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    Home » Recipes » Vegan Drinks

    Spinach Apple Smoothie

    Published: Sep 3, 2013 · Updated: Nov 9, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This refreshing green spinach apple smoothie is among my favorites — and you'll love it too if you prefer smoothies that are juicy and not too thick.

    Spinach and apple smoothie

    The cucumber adds a deliciously refreshing flavor and definitely adds to the juiciness of this Spinach Apple Smoothie!

    Tips, Tricks, & Variations

    This recipe will make two 12-ounce or three 8-oz servings.

    I used fresh spinach in this green smoothie. But you could also substitute kale if you prefer. I have also had readers report success with frozen spinach, but I would suggest defrosting and writing out the extra moisture before using it.

    Any type of nondairy milk will work fine in this smoothie. I prefer almond milk but soy or cashew milk are also great choices. For a thicker smoothie, try substituting a dairy free yogurt instead.

    The hemp or chia seeds are totally optional, but highly recommended. They add a nice punch of protein, and also help thicken up the smoothie.

    If you like this Spinach-Apple Smoothie, you may enjoy learning about the top 10 benefits of green smoothies, as well as trying these other delicious and simple smoothie recipes:

    • Piña Colada Green Smoothie
    • Spinach, Sprouts, and Pineapple Smoothie
    • Chia Green Super Smoothie.

    Explore more recipes for Green Smoothies on VegKitchen!

    Spinach and apple smoothie recipe

    Spinach and Apple Smoothie

    This refreshing smoothie of spinach, apple, and cucumber is among my favorites, as I like smoothies that are more juicy and not too thick.
    4.30 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate Email
    Course: Green Smoothie
    Cuisine: Healthy
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: green smoothie recipe
    Prep Time: 8 minutes
    Total Time: 8 minutes
    Servings: 2 to 3
    Calories: 177kcal
    Author: Veg Kitchen

    Ingredients

    • 2 big handfuls baby spinach
    • 1 medium apple cored and cut into large chunks
    • 3- to 4- inch piece cucumber preferably peeled, cut into chunks
    • 1 cup unsweetened vanilla nondairy milk or water or half of each
    • 1 to 2 tablespoons hemp seeds or chia seeds optional
    • 2 teaspoons agave nectar or other liquid sweetener optional
    • 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice to taste
    • A few ice cubes optional
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Combine all the ingredients in a blender. Process until completely smooth. Divide between 2 or 3 glasses and serve at once.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 61mg | Potassium: 283mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 649IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 183mg | Iron: 2mg
    Vegan-ize any recipe!Grab our free vegan cheat sheet, packed with my favorite easy substitutions to make any recipe vegan.

    More Vegan Drinks

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ellen Claire says

      December 06, 2013 at 11:06 am

      Just got a new blender, and this was the first recipe I tried in it--boy is it good! Yum!!!

    2. Nava says

      December 06, 2013 at 11:07 am

      So flattered that you chose one of VK's recipes to try first, and that you enjoyed it!

    3. Ewelina Savas says

      March 22, 2014 at 4:53 pm

      Tried and love this recipe.I frequently use flax meal in my smoothies,particularly if I use water. Flax meal adds extra nutrients and fiber and curbs hunger. Love Chia seeds too.

    4. Nava says

      March 22, 2014 at 5:07 pm

      Thank you for your input, Ewelina — glad you enjoyed this!

    5. Joy says

      April 07, 2014 at 10:12 pm

      My husband and I are starting green smoothie mornings. This recipe looks great! I just have one question: why should it be served immediately? Is making it the night before, a bad idea?

    6. Nava says

      April 07, 2014 at 10:25 pm

      Joy, once you liquify veggies and fruits, they lose nutrients and the flavors go flat as well. You get the most benefits and best taste if you drink it right away!

    7. Supreet Sandhu says

      May 07, 2014 at 7:06 am

      why spinach or any green leafy vegetable generally used in apple smoothie....???

    8. Nava says

      May 07, 2014 at 10:00 am

      Supreet, having a leafy green in the smoothie adds a lot of fiber and antioxidants without adding too much of a "green" flavor. The greens also add a nice contrast to the sweetness and sugars in the apple. It's a great way to get the goodness of greens, broken down to the cellular level.

    9. Barb A says

      June 06, 2014 at 1:38 pm

      I just tried this recipe.. I was really good..
      I did a couple of alterations to it though..
      I used flax meal as I ran out of Chai and haven't been able to purchase more yet.. I didn't have agave, so I used a few chunks of honeydew.. I used unsweetened organic van. rice milk.. It is so very good.. Thank you for posting such a tasty recipe..

    10. Donna says

      June 13, 2014 at 11:58 am

      This is a tasty smoothie! Will make it again! My husband even enjoyed it! Thanks so much for a great recipe!

    11. jane says

      July 01, 2014 at 8:50 am

      Well here goes! Today I bough my nutra bullet I am looking at just vegie smoothies with milk and whey protein does anyone have any thoughts or ideas on this regards jane

    12. Nava says

      July 01, 2014 at 8:52 am

      Jane, veggie smoothies will do you a lot of good, but why add dairy? You don't need it, nor does any adult need the milk that nature formulated especially for calves. Enjoy!

    13. rosalind waltzman says

      July 06, 2014 at 7:15 pm

      Can leftover smoothies be made into popsicles? TU!

    14. Nava says

      July 07, 2014 at 1:52 pm

      Rosalind, that's a great idea!

