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!

spinach banana smoothie

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
  1. How to Blend a Spinach Banana Smoothie
  2. Spinach Banana Smoothie FAQs
  3. To Peel or Not To Peel Citrus
  4. More Spinach Banana Smoothie Recipes
  5. Orange Spinach Banana Smoothie Recipe

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:

ingredients for a smoothie
  1. Peel and separate the orange and lemon for easier blending (and to easily remove the seeds!).
  2. Blend the orange, spinach and coconut water until smooth (no leafy chunks).
  3. 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 orange smoothie

Spinach Banana Smoothie FAQs

Are banana and spinach a good combination?

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.

Does spinach lose nutrition when blended?

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.

How does a banana benefit a smoothie?

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.

delicious plant based snack

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.

easy spinach banana smoothie

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

Fruit Smoothies

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!

4.65 from 147 votes

Orange Spinach Banana Smoothie

This spinach banana smoothie is a healthy citrus gem.  It's refreshing and filling all at once—making it a great meal replacement. This orange smoothie is also known as Orange Jewels from my best-selling recipe book, Simple Green Smoothies.
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Author: Jen Hansard
Course: Smoothie
Cuisine: Plant-Based
Serves: 1 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.

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 171kcal, Carbohydrates: 42g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 214mg, Potassium: 1140mg, Fiber: 9g, Sugar: 26g, Vitamin A: 3157IU, Vitamin C: 116mg, Calcium: 142mg, Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe? Show me!Mention @SimpleGreenSmoothies or tag #SimpleGreenSmoothies!

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Rating




Comments

  1. 5 stars
    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.

  2. 4 stars
    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?

    1. 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.

  3. 4 stars
    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.

  4. 4 stars
    I really liked this smoothie. I was a vibrant green and the flavors of the fresh orange and lemon really made it pop.

  5. 5 stars
    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!!

  6. 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!

  7. 4 stars
    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.