Green smoothies are life changing…trust me on this one!
You don’t need to spend $11 on a green smoothie at an “Instagrammable” cafe; you can and should make them at home! Not only are they super delicious, but they’re also easy to make. Here are my tips and tricks for making the best green smoothie.
1. Have a good blender
You don’t need a fancy blender, but you do need one that has sharp blades and is powerful enough to cream up frozen fruit! As someone who splurged on a Vitamix, I can tell you, it’s not really worth it. I find myself opting for my Nutribullet every day, as it is a good size for one person, it’s easy to clean, and it isn’t super loud (three things that are key to apartment living). Not only is a Nutribullet much more compact, it’s also way less expensive, which is another huge win!
2. Choose a smoothie base
The base of the smoothie should be a neutral flavor that will enhance the other ingredients you decide to include. Some of my favorite smoothie bases are bananas or yogurt (coconut yogurt is a great option for my lactose intolerant gals). Both of these ingredients are substantial enough to be filling, are creamy enough to feel like a smoothie you would buy and create a good palette to layer other flavors on top of it. If you like extra thick smoothies, opt for frozen banana chunks versus a regular ripe banana.
3. Add fruits
Choosing a single fruit or combination of fruits will really set the flavor for your overall smoothie. Popular combinations for green smoothies include pineapple, mango and coconut; lemon and green apple; pineapple and kiwi; and more. My recommendation for creating a vibrant green smoothie is to choose fruits that are more muted in color as combinations. Mixed berry and dragon fruit tend to mud up the overall green hue. While they do make delicious smoothies, the aesthetic isn’t quite as appealing! Like with choosing a base, if you want a more creamy, frozen texture, opt for frozen fruit, which will also save you money and will be easier to store for future recipes.
4. Add the greens!
This is where the real health benefits and classic green look come into play. I am a fan of simply adding a huge handful of spinach and a couple chunks of avocado into my smoothies, but other greens that people like to include are celery, kale, romaine, seedless cucumber… pretty much any green vegetable. I find that spinach has a milder taste than other veggies like kale, but it’s totally subjective. If you are new to incorporating greens into your smoothies, I would start off with a small amount and work your way up to more!
5. Choose a liquid
Once you have chosen all your ingredients and decided on a flavor, it’s time to add a liquid to make your smoothie smooth and creamy. Water is perfectly fine, but if you’re looking to add more nutrients, opt for coconut water, regular milk, or plant-based milks, such as soy milk, coconut milk, oat milk, almond milk, or even macadamia milk. All of these plant-based milks have pretty mild flavors and won’t distract from the other flavors you choose to include. Adding the right amount of liquid to your smoothie is the key to proper consistency. It takes some time, but fine-tuning how much liquid you need in conjunction with the rest of your ingredients will make your smoothie taste like a real barista made it.
6. Pack in the protein and supplements
Last but not least, before you blend everything together, add in any additional supplements you want. I love a good scoop of protein and collagen powder to bump up my protein intake and add extra collagen into my diet. This is not necessary, but I think it’s such an easy way to increase nutrition—so why not? Other supplements I have included are blue spirulina powder (which will make your smoothie look like it came from the ocean) or matcha (although this may be an acquired taste).
7. Blend, blend, blend
Finally, show off your blender of choice. Often, smoothies made at home aren’t blended properly, and that’s why you opt for buying one at a cafe. Don’t add too much liquid and keep blending and mixing your ingredients until your smoothie is a smooth, thick consistency. Be patient with this step.
8. Top with garnishes
If smoothie toppings are your thing, then finish it off with a sprinkle of coconut flakes, chia seeds, granola or garnishing fruits.
And there you have it. Making green smoothies at home is way easier than you think if you follow these simple steps. Not only is it fun to wake up and create something that will energize you for the day, it also feels rewarding to treat yourself!