Put the liquid in first. Surrounded by water or juice, the blender blades can move freely. Next, add your greens, with chunks of fruit or vegetables going into the pitcher last.
Start slow. If your blender has different speeds, start it on low to break up big pieces of fruit, then work your way up to high for a puree. For blenders with function buttons, pulse a few times before switching to puree mode.
Thicken with ice. Added too much juice or coconut milk? Toss a few cubes in the blender and voilà!
Extra flavor: add 1-2 cups of frozen raspberries, blueberries or both to any of these smoothies to give them an extra antioxidant hit.
Simple Green Smoothie
- 1 cup of coconut water
- ¼ tsp peppermint extract or fresh mint leaves
- 2 cups chopped (just rip it) spinach, kale or cos lettuce
- A small handful of broccoli or alfalfa sprouts
- 1 apple—unpeeled, cored, and chopped (or pear)
- 1/2 avocado
Combine the frozen berries, spinach/kale, apple, and avocado in a blender and puree until smooth, about 1 minute, adding water to reach the desired consistency.
Coconut Kale Smoothie
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 2 cups chopped (just rip it) kale or spinach
- 1 1/2 cups chopped pineapple (about 1/4 medium pineapple) (or any other sweet fruit)
- 1 ripe banana, chopped
Combine the coconut milk, ½ cup water, kale, pineapple, and banana in a blender and puree until smooth, about 1 minute, adding more water to reach the desired consistency.