Coconut water carries orange, pineapple, and banana in this kale smoothie. Chia adds texture and the fruit gives the leaves a tropical setting. It offers a middle ground between a thin juice drink and a thicker nut-milk blend.
Healthy Smoothie Recipes
Orange Pineapple Chia Coconut Water Smoothie
Coconut water carries orange, pineapple, and banana in this kale smoothie.
Prep: 5 minutesServings: 1
Base recipe: 1 serving; the full base batch
Vegan
Category image
Measured ingredient amounts adjust with servings. “To taste” amounts and directions stay as written.
Ingredients
- 1 cup kale
- 1 cup coconut water unsweetened
- 0.5 orange, peeled and seeded as needed
- 0.5 cup pineapple
- 0.5 banana, peeled
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
Directions
- Put the measured liquid in the blender with the prepared leafy greens. Secure the lid and process until the leaves are finely dispersed, stopping the machine before scraping down the sides if needed.
- Add the remaining edible ingredients, including the measured fruit, nuts, seeds, or spices listed for this recipe. Blend until evenly combined. Use the machine instructions to choose a suitable speed, and stop before checking texture or scraping the jug.
- Taste a small spoonful after blending. If the mixture is too thick to pour, add cold water one tablespoon at a time and blend briefly again. Divide the base batch into 1 serving and enjoy promptly.
Notes
Prepared ingredients are required; additional cooking, cooling, freezing, brewing, or soaking time is excluded from the active prep estimate. Serving volume and nutrition totals are not measured.
Adapted from Jen Hansard at Simple Green Smoothies.
Tips and ingredient notes
Choose plain coconut water and remove coarse kale stems. Peel the orange. Chia thickens in liquid, so avoid adding extra water immediately unless the blender needs it to process the ingredients.
Remove tough pineapple peel and the firmest core before measuring fresh flesh. For frozen fruit, separate the chunks so they reach the blades evenly. A fibrous pineapple can leave texture even after the softer ingredients have become smooth.
Peel the orange fully and remove hard seeds before adding it. A little white pith is normal, but thick peel creates bitterness. Smaller segments release juice sooner, which is useful when the recipe starts with only a modest amount of added liquid.
Ingredient health benefits
- Chia seeds provide fiber and plant-based omega-3 fat.
- Kale contributes folate, needed for normal cell division.
Nutrition references: Harvard Nutrition Source: Chia seeds; NIH: Folate. These are ingredient contributions; nutrition per serving has not been calculated.
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- Kale Mango Orange Chia Smoothie
- Pineapple Cucumber Citrus Kale Smoothie
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Recipe adapted from Jen Hansard at Simple Green Smoothies. Article text and directions written for Healthy Smoothie Recipes. Supplement omissions and preparation changes mean source nutrition totals do not apply.
