Kale Smoothie

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.

What is kale?

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. Simple Green Smoothies team member Erin swore she would never drink a kale smoothie after tasting kale for the first time in 2013, yet she now grows a 4′ x 4′ plot of kale in her garden every winter.

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 ingredients

This recipe takes me back to my California roots through its tropical ingredient list: orange, pineapple, and mango. To help process the natural sugars in these fruits, I add 1 tablespoon of chia seeds per serving. 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.

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 Protein Smoothie Boost.

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

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★★★★★

4.7 from 77 reviews

• Author: Jen Hansard
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 1 smoothie 1x
• Diet: Vegan

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Description

Like the warm California sunshine, this tropical kale smoothie will brighten your day. Loaded with vitamins A, C, K, and calcium, you’ll be filling your body with goodness that tastes great. Using chia seeds packs a mighty punch by adding omega 3’s, omega 6’s, healthy fats and protein. 

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup kale
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1 orange
• 1⁄2 cup pineapple* 
• 1⁄2 cup mango*
• 1 tbs. chia seeds

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Instructions

1. Place kale, orange and water in blender. Puree until smooth.
2. Add remaining fruit and blend again.

Notes

* Use at least one frozen fruit to make your smoothie cold.

Feel free to blend in the chia seeds or sprinkle on top for a crunchy texture.

• Category: Smoothie
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: kale smoothie, kale shake