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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.
So refreshing! It felt like vitamins were pumping straight into my system!
Great tasting smoothie even though I don’t like kale that much. Nice combination of fruit to balance.
This was great! I love kale! The addition of the chia seeds was a nice touch
This is a simple and delicious smoothie. You can taste the Kale, but it makes it taste green and fresh!
I love the kale smoothie especially since I grow the kale in my garden and am lucky enough to pick the citrus from my trees. I love the tropical taste of this smoothie.
Very yummy! Flavor was great and mango made it creamy.
The fruits really neutralized the kale taste. I will use more kale in my smoothies now. Thanks. I give a 4.5; my husband a 3.5.
Once again, a 5-star rating. The orange in it gives it a different flavor. It is hard to find fault with a smoothie that helps you ingest more fruits and vegetables that are good for you!
My first dive into kale not a fan will try 1/2 spinach next time
Third Smoothie day in a row and loving it!
First time making this recipe and it was refreshing and delicious!!
THIS one is a keeper. Love the refreshing taste and sweetness of the fruit. My orange was so juicy and every work great together.
i made this smoothie as written with two [whole] stems of red kale. i’m not a fan of the gelatinizing effect of chia unless i’m making something for which i want that effect. after tasting it, i added protein, camu camu/acerola cherry/orange, wheat grass, and spirulina powders, and two more oranges (they were all small). it didn’t improve the flavor, but i wasn’t necessarily expecting it to; it was basically for the nutrients. i feel improved whenever i manage a green smoothie. that said, i appreciate finding any new delicious combinations… great taste significantly elevates the smoothie experience!
I enjoyed this smoothie. I’m not a big fan of kale so I used 1/2 spinach and 1/2 kale along with using coconut water. The smoothie had a nice tropical flavor to it and I found it very refreshing.
I’m not crazy about kale. This smoothie was a delicious surprise! Thank you!
Love this smoothie, love the tropical flavour. Such a great way to eat Kale.