Vegan green spinach and apple smoothie

Vegan green spinach and apple smoothie with banana, baby spinach and lemon juice: a fresh, creamy smoothie with natural sweetness and a green flavour.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 5 min
• No cooking needed
• Total time: 5 min
• Calories: 150 kcal per serving
• Protein: 3 g
• Fat: 1 g
• Carbs: 32 g

Ingredients

• 1 banana
• 1 handful of baby spinach
• 1 squeeze of lemon juice

Method

You’ll need: high-speed blender · sieve

1. Peel the banana. Wash the baby spinach thoroughly and set it aside with the lemon juice.
2. Put the banana, baby spinach and lemon juice in a high-speed blender. If you like it thinner, add a small splash of water.
3. Blend everything until the smoothie is creamy and evenly green. If needed, scrape the mixture down from the sides in between.
4. Have a quick taste. If the acidity is too strong for you, blend in the banana a little longer so the flavour becomes rounder.
5. For a particularly fine texture, you can pass the smoothie through a sieve. It's not a must, but it makes it smoother.

Good to know

Sometimes simple, fresh and uncomplicated is all you need. This green smoothie is soft, mild and pleasantly fruity. Just right when you want something light in a glass.

Swaps

Banana → avocado (creamier, less sweet) Baby spinach → kale (more bite, stronger flavour) Lemon juice → lime juice (fresher, more aromatic) Banana → green apple (fruity, a little more tart)

Allergens

None of the ingredients is one of the main allergens, although raw spinach can feel unfamiliar to sensitive stomachs. For small children and in pregnancy, thoroughly washed ingredients are important.

Frequently asked questions

Does raw baby spinach in a smoothie agree with everyone?

Often, yes, but not for everyone. Raw spinach contains oxalates and fibre, which some people with a sensitive stomach or IBS find harder going.

Which vitamins are in baby spinach?

Baby spinach mainly provides vitamin K and folate, plus carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lutein. The exact amounts vary with the variety and freshness.

Why does lemon juice suit the smoothie?

Lemon juice brings a little vitamin C and adds fresh acidity to the flavour. In small amounts it's mainly a flavour accent rather than a nutritional heavyweight.

Does it matter how ripe the banana is?

A soft, ripe banana blends most easily. Very ripe bananas taste sweeter, while less ripe ones may contain a little more resistant starch.

Do you need to be careful about the oxalates in spinach?

If you're prone to kidney stones or have been advised to limit oxalates, it's worth keeping an eye on how much raw spinach you use. For most people, spinach now and then as part of a varied diet isn't a problem.

Dairy-free recipes