
I originally created this spinach banana smoothie for my Simple Green Smoothies cookbook. It is a super hydrating smoothie with loads of natural vitamin C that we can all use this winter. Despite its green color, this spinach orange smoothie can definitely be placed on the brunch menu; it is certainly a crowd pleaser!
I love the tart lemon with the sweet orange and banana. The ingredients really balance each other out well in this fun creation. Boost with a plant protein powder and ride the happiness wave you'll get after the first sip.
How to Blend a Spinach Banana Smoothie
Oranges are interesting smoothie ingredients because they act as both liquid and fruit. So I add them into the first of 2 blends:
- Peel and separate the orange and lemon for easier blending (and to easily remove the seeds!).
- Blend the orange, spinach and coconut water until smooth (no leafy chunks).
- Add the remaining ingredients and blend again until smooth.
If you're using a high-powered blender, it should easily blend up the citrus. Yet if you are using a non-high powered blender, you might have a slightly pulpy finished product. Still delicious!
Tips for the Perfect Blend
It's hard to blend up citrus fruit completely. They've got stringy membranes and weird white stuff on them even AFTER you take off the peel! It's also hard to get a creamy smoothie when using oranges and lemons because they are so dang watery. So how do I get a smooth 'n creamy spinach orange smoothie?
First, use the less is more method when blending citrus. By that I mean use a small amount of liquid to start, then add more if needed. Second, add a creamy ingredient for that smoothie-like texture: banana, avocado, cauliflower, yogurt or cashews work.
Third, use my 2 blend method to help break down the ingredients in batches. This gives your blender time to break down the orange before adding the lemon to the spinach banana smoothie below. Now go enjoy that creamy smooth beverage like a pro.
Citrus Smoothie FAQs
Yes! For those new to green smoothies, bananas can really help balance out the earthy taste of spinach. Spinach is fairly mild so while you might notice it slightly in your smoothie at first, I hardly notice it anymore as a smoothie veteran.
Very few nutrients are lost when blending spinach, so no need to worry! Blended spinach is still a superfood of vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber. Now juiced spinach does lose that precious fiber content, which is why I prefer to blend vs juice.
Bananas are cream machines. They add natural sweetness, a creamy texture, act as a thickener, and pump up the potassium in smoothies. They do have natural sugar, yet not as much as you might think! When they aren't too ripe (I'm talking major brown spots), bananas are actually pretty low on the glycemic index.
To Peel or Not To Peel Citrus
Peeling citrus fruit is the most common way of consuming them. Both the rind and pith (the white part between the fruit and the rind) are super bitter so it can be tempting to eliminate them ASAP. But hold up! You might actually want to blend some of it into this spinach orange smoothie.
Health Benefits of Orange Peel
The rind of citrus fruits contains powerful antioxidants, bioflavonoids, vitamin C, calcium, potassium and a phytochemical called "limonene," which is being studied in cancer prevention and indigestion.
Orange peels specifically contain calcium, copper, magnesium, vitamin A, folate, and other B vitamins and dietary fiber. As a general rule, if you decide to eat the peel of your fruits and vegetables, give them a good wash and scrub to remove dirt or other things. Start by adding a small part of the peel to this spinach banana smoothie, then add more as you start to love it.
Citrus Smoothie Recipes
You're about to see how big my love is for all things citrus. I keep coming up with different combos of my favorite citrus fruits and tossing them in the blender. Check out these great recipes for inspiration:
Green smoothies
- World's best green smoothie
- Anti-inflammatory smoothie
- Citrus cilantro smoothie
- Green energy smoothie
- Citrus kiwi smoothie
- Fruit and veggie smoothie
- Orange Julius smoothie
- Berry citrus smoothie
- Wassail smoothie
- Chia seed smoothie
- Grape smoothie
- Immune boost smoothie
- Coconut water smoothie
- Pineapple green smoothie
- Orange banana smoothie
- Lemon cleanser smoothie
- Island green smoothie
- Cabbage smoothie
- Kale smoothie
- Cranberry smoothie
- Clear skin smoothie
- Pineapple ginger smoothie
- Vegan tropical smoothie
Fruit Smoothies
- Lemon smoothie
- Creamy mango smoothie
- Honey turmeric smoothie
- Peach smoothie
- Orange superfood smoothie
- Dragon fruit smoothie
- Watermelon smoothie
- Anti-inflammatory smoothie cubes
Whether it's full of leafy greens or something else, a smoothie is pretty much always a good idea. And a smoothie with citrus is sure to be a winner! Let me know your thoughts on this spinach banana smoothie below... and tell me which citrus fruit is your favorite!
