super green smoothie
After a couple weeks of eating a lot of cake, I knew that a few days of healthy eating filled with lots of green vegetables was definitely in order. After all, I have quite a few more dessert recipes coming up, and I don’t want to end up physically turning into a cake.
So, when I’m in dessert overload and want to detox, one of my favourite ways to rebuild that healthy feeling inside of me is to make a load of green smoothies. When I make these drinks, I like to add lots of different ingredients and get a really good mixture of nutrients and vitamins etc.
This smoothie is definitely one of my favourites to make, as it really packs in the green goodness with a nice amount of kale, spinach, broccoli, avocado and cucumber – with a tsp spirulina to really boost its vibrance. Then, to sweeten it I add in banana, apple, cinnamon and two dried fruits I love; goji berries and apricots. Dried fruits are definitely my weakness. Dates, bananas, mangoes, raisins and other dried sweet morsels are my kind of candy – and would 100% choose them over regular confections any day.
I’ve now realised that my favourite dried fruits are apricots. When I was growing up, I used to like them and thought they were okay – but that’s because I’d been chewing on the sulphured versions the whole time. When I later tried an un-sulphured apricot everything changed. Seriously – why do we add sulphur to apricots?! Un-sulphured, naturally dried apricots taste incredible. They have this delicious, honey/caramel flavour that’s just sooo good (they also taste amazing with chocolate.. of course). So, when I make this smoothie I add in these yummy apricots for that added touch of special sweetness.
Lastly, for a subtle creaminess, I blend everything together with some almond milk. The result is sweet, tasty (for a green smoothie), and still refreshing. After drinking one of these, my thoughts of cupcakes finally manage to drift away and I’m able to start feeling that nice healthy boost of life flowing through me once again.
This does make quite a thick smoothie – I like them that way, as it gets me to chew the ingredients a bit before swallowing (which helps aid the digestion process, and has quite few other benefits – you can read them about here). If you don’t like them this thick, just add in some more almond milk and thin it out!
super green smoothie
serves 4
ingredients
2 cups (500ml) almond milk
2 medium bananas
1 tbsp dried goji berries
3 un-sulphured dried apricots (25g)
1 medium apple (115g)
1/2 avocado (50g)
1/2 cup (25g) spinach
1/2 cup (20g) kale
3 spears (25g) tenderstem broccoli
85g piece cucumber
1 tsp spirulina
1/2 tsp cinnamon
method
1. Add the almond milk, bananas, goji berries, apricots, apple, avocado, spinach, kale, broccoli, cucumber, spirulina and cinnamon into a large blender – I used my Froothie Optimum 2.1 Blender, and blend together until completely smooth.
2. Then, pour the smoothie into glasses to serve. Pour any remaining mixture into a jug and keep in the fridge to stay cool in-between serving.
What a lovely looking vibrant green smoothie, Harriet! Loving this green goodness! I want this detox smoothie in my life! 🙂
Thank you so much Anu! I definitely needed a big glass of this today!!! So good for detoxing 🙂
Such a beautiful green! The ingredients in this smoothie sound fabulous. I’ve never put dried fruit in a smoothie before, I’m going to have to try this.
Thank you so much Linda, dried fruit is really great for adding that extra touch of sweetness. I hope you like it! 🙂
Love this smoothie, I try to drink green smoothies as often as possible, I like them and your looks perfect, also love the simplicity of how you styled it, that emerald green color is so perfect on its own.
Same here Katalina! Thank you so much!
Looks Great! I can’t wait to make one. I could go for a smoothie right about now.
Thank you so much Tom!
This is PACKED! I love the color so much! Haha! They is the best green smoothie 😉
Thank you so much Rebecca!
Yum! I love green smoothies so much.
Same here Liz! Thank you so much!
After a weekend of a lot of cake here, too, I definitely could go for one of these smoothies. You’ve packed so many good things inside, and that color is beautiful! 🙂
I definitely needed this haha, I felt a lot better after having something healthy! Thank you so much Sam!
I could def use one of those today. I love dried cherries and plum, but apricot is also yummy.
xo Sheree
http://poshclassymom.com
IG: @poshclassymom
Mmm, me too!! Thank you so much Sheree!
Adding broccoli to a green smoothie is genius. Does it make the whole thing taste like broccoli though? Because I’m not a fan of raw broc. I hope it doesn’t. I’m going to try this though because we drink green smoothies each morning and this might be a great addition to our arsenal =) http://www.ourfoodieappetite.com/east-beach-farmers-market-norfolk-va/
Thank you so much Kait! I love adding broccoli. As I like the taste of broccoli, I couldn’t really notice it – but if you don’t like raw broccoli then you can definitely just leave it out!! I’ve tried it without before 🙂 I hope you enjoy it!
I love that green colour of your smoothie. They are so delicious and healthy. I love them!
Ellen
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This is the perfect detox smoothie! I love all the greens and goji berries you packed in here – the color is gorgeous!
Thank you so much Kelly, I’m so glad you like it! 🙂
That beautiful green color is hiding so many things inside! This is the most fun and full-of-everything green smoothie I’ve ever seen!
