Cucumber adds a fresh vegetable note to kale, pineapple, orange, and lemon. Coconut water provides liquid. The combination makes a lighter green drink without banana, yogurt, or nut milk, letting the mix of vegetables and citrus remain apparent.
Healthy Smoothie Recipes
Pineapple Cucumber Citrus Kale Smoothie
Cucumber adds a fresh vegetable note to kale, pineapple, orange, and lemon.
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
- 0.25 cucumber peeled
- 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
- 0.25 lemon peeled
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
Peel bitter cucumber skin and remove coarse kale stems. Peel and seed both citrus fruits. Chop cucumber small enough to release liquid evenly rather than sitting above the blades in large pieces.
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.
Wash cucumber and decide whether its peel suits the recipe. Thick or bitter skin can dominate a mild fruit combination. Cut large pieces smaller before blending, and remove oversized mature seeds if they make the flesh watery or unpleasant on its own.
Ingredient health benefits
- Pineapple adds dietary fiber, which supports normal bowel function.
- Kale contributes folate, needed for normal cell division.
Nutrition references: MedlinePlus: Fiber; NIH: Folate. These are ingredient contributions; nutrition per serving has not been calculated.
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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.