Orange Spinach Banana Smoothie
Rate this Recipe Print RecipeIngredients
- 1 cup spinach
- ¾ cup coconut water
- ½ lemon (peeled)
- ½ banana
- 1 orange (peeled)
- 1 serving Protein Smoothie Boost (optional)
Instructions
- Peel and slice oranges to help blend easier.
- Blend spinach, coconut water and orange together until smooth.
- Add remaining ingredients and blend again.
Notes
- Use 1 frozen fruit to make smoothie cold
- If you prep your smoothie and freeze it ahead, add a bit more liquid when blending. The orange is liquid and fruit, so if frozen then more liquid will help it blend well
- Swap in ¼ an avocado for the banana to lower the natural sugar in this smoothie
- Swap regular water in for coconut water
- Leave the white pith on the orange and lemon for more nutrition
Stephanie
I tried this recipe and it was delicious! I added it to my regular smoothie rotation. Thanks for also adding the nutritional information.
Erica
Loved this smoothie! I was a little nervous about the lemon but it really brightened the flavor and was very refreshing.
Suzanne Attig
This one is a keeper. It’s similar to and almost as good as the Orange Julius Smoothie from the previous 10-Day Challenge. It has all the good ingredients.
Alissabeth Taylor
Love the addition of orange. I’m always a tropical/citrus smoothie fan.
Mickey Cunningham
I enjoyed this smoothie as part of the 10 day smoothie challenge. Very refreshing! Did not use the protein boost.
Meryl
Very pleasant and refreshing
Tammy
Good flavor, but a little too tart for me.
Ogechi Nwaokelemeh
Love the lemon addition!
Elena
Liked the citrus note with the banana that thickened the smoothie.
Gina
Pretty good, nice and citrusy. Don't drink it if you still have a toothpaste flavor in your mouth.
JP
Very refreshing! Hubby approved!
Allison
I loved this smoothie it was delicious
Suzanne Attig
Like the Orange Julius Smoothie from the previous 10-Day Challenge, the Spinach Orange Smoothie was really good. It was exactly as advertised. It's a real keeper. For me, it made more than 16 ounces, so I saved the extra for my housekeeper, with whom I share all my green smoothies, when she comes on Friday.
Ellen
Definitely a morning pick-me-up with its refreshing orange flavor.
Monika
Tasted so much better than I thought
Amanda jorjorian
First time I put the lemon and not juice only! I was afraid it would be too tart but the banana really ties it together with creaminess. Next time I’ll use frozen bananas I’d like it to be a little colder than it was.
Holly
I liked the citrus flavor and the punch of lemon in this.
Alyssa Foote
Loved the bright flavours in this smoothie. Made for a great breakfast with the addition of Greek yogurt, matcha, hemp hearts, chia seeds, and flax seeds!
Jemia
I wanted something sweet so my spinach orange blend was a good alternative. I added avocado which made the smoothie creamier…yummy! It was my first time using coconut water and I will definitely be using it in other smoothie recipes. Day 4 blend was good!
Sharon
The spinach orange smoothie was refreshing. I added some chia seeds to it. This smoothie was good but not my fav.
Rachel
I was surprised how much I liked this smoothie. I didn't have coconut water, so I used regular water. I also used a frozen banana and kale. It was delicious, so fresh!
Becky A
Very refreshing
Amanda
This one is refreshing and delicious especially on a nice sunny day. Will be making this again!
Natalie
What a refreshing smoothie.! Definitely will make it again.
Stella
Loved this one! A lot thinner, which I liked!
Joan Martinez
Refreshing and delicious. Will be a repeat smoothie for me!
Dawn
Day 4 of the Challenge offered this wonderfully refreshing Smoothie! I like the sweetness!
