This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I can earn a small commission from items you purchase (at no cost to you).
Blending fresh herbs into smoothies is a great way to get additional nutrients and amplify the flavor. This cilantro smoothie is bright, refreshing, and surprisingly familiar—like sipping a glass of homemade limeade with a clean, herbal twist. The fresh cilantro blends smoothly and never overpowers, adding a light, cooling note that pairs perfectly with tangy lime.
Table of Contents
Ingredients You’ll Need
If the idea of a cilantro smoothie makes you pause, stay with me. This one tastes bright, citrusy, and refreshing—more like a homemade limeade than a “green drink.” The cilantro blends smoothly with lime, banana, and ginger to create a light, clean flavor that’s surprisingly craveable.
- Spinach: Adds nutrients and fiber without changing the flavor. It keeps the smoothie green while letting the limeade vibe shine.
- Fresh cilantro: Brings a light, herbal freshness that tastes clean and cooling—not soapy or overpowering. It’s what gives this smoothie its signature flavor.
- Water: Keeps the texture light and drinkable, similar to a juice or limeade rather than a thick smoothie.
- Banana: Adds natural sweetness and creaminess to balance the tart lime and fresh herbs.
- Lime (peeled): The star of the show. Lime gives this smoothie its zippy, limeade-like flavor and keeps it bright and refreshing.
- Fresh ginger: Adds a subtle warmth and gentle spice that wakes everything up without stealing the spotlight.
- Chia seeds: Provide fiber and omega-3s while slightly thickening the smoothie to help it feel more satisfying.
Save Recipe for Later!
Enter your info below and I’ll send it straight to your inbox to save for later.
How to Make a Cilantro Smoothie
Making a cilantro smoothie is simple and takes just a couple of minutes. Start by adding the spinach, cilantro, and water to your blender and blend until completely smooth. This step helps break down the greens so the texture stays silky. Next, add the banana, peeled lime, ginger, and chia seeds, then blend again until creamy and bright, tasting like a refreshing limeade.
Blending Tips
Start by blending the spinach, cilantro, and water first until completely smooth. This helps break down the greens so the final smoothie stays silky, not leafy. Then add the banana, lime, ginger, and chia seeds and blend again until creamy. If you want it colder, toss in a few ice cubes or freeze the banana ahead of time.
Why I Love Cilantro In Smoothies
- It tastes fresh and citrusy, not savory. When blended with lime or lemon, cilantro adds a clean, bright flavor that feels more like limeade than a green smoothie.
- It pairs beautifully with fruit. Cilantro balances sweetness from banana or pineapple and adds a light, refreshing finish without overpowering the smoothie.
- It brings variety to your greens. Using cilantro is an easy way to rotate greens, keeping smoothies interesting while still delivering nutrients and fiber.
More Cilantro Recipes to Try
If you grabbed a big bunch of cilantro for this smoothie, here are a few easy ways to use up the rest—no wilting herbs left behind.
- Spicy Cilantro Pesto is bold and flavorful, perfect for tossing with pasta, drizzling over roasted veggies, or spreading on sandwiches.
- Green Goddess Hummus turns cilantro into a creamy, herby dip that works for snacks, wraps, or bowls.
- Vegan Avocado Crema blends cilantro with avocado into a smooth, tangy sauce that’s amazing on tacos, grain bowls, or roasted potatoes.
Cilantro Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach fresh
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro fresh
- 1 cup water
- 1 banana
- 1 lime peeled
- ½ inch fresh gingerroot fresh
- 2 tablespoon chia seeds
Instructions
- Blend spinach, cilantro and water until smooth.
- Next add the remaining fruits and blend again.
Helpful Tools
Notes
- Freeze the bananas ahead of time for a cold, slushy smoothie treat.
Do you peel the ginger root first or blend it with the skin?
Hi Monique! I typically peel mine, it makes blending a little easier!
I LOVED this smoothie. Then again, I love cilantro so it was calling my name and didn’t disappoint. Skipped the ginger though… and did a whole lime. Yum!
I wasn’t sure about the cilantro but holy smokes… it’s amazing! I love how refreshing this smoothie is. 5 stars!
Not sure about this recipe. It looked delicious (I love all the ingredients), I tried it right away but I didn’t have the cilantro on hand so I made it without. It was very good! I couldn’t wait to try it with the cilantro, since I’m a huge cilantro fan. But today, the combo of the ginger and cilantro ended up tasting like onion to me. I also love onions, but not in my smoothies. So I’m on the fence about this recipe. Without the cilantro I would give it a strong 4 stars, but with the cilantro just 1 or 2.
How often should you make this smoothie?is it daily?
We love a daily smoothie habit, Latasha. It def helps us to have better energy, clearer skin, deeper sleep and humming digestion. However, we for sure recommend that you rotate your greens regularly to get the best nutrition possible. Check out our Ultimate Guide to Leafy Greens!
Refreshing detox smoothie. Not the biggest fan of cilantro, but love the lime and banana additions
This one is a great refreshing summer drink!
Sorry! Now I see it makes 2!
No worries! 🙂
Do you drink this all in one sitting? 3 bananas seem like a lot for one serving.
Julie, the recipe makes enough for two servings. So one serving would have 1 1/2 bananas but if that’s still a bit too much for you, you could use 2 bananas (or 1 per serving).
Do you add the whole lime? Skin on?
Hi Ainsley,
I usually add a small amount of the peel. It’s packed with nutrients, but the oils in the skin can sometimes irritate your stomach, so starting small is the way to go. Learn more about adding peels to your green smoothie here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/meal-replacement-smoothie
I love this smoothie! The first time I made it, I found myself thinking, “this is okay, but I don’t know if I could drink another one of these.” And then I started absolutely craving them! I don’t really love banana-based smoothies but the lime, cilantro and ginger really take over the flavor. I would recommend being a little careful on the ginger, because if you add too much it’s very bitter. Start with a bit, taste, and then add more if needed.
I could understand you, I do not like combination banana+water, that’s why I always add almond milk ! This smoothy is fantastic! Thank you!
you sent me this smooties do i take it all week i am doing the 30 day smootie s wit you,
Hi Lily,
Thanks for reaching out! Our next 30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge kicks off on October 1st. Until then, we love sending our community delicious recipes to try!
Can’t wait until October? Check out our 30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge E-Guide in our shop!
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/challenge/