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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 my homemade protein powder and ride the happiness wave you’ll get after the first sip.
Table of Contents
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.
Spinach Banana 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.
More Spinach Banana Smoothie Recipes
You’re about to see how big my love is for all things spinach and banana. 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
- 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
- Chia seed smoothie
- Grape smoothie
- Immune boost 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
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach
- ¾ cup coconut water
- ½ lemon peeled
- ½ banana
- 1 orange peeled
- 1 serving homemade protein powder 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.
Equipment
Notes
- Use 1 frozen fruit for a refreshingly cool smoothie.
- 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 1/4 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.
- Swap spinach with the leafy greens of your choice.
LOVED this one!!! So refreshing and tart. Threw in 1/2 peeled lemon
Hey Bonnie,
I’m so glad you loved how refreshing this smoothie was.
The lemon really adds a lot of flavor to it!!
Only had half an orange so next time I’ll have to make sure I have oranges on hand. Still enjoyed the taste.
Hey Carol!
I am so glad that you were still able to make this recipe and enjoy it!! The oranges are really tasty in this smoothie 🙂
Amazeballs!! Love this one…great blend of yummy ingredients…great flavor
Hey Theresa,
Haha love that!! SO happy that this recipe was a winner for you 🙂
Peel and all. Amazing. Love these smoothies. I am hooked
Hey Clare,
Yes!!! Welcome to the smoothie community!! 🙂
Tangy and good. Swapped banana for avocado, was nice and creamy. 4 stars
Hey Anita,
Love that you made this smoothie your own!
Cheers!!
Delicious! Lemon is so refreshing and not one of my ‘usual’ fruits for green smoothies, thanks for the recipe idea!!!
Hey Tanya,
Right?! It really is super refreshing with the added lemon. So happy that you enjoyed it!!
This was really quite refreshing! I loved the zing of the lemon, and will definitely add this to the regular rotation!
Hey Stephanie,
SO happy that you loved the addition of the lemon to this smoothie!
We are so excited that this will be added to your smoothie routine 🙂
One of my favourites! I didn’t have a whole lemon handy, so I used 2T of organic lemon juice instead. Added spirulina and hemp hearts for my daily add-ons and omitted the coconut water.
Hey Mireille,
That is so awesome that you made it work for you!
Thank you so much for sharing how you made this smoothie your own. You rawk!!
Yum!! I wasn’t sure how I’d like this one, but I loved it! So refreshing.
Hey Bethany!
I am so glad that you were pleasantly surprised with this refreshing recipe!
I LOVED the addition of the lemon in this one!!! I will be thinking of adding lemon more often to my smoothies.
Hey Kelly,
SO happy that you loved the addition of the lemon juice! It really is delicious 🙂
Juiced half a lemon into this and it overpowered completely. Not a fan to be honest !
Hey Neal,
Feel free to add less lemon next time or leave it out completely if you are not a fan of the taste.
I was a little unsure about this one, but I was pleasantly surprised at how yummy it was. Doubt not SGS!!!!
We love that you have some much faith in us!
I love the Vitamin C boost I’m getting with Orange Jewels! It’s pleasantly tart and a beautiful bright green. Yum!
We always love getting that extra vitamin C!
Was so refreshing and tasty. I love oranges is one of my favorite fruits. I adore any smoothie with oranges in it. I’m sold.
SO happy you love oranges so much because we have a ton of recipes with that!
One of my favs so far. Yum! I peeled lemon and threw it in there worried that the lemon would be harsh but it was perfect! Definitely saving this recipe
Hey Erica,
So happy you believed in us and threw that lemon in there 🙂
That oranges health benefits in smoothies really do wonders for the skin !!!!!!!
They really do! You are going to have such gorgeous glowing skin after this challenge 🙂