Kale, pineapple, and banana form the core of this green smoothie, with a little coconut oil adding richness. Water keeps the base lighter than another creamy ingredient would. Pineapple provides the sharper flavor that balances the leaves.
Healthy Smoothie Recipes
Kale Pineapple Banana Coconut Smoothie
Kale, pineapple, and banana form the core of this green smoothie, with a little coconut oil adding richness.
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 fresh kale
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
- 0.5 banana, peeled
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, unrefined
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
Allow very firm coconut oil to soften before measuring. Cold fruit can make small oil flecks solidify, so blend thoroughly. Remove tough kale stems first to reduce a stringy finish.
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.
Remove the full apple core, including seeds and hard stem attachments. Small pieces blend more readily than large wedges. Washed peel can stay where your machine handles it well, but a coarse texture may call for peeling in a later version.
A banana with a few brown speckles gives a different sweetness from a firm, barely ripe one. Slice it before freezing, keeping pieces separate. This makes measuring easier and avoids a large frozen mass that the blender cannot move.
Ingredient health benefits
- Kale contributes folate, needed for normal cell division.
- Banana contributes vitamin B6, which helps the body process protein.
Nutrition references: NIH: Folate; NIH: Vitamin B6. These are ingredient contributions; nutrition per serving has not been calculated.
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- Orange Pineapple Chia Coconut Water Smoothie
- Mango Pineapple Coconut Kale Smoothie
- Pineapple Banana Coconut Milk 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.
