunks broken down, then add the rest of the ingredients and continue blending! So simple and so delicious and nutritious!

Other nutritious smoothie add-ins

• Maca – great for increased fertility, sex drive, and hormone balance.
• Chia Seeds & Flaxseed – adds protein and thickness to your smoothie!
• Bee pollen – great for immunity.
• Raw cacao nibs – you can blend these in or add directly on top of smoothies for a nice chocolately crunch!
• Protein Powder – if you’re not a fan of collagen, protein powder is a great option for smoothies to get in some extra protein.
• Almond butter or other nut butter – great for some healthy fats to keep you full longer!
• Coconut Oil – also keeps you full longer and add creaminess!

Other delicious breakfast recipes you may want to try

Gluten Free Morning Glory Muffins

Apple Crumb Coffee Cake

Egg Muffin Cups

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN PIN THIS RECIPE ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM BY TAGGING @basicswithbails and #basicswithbails