Codie
I love lemons! So far this my fav.
Kimberly Nelson
Refreshingly good fruits and you got in your greens as well. I really liked this one. The lemon is a great add.
Lori Toothacre
Day 4 of challenge...another yummy smoothie!
Kate
It was good. Not cold enough for me so I threw on some ice.
Meryl
Delish!
Lorna Koppel
I love how the 1/2 lemon adds distinction to this recipe. At first I thought it might be too much, but it was perfect. So far all the SG Smoothies I have tried are full of complex and deep flavors. Another winner!
Cristina
Love this one! light, refreshing, hydrating
Lisa Johansen
Love the citrus taste!
Susan Callahan
This is a winner! Loved the freshness that the citrus added to the smoothie. I had all my ingredients chilled overnight and this helped brighten the flavors. Definitely will be making again.
Jeepndanes
One of my fave smoothies! Tangy and creamy! Yum! I added in some ginger and turmeric for an immuno boost.
Lynette
Loved it. Lots of citrus notes in this one!
Dan Paris
Bright and refreshing
Ana Siguenza
Great flavors. I taste more of the orange but I think the lemon and banana enhance the flavor. I tried this smoothie with and without the protein scoop just to see the difference. There's really no difference. Great taste.
Grace
I added half an avocado and 2 tbsps of chia seeds, which likely attributed to the thick consistency. I had to add water to thin it out. I enjoyed the taste. The orange flavour was very mild; perhaps my orange didn’t have much flavour?
Simple Green Smoothies
Great question Grace! Actually, adding the avocado and additional chia would def knock down the sweetness and orange flavor in this smoothie. Try it without next time to see if you notice the difference.
DeeDee
The citrus flavor is so refreshing. I will be making this one again.
Theresa Osborne
Loved the colour, very appetizing. Pretty good. Enjoyed it but #1 is still my favourite. Probably due to the sweetness. I must say though that having a smoothie for breakfast every morning, when I usually skip this meal has seem to curbed my appetite during the day to snack on things that are not very good. I am eating more regularly with smoothie in the morning, lunch and dinner. No more and I don't miss the chips, chocolate and all that other stuff during covid I've been over eating.
Eva McGuire
I really liked this smoothie. I was a vibrant green and the flavors of the fresh orange and lemon really made it pop.
Kathleen
Taste was good but left too many piece that didn't blend.
Desi
Surprisingly refreshing and not too tart!
Emily
YUM!!! We loved this one. I love that the coconut water was sweet which is always good as a base. We also used a big orange and used the bigger half of a banana. Perfectly sweet, hydrating and oh so good!!
Cynthia Albarracin
Loved it
Mary Buersmeyer
This smoothie was very refreshing.
Jenee
OMG!!! Absolutely DELICIOUS!!!! I don’t typically like sour flavors, so when I saw that this required a Lemon, I was like ok, I know I’m going to have to add some DATES (which I did). Not only do I not really care for Lemons, but the grocer gave me Limes instead. So, I went with what I had and to my PLEASANT surprise, this was absolutely DELICIOUS!!!! And of all the smoothies that didn’t yield more than it said it would, it would be this one...lol! This one is definitely a keeper!
Andrenisha Butler
I enjoyed the citrus punch from this smoothie!
Kitty Oppliger
This is very similar to the citrus smoothie. I swapped the coconut water for coconut cream to boost the flavor and fullness factor. I think this would be a good winter smoothie, since oranges aren't in season currently.
Lisa Bixby
This one has a bit of tang from the lemon. It is delicious! I added some protein powder to have it as a meal replacement. The texture of this one is very good--not too thin or too thick. Yum!
Karen Guzowski
I liked this a lot. Very refreshing with the coconut water. I used some frozen mango instead of banana, and added an unflavored mushroom protein powder. So good.
Jennifer Leinhos
I absolutely love this smoothie. It even holds up to adding a little protein powder and a few chia seeds. My husband even loved it, and he’s not a huge smoothie fan. Yet!
Ginette
Loved this vibrant green colored smoothie. It was delicious.
Nat
Good flavor. Feeling healthier with all my greens and fruits so far this week.