Strawberries and cacao give this kale smoothie a fruit-and-chocolate character. Almond milk carries the cocoa flavor, and banana softens berry tartness. Expect a more layered result than a plain chocolate milkshake, with the leaves still contributing to the mixture.
Healthy Smoothie Recipes
Chocolate Strawberry Kale Smoothie
Strawberries and cacao give this kale smoothie a fruit-and-chocolate character.
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 unsweetened almond milk
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 0.5 banana, peeled
- 2 tablespoon cacao powder
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
Contains tree nuts. 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
Break up cacao lumps before adding them. Blend kale with the milk before frozen fruit goes in. If chocolate tastes too strong, reduce the measured cacao in your next batch.
Wash fresh strawberries before removing their tops, then measure the usable fruit. Plain frozen strawberries are convenient when fresh fruit is inconsistent. Avoid sweetened dessert berries, which change the balance and make it harder to compare one batch with another.
Remove the thickest kale stems and cut larger leaves into strips. Measure the prepared leaves rather than an untrimmed bunch. Starting with greens and liquid gives the machine more room to break down fibers before frozen ingredients fill the jug.
Use unsweetened cacao or cocoa rather than an instant chocolate-drink mix. The latter can contain sugar and other ingredients that alter the recipe. Break up large powder clumps before blending, then taste only after the powder is fully dispersed in the liquid.
Ingredient health benefits
- Strawberry provides vitamin C, used in normal collagen formation.
- Kale contributes magnesium, involved in normal muscle and nerve function.
Nutrition references: NIH: Vitamin C; NIH: Magnesium. These are ingredient contributions; nutrition per serving has not been calculated.
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- Kale Strawberry Pineapple Banana Smoothie
- Blueberry Strawberry Spinach Almond Smoothie
- Chocolate Banana Almond Butter Cauliflower Smoothie
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.
