This healthy green apple smoothie is packed with nutrients and tastes delicious. It's loaded with fiber, protein and electrolytes and is the perfect way to start the day.
Happy Friday! To kick off St Paddy's Day weekend, filled with all things green, I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes with you. Knowing full well what this weekend will bring for some of us (ahem, yours truly) – like parades, going out with friends, enjoying a drink (or two, or three) – I felt like it was only appropriate thing to do is give you a recipe to start your weekend off with something nutritious and delicious.
This is my newest obsession and I think you're going to love it too.
My Green Apple Smoothie is super healthy and packs a powerful punch with vitamins, fiber and even protein into each and every gulp sip.
And I'm not kidding when I'm telling you that we're jamming in as much as possible: fruits, veggies and protein. This smoothie might just be the cure you'll so desperately be searching for when you roll out of bed tomorrow morning.
There are so many greens in here (plus that cucumber) you're practically eating a salad for breakfast, plus since the only fruit in here is apple, you won't get that crazy blood sugar spike that bananas and other uber sweet fruits can bring.
To give this green apple smoothie one more little boost, we're using coconut water as our liquid. While not necessary, the electrolytes from the coconut water will do wonders for your energy, especially if you had a few too many the night before.
I would say this is the perfect St. Paddy's day-after remedy. And it's pretty.
One of my absolute favorite things of all? The texture!
I'm all about thick and creamy smoothies, and this is perfect even without the usual creamy culprits (banana and avo).
The trick I've found with making a thick and creamy smoothie without those two ingredients, is to use a touch less water. This makes it so that when everything gets blended up, it stays nice and thick.
If you find that when you make this smoothie, it's a little runny for your texture, there are a few things you can try:
- Add more greens – just toss in another few handfuls and it should thicken up
- Add some chia seeds – just a teaspoon is enough to make get it to thicken
- Throw it in the fridge – for some reason, whenever I refrigerate this smoothie it always thickens up
Also, might I add that I find it very important to JAZZ UP my smoothies?
There's nothing better than a thick smoothie, loaded up with toppings that I can eat with a spoon. Some might call that a bowl, but hey, I'm totally fine eating this smoothie straight from the jar.
Since we're making a green apple smoothie and all, the obvious combo for me was a generous drizzle of peanut butter and some homemade peanut butter banana granola. Doesn't get better than this combo!
So cheers to a safe and happy St. Paddy's Day weekend ???? I hope you use this smoothie as your morning recovery tool!
xo
Green Apple Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut water
- 1 large apple any variety
- 1/2 cucumber chopped
- 2 cups green kale or spinach
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder I like Sun Warrior
- 1/4 cup cooked quinoa
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Stevia to taste
- Handful of ice
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a blender in the order listed, blend on low for 1 minute, then speed up to high for another minute.
- Pour and serve.
- Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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How fun! I just posted a green smoothie for St. Patty’s Day today too! Would you be interested in sharing this recipe at Raw Foods Thursdays? http://www.glutenfreecat.com/2013/03/raw-foods-thursdays-31413/
Just did! Great minds think alike 🙂 Hope you have a great, green-filled weekend! xo
Great minds, indeed!! Thanks!
Hello 🙂
I’m all about making green smoothies at the mo. Hence I came across yours on the Tasty Tradition’s link up 😉 and thought I’d come over and say hi!
I love the look of your smoothie. I made a similar one this morning, which I think you might like, too. I added celery instead of the kale and some almond milk, maca powder and cashew nuts.
Have a great weekend,
Sandra
What a beautiful shade of green! I love all those ingredients! I’ll be making soon 🙂 Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂
Thanks for linking back to the Gluten Free Fridays post!
Party starts tomorrow at 7:05 pm eastern time! Hope to see you there!
Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
Cannot wait to try out this smoothie! I’m always looking for new ways to vary my daily green smoothies. Spinach is been my go-to leafy green, but kale would make a great alternative. Thanks for the recipe, Alyssa!
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Wow thanks for the smoothie recipi. Love it. Keep up the good work. Mine was definitely more of a guacamole color, but yummy nonetheless. I adore smoothies!