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This insanely tasty tropical kale smoothie recipe was originally created for my #1 best-selling recipe book, Simple Green Smoothies. Over the years, I’ve craved it more and more, and even started growing my own kale to use in smoothies.
This smoothie tastes like sunshine, and will cause you to fall in love with green smoothies.
I’m sure you’ve noticed kale’s rise to fame over the last decade. It went from an unidentified leafy green to the top dog of the produce section overnight. Kale comes from the cruciferous family (along with cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, and more). Kale is a supercharged superfood, because it is loaded with vitamins A, B6, C, and K, calcium, potassium, copper and manganese.
People typically identify kale by it’s sharp taste, and tougher texture, yet if this is you, then I’m gonna ask you to give it another try.
Kale Smoothie Ingredients
This recipe takes me back to my California roots through its tropical ingredient list:
- Orange: 92% DV of Vitamin C
- Pineapple: 761% DV of Vitamin C
- Mango: Vitamin C… and a natural sweetener.
- Chia seeds: The omega 3s and 6s in the chia seeds, as well as the protein boost, help turn that natural sugar into energy as your body processes it.
- Kale: This Top Superfoods List is a great way to boost your fiber intake + help your body process the natural sugar found in the fruit ingredients.
Easy Ingredient Swaps
If you want to turn this smoothie into a great pre or post workout beverage, then swap the water with coconut water, aka nature’s gatorade. Add even more superfood goodness by swapping the chia seeds with a plant-based protein powder, like my homemade protein powder recipe.
Tips for Blending a Kale Smoothie
While this kale smoothie recipe uses Lacinato kale, any kale will work. I highly recommend removing the stems of the kale before blending to eliminate as much bitterness as possible. You can compost the stems or even feed them to the backyard chickens. To tenderize kale leaves, wash them in water, then gently massage the leaves with your fingers.
When blending kale, tear it up into smaller pieces before tossing in the blender. Blend with just the liquid + kale first, until no chunks remain. Then add the remaining ingredients and blend again. This 2 blend method helps the kale break down quicker, especially if you’re using a non high-powered blender.
Kale Smoothie FAQs
Smoothies can be great for you, if you focus on using whole food ingredients. Ditch the added sugar and processed foods and use real whole food. Fresh or frozen kale can be used (both have great nutrition!). Just make sure to swap up your leafy greens to ensure your body gets well rounded nutrients.
Yes! Just make sure to wash it well and massage with your fingers before adding it to the blender. Also, de-stem the kale to ensure those tough stems don’t end up as chunks in your smoothie.
I love the mild flavor of Lacinato kale, yet curly kale is typically the easiest to find at the grocery store. I would stay away from Tuscan kale as it is a bit spicier. If the first kind of kale you try isn’t your fav, look for another kind!
More Kale Smoothies
Whether this is a new ingredient for you or a staple in your fridge, here are some more great smoothies that use kale:
- kale mango smoothie
- kale banana smoothie
- pineapple kale smoothie
- kiwi smoothie
- coconut oil smoothie
- fruit and vegetable smoothie
- ginger pineapple smoothie
- cherry smoothie
Really, swap out the leafy green in any green smoothie with kale. It might just become your go-to smoothie ingredient too! Let me know your thoughts about this smoothie by leaving a rating + review below once you blend it.
Kale Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup kale
- ½ cup water
- 1 orange peeled
- ½ cup pineapple frozen
- ½ cup mango frozen
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
Instructions
- Blend kale, orange and water until smooth.
- Add remaining fruit and blend again.
Notes
- Use at least 1 frozen fruit for a refreshingly cold smoothie.
- Swap kale with the leafy green or your choice.
- Swap in coconut water if you need natural electrolytes.
- Depending on how big and juicy your orange is, start with a little less water and gradually add more as needed to easily blend.
Day 3 – I was a little worried the taste would not be great because of the Kale, but it was actually very good.
Kale can definitely be intimidating yet it works in this one!
I thought I’d miss the banana, which I usually put in my smoothies, but this was surprisingly good!
Forgot to add the rating!
The orange instead of banana definitely makes this one different!
So clean and refreshing!!
Hi Alane! Thanks so much!
I actually prefer kale to spinach in my smoothies, so this one is definitely a win!
Just realized I forgot to leave a rating! Giving this one 5 stars!
Kale for the win, Anna!
I was skeptical of this one, but it was delicious 🙂
So glad this one surprised you, Renee!
Today’s kale smoothie was another beautiful green smoothie. I feel like it’s March instead of Novemeber and I am getting full of Irish green luck. Just the right balance of tropical and citrus. Not too sweet.
You’re so right, Rosanna!
This might be my favorite green smoothie. So smooth and refreshing!
Woo hoo! Love that this one is you favorite so far!
Refreshing! Great texture and consistency. Liked the addition of the chia seeds. Keep glowing 🙂
The chia seeds are great to add some protein to this one!
I used Cavolo Nero kale .. made it taste very Green ! ! but could still taste the orange and fruit coming through which made it ok actually.
This one is super green, Liz!!
Well the kale is a little strong but still good, the orange helps. I need all the vitamin c I can get right now.
If the kale is too strong, try half kale and half spinach!
Love it!!
Thanks so much, Malia!
I had to do Thursdays smoothie as my avocados are getting very ripe. The green apple addition and avocado made it so silky smooth. Yums
No worries, Peggy. You gotta use the avocados when they’re ready!!
A delicious hearty smoothie with all the kale! Orange always seems to help balance out the strong flavor of kale. I didn’t remove the stems, just tossed it all in. My smoothie is pretty much forest green in color with the added spirulina 🙂
Hearty is right, Mireille!
Enjoyed this smoothie for my mid morning snack. I’m loving the idea of incorporating an orange into the mix. Something I truly have not tried before this challenge, and the flavor enhancing it brings is pleasantly surprising. Thank you too for getting me back into.having a green smoothie every day! It helps so much with getting in all my greens❤️
So glad you loved the addition of orange in this one, Connie!
I didn’t enjoy this one as much, maybe the make? But I did forget to massage it, I did cut off the woody stems but tried to leave a little bit if the stem, it was a little bit better, slightly tangy taste from
The orange
If you aren’t super crazy about kale, try this one with spinach!
I like it!
Yayy!! Love to hear that, Debbie!