The Best Green Smoothie recipe: Picky Eater Approved!
New and exciting! This recipe is part of our new Printable Ebook: “7 Vitamix Recipes to Make First.” Check it out!
Update: With the help of our newsletter subscribers, we’ve renamed this the “OMG Green Smoothie” to better fit how great it is. Originally write-up below.
Update: This is great as a smoothie bowl. If you’re new to them, here’s our ultimate guide to making smoothie bowls.
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If you’ve ever had someone look at your work and say, “I could do better,” you know the feeling.
It’s not fun.
Recently, Carolyne, the Chef from the Culinary Exploration Center just outside of Cleveland, OH said that exact thing to me about one of my original Vitamix recipes, the Mango Kale Smoothie.
And she was right!
Hers way was healthier. It was tastier. It looked better.
So there’s one ingredient I’ll always think of when I make this drink: humble pie.
Why it's called Carolyne's Green Smoothie
There’s always an opportunity to get better. To learn from someone.
To be inspired.
It’s a cliche, people, but adopting a whole food-focused diet is a journey.
If you think you’ve reached the destination, the fun is over. As is, obviously, your journey.
This drink got me excited about green smoothies again.
Sure, it’s a delicious, nutritious drink that made me feel good.
But it’s more than that.
Carolyne’s Green Smoothie was a renewal for me.
I hope it’s a renewal for you.
Recipe
OMG Green Smoothie (née Carolyne’s)
The perfect "template" for any green smoothie.
Banana, Kale, Mango, Orange,Ingredients:
- almond milk - 1 cup (240 mL)
- kale - 1 cup (67 g)
- banana - 1/2 whole, peeled
- orange - 1/2 whole, peeled
- frozen mango - 1 1/2 cup (140 g)
- (optional) flaxseed - 1 Tbsp. (10 g)
Instructions:
- Add ingredients to your blender. (Any blender is fine, but you’ll get the best results with a Vitamix.)
- Blend for 60-90 seconds.
- Snap a pic and tag #lifeisNOYOKE.
- Be happy.
Note: You can always substitute spinach for kale (or go 50/50).
Useful tips for OMG Green Smoothie (née Carolyne’s)
If you’re using a Vitamix, be sure to use the proper method.
Also great as a smoothie bowl!
Are there any good substitutes for mango? I do love a good mango. But when I buy it frozen, it so often smells like fish (most recently Whole Foods & Trader Joe’s).
Thank you!
I used homemade oat milk (Downshiftology on YouTube’s recipe)
1 cup of spinach
1 banana
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
That was what I had on hand. Looking forward to the og recipe.
My only issue is the terrible environmental impact of almond milk in California. 371 liters of water to make one liter of almond milk. Also, almonds require large amounts of pesticides which hurts bee populations.
I hear ya. Maybe consider using water instead?
Unless I missed it (and I looked) I couldn’t find how many servings in one recipe. How many? Thanks!
Does it make a difference what type of kale is used? Which type is preferred? Should I remove the thick stems?
So good. I am moving to a plant based way of eating and I am determined to make a batch of green smoothies most mornings and use them throughout the day for snacks/pick-me-ups, etc. This one is delicious! I’m excited to try your recipes! Do you have a printed cookbook? I’m almost 70 and getting ready to retire but I love a hard copy book! Thanks for your website, insight and great recipes!!!
Trying the banana bread later today.
Forgot to mention I used spinach instead of Kale. Kale is not my thing at all!!! LOL.
Hi! We have our epic 60-recipe ebook that’s formatted for all digital devices. And a printable 7-recipe booklet that’s made for printing. Thanks!
Just got my Vitamix today. This was the first thing I tried. I didn’t have mango but had pineapple so used that and half a small tart apple. It is really good, a little sweet for me but hoping to find a green drink the kiddos will like and I bet this will be it!
Mango has a special taste and texture that makes smoothies, especially ones with green in them, well-received by even the pickiest eaters 👍
I tried this today, delicious. I had frozen papaya so used that.
When I first saw this recipe I skimmed it over and thought meh. I was super bored with my regular smoothies and ran into it again and thought why not try it. And for some reason its so simple but SO GOOD. The addition of flax is a must. Thank you for restoring my love of smoothies. I guess sometimes you just have to simplify things.
*nodding my head* 🙂
Isn’t it cool how sometimes less is more?
Glad you’re back
Thanks Lenny for all your expertise with Vitamix. Watched the smoothie video for my first Vitamix debut. Vortex for flaxseeds. Wow. Recipe library is very impressive for variety and simplicity. I’ll be visiting regularly. First timer Terry.
Ran out of mangoes but was really craving this smoothie.
Subbed frozen peaches and it was still delish!