Thank you so much Natalie!!
My goodness, this sounds delicious! My smoothies always end up an awkward purple/brown color so it’s nice to see one that’s so vividly green!
Ahh I’ve had that happen to me before! I hope you enjoy this 🙂 thank you Natalie!
Never would’ve guessed you could get broccoli to look so good! That is one veggie I’ve never been able to get behind (silly tastebuds ;)) but I am loving it in this gorgeous smoothie! Ha, I feel you on the cake overload days. That may or may not be me right now! 😉 Pinning this!
Hehehe thank you Mary! I’ve had so many cake overload days recently!
who knew broccoli could go in a smoothie!? The smoothie looks delicious! xx, kenz
http://sincerelykenz.com
Thank you so much Kenz! xx
Oh boy! I feel you, I think I’ve had a bit too much cake too. A green smoothie is definitely in order! This looks fabulous!
It’s the worst feeling! Thank you so much Jess!
wow I love how pretty green this is! 😀
Thank you so much Winn!
I LOVE the goji berries and apricots in here! it sounds totally de-lish and I love how healthy and packed with nutrients! 😉 smoothie perfection!
Thank you so much Michele! I’m so glad you like this 😀
Oh my goodness! I never knew smoothies could be so pretty! I absolutely adore dried apricots, but I have never thought to put them in my smoothies. I’ll definitely try that in the near future, as I also need to start drinking some green smoothies before i turn into a slice of cake myself 😉 Love your photography!
Thank you so much Valentina!! I hope you enjoy it!
Looks so yummy! I’ll have to try this recipe to switch up my normal morning smoothie!!
<3 Shannon
Upbeat Soles
Thank you so much Shannon! 🙂
This looks so good, Harriet! What a lovely lhealthy vibrant perfect detox smoothie Recipe., I’ve never tried anything quite like this but I’m quite certain I would love it
Thank you dear.for this excellent share .:)
Thank you so much Deepa! I hope you like it! 😀
This is such a beautiful color! So healthy and I’m sure delicious!
Thank you so much Mira!
I just finished my morning yoga…wish I was holding one of those gorgeous smoothies!
This would be perfect post yoga! Thank you so much Angie!
This is soooo healthy and clean.
Thanks for sharing your secret after eating cake LOL/
Love it
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Hehehe, thank you Zarrah!
Perfect smoothie! love the vibrant color!
Thank you so much Chrysta!
I have those very straws! Although I’ve been naughty and used them in mojitos, rather than green smoothies 😉 This sounds amazing – I have a green smoothie for breakfast most days, so I’ll definitely be trying this one soon x
They’re my favourite! Hehe, I bet they look great with mojitos! Thank you so much Chiara!
Harriet – you packed these smoothies chock full of goodness! And – woa – look at that color!
Thank you so much Shashi!! 🙂
I love a good smoothie, but I will admit, green smoothies sometimes make me nervous. I’m not sure how it will taste so I generally stay away from them. But I don’t mine making one at home. SO loving this recipe.
Kia / House of KTS
http://www.houseofkts.com
Haha, they used to scare me too Kia!! But then one day I ended up loving them! I hope you enjoy this 🙂 thank you so much!
Okay, I’ll try dried apricots again… just for you 😉 And I LOVE spirulina. It’s such a nutritional powerhouse, plus it makes everything such a pretty shade of green, bonus!
I hope you enjoy them!! I literally love them so much hahaha! Spirilina is so awesome! It’s definitely my favourite superfood powder. Thank you so much Meg!
This smoothie looks like the perfect way to detox and pack in a nice dose of nutrition. I’m with you on the dried fruits – I love ’em…especially dried apricots! Love how green this smoothie is – looks delicious! <3
Thank you so much Beeta! Dried fruits are the best!! <3
You’re reminding me that I haven’t had dried apricots in far far too long! Love the sound of this smoothie! And especially how nice and green it is!
They’re the best! I hope you enjoy them when you next try them 🙂 thank you so much Ashley!
I love the vibrant greenness that spirulina can bring to green smoothies! I never feel like drinking a green smoothie, but when I do I always enjoy it and feel great. A big, veg-filled smoothie has a way of making you feel full without feeling bloated or heavy! Such a good way of cramming nutrients in! You have inspired me to start making these again xx
Same here, Hannah! Haha I know what you mean – I only find myself really craving them during a cake overload hahaha. Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it 🙂 xx
This smoothie looks so gorgeous, Harriet! I really love the pretty green color and the super foods in here. What a great drink to start out the day!
Thank you so much Gayle! I’m so glad you like it! 🙂
haha, I always have my detox days too. . so needed. . these are the most beautiful super green smoothies ever!!! love love love!
Definitely! Thank you so much Alice!
This looks great, can’t wait to try it tomorrow
Nonye
http://www.nonyeshealthyliving.blogspot.co.uk/
Thank you so much Nonye, I hope you like it!
Oh, yes please, I’ll take two! I’ve been in cake overload land over here the last few weeks 🙂