Cleansing Apple Avocado Smoothie
A bright, cleansing smoothie made with apples, avocado, spinach, and almond milk. Sweetened lightly with honey or maple syrup, and optionally boosted with chia, flax, protein powder, or nut butter.
Equipment
- Blender
- Spatula
- Measuring cup
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 cupplain unsweetened almond milk
- 4 cupsloosely packed spinachthat's about 2 large handfuls
- 1 medium avocadopeeled and pitted
- 2 medium applesany kind you like peel on, cored and quartered (if not using a high-powered blender such as a Vitamix, cut into a rough dice)
- 1 medium bananacut into chunks and frozen
- 2 teaspoonshoneyor maple syrup plus additional to taste
- 1/2 teaspoonground gingeror 1/4-inch knob of fresh ginger if not using a high-power blender, mince the ginger first; use less than 1/2 teaspoon if you'd like a more subtle taste. This smoothie has some zip!
- Small handful of ice cubes
- Optional additions: chia seedsflaxseed protein powder, almond butter or other nut butter of choice
Instructions
Instructions
- Prep the ingredients as listed: wash the spinach and apples; peel and pit the avocado; core and quarter the apples (if you don’t have a high-powered blender, cut the quarters into a rough dice); confirm the banana is cut into chunks and frozen; measure 1 cup almond milk, 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup, ½ teaspoon ground ginger (or a 1/4-inch knob of fresh ginger—minced if not using a high-powered blender), and a small handful of ice cubes.
- Add ingredients to the blender in this order: 1 cup plain unsweetened almond milk, 4 cups loosely packed spinach, 1 medium avocado, 2 medium apples (quartered or diced as above), 1 medium frozen banana (chunks), 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup, ½ teaspoon ground ginger or the 1/4-inch minced fresh ginger, then the small handful of ice cubes. Add any optional additions now (chia seeds, flaxseed, protein powder, or nut butter) if using.
- Pulse once or twice to break down the solids, then blend on high until the mixture is smooth and even, stopping to scrape down the sides with a spatula if needed.
- Taste the smoothie and, if desired, add more honey or maple syrup to taste. If you add more sweetener or any optional ingredients, blend again briefly until fully combined.
- Pour into glasses and enjoy immediately.
Notes
If you have any leftovers or do not drink both smoothies right away, you can store the extra in an airtight glass container such as a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. You can also halve the recipe if you prefer.
If you do not have a high-powered blender, I recommend blending the almond milk, spinach, and avocado first, and then add the apple, banana, honey, and ginger. Once completely smooth, slowly add and blend in the ice.
If you do not have a high-powered blender, I recommend blending the almond milk, spinach, and avocado first, and then add the apple, banana, honey, and ginger. Once completely smooth, slowly add and blend in the ice.