    15. AM says

      July 07, 2014 at 3:12 pm

      Smoothies need to be consumed within 20 minutes for full nutritional benefits. Beyond that, they lose their nutritional and fibrous punch but are still refreshing and definitely a better choice over canned sodas and other crappy caloric-laden alternatives!

      Also, I don't share America's obsession with sugars or fats. I find the addition of agave or any other sweetner absolutely unnecessary in this smoothie or any other. Natural foods speak for themselves, need NO enhancements and I enjoy them in their natural form.

      Your mileage will vary.

    16. AM says

      July 07, 2014 at 3:19 pm

      P.S. Nava is absolutely right. There's no reason for the nondairy (or dairy) addition! Fruits and veggies and seeds pack their own flavor punch and stand on their own. Don't understand why smoothie-makers feel a need to cloak their natural beauty with dairy or non-dairy (or added sweeteners).

      Only time I use non-dairy (unsweetened soy milk in small amount) is in my evening treat -- a "milkshake" of banana, unsweetened dark cocoa and peanut butter and ice.

    17. Buugi says

      July 20, 2014 at 5:59 am

      Wow, thank you so much for this recipe. I liked it a lot.I used organic soymilk. it was so good.

    18. Nava says

      July 25, 2014 at 11:46 am

      Thanks so much; glad you enjoyed it!

    19. lea says

      January 21, 2015 at 1:08 pm

      Just made this sans sweetener and it's great. Even my 2 year old likes it.

    20. Laura says

      January 22, 2015 at 8:10 pm

      This is an exceptional smoothie.
      Used granny smith apple, spinach,cucumber,water, lemon juice, agave syrup and it was beautiful.
      Only one problem......

      Can't stop drinking it. 😉

    21. Nava says

      January 22, 2015 at 8:16 pm

      The good thing is that you need not stop!

    22. Nazia says

      March 04, 2015 at 2:44 am

      Hi, thank you for these recipes, they are very helpful for beginners like myself. My veggie smoothies seem to come out quite foamy...is this normal or am I doing something wrong? Also there seems to be a separation in the glass between the liquid and the veggies. Please help. Thanks:)

    23. Sam says

      March 04, 2015 at 4:58 pm

      Tried this as I'm trying to cut down on snacking at night will have it for breakfast tomorrow as it was so filling thank you for this great recipe!!!

    24. Marka Howard says

      March 17, 2015 at 1:05 am

      Are you allowed to eat with this diet along with the smoothie?

    25. sunshine says

      May 07, 2015 at 8:51 am

      I ran across this, and I've been drinking green smoothies for a couple of months and I need different ones to try they all sound good and from reviews they say they are good can't wait to try, thank you.

    26. Rosemary says

      May 20, 2015 at 7:29 am

      Are you supposed to drink the entire thing? Also, what are the nutritional facts for this recipe; calories, fat, etc..

    27. Nava says

      May 20, 2015 at 8:23 am

      Rosemary, this makes 2 or 3 servings, so find someone to share this with! We're working to analyze all of our recipes, but in the meantime you can DIY on myfitnesspal.com — you can be sure that each serving is very low in calories and has virtually no fat.

    28. Keikei Val says

      June 05, 2015 at 3:33 pm

      Love this site. So glad I found it.

    29. Nava says

      June 08, 2015 at 4:12 am

      Thank you! I hope you come back often.

    30. Carina says

      October 03, 2015 at 12:35 am

      Doing a green smoothie 30 day challenge and I had this one just now. Delicious, and very refreshing!! Thank you.

    31. Kamma Dunning says

      October 06, 2015 at 5:19 pm

      I was a little hesitant on the proportions; I didn't think one apple would be enough, but this smoothie is amazing!! I left the skins on and threw in a handful of cashews in place of the milk. I added cinnamon and vanilla just for kicks and I am loving this smoothie. Bravo!!

    32. Nava says

      October 09, 2015 at 10:41 am

      Thanks for your feedback, Kamma. Love your tweaks — that's why simple recipes are great; they serve as templates that people can alter to suit their own tastes.

    33. Erin Hagan says

      January 16, 2016 at 2:33 pm

      This was the first green smoothie I've ever made and I love it! Might have me hooked!! (I added a banana to it, it tastes great!)

    34. Nancy says

      January 18, 2016 at 11:13 am

      I used coconut water and it was delicious and refreshing!

    35. Anupama Bharathula says

      April 07, 2016 at 12:38 pm

      Will the lemon not spoil the milk?

    36. Crystal Flanagin says

      June 23, 2016 at 11:56 am

      4 stars
      My first try at a smoothie. I was hesitant to use spinach, but it tastes pretty good. The aftertaselte is going to take some adjustment! Off to a fabulous start though! Thanks for the recipe!

    37. Liz Swann { Red Smoothie Detox Factor Review } says

      July 12, 2016 at 4:50 pm

      I don't like spinach. What can I sub?

    38. Nava says

      July 12, 2016 at 5:21 pm

      If you have a high-speed blender, try collard greens. But you'll be surprised, you won't even taste the spinach!

    39. Neeru says

      October 13, 2016 at 2:49 pm

      3 stars
      Hi!! It's a good recipe..please advice if I can replace cucumbers with some other veggie or fruits. Thanks!

    40. Paul Kreher says

      November 09, 2016 at 3:12 pm

      I've been doing a variation of kale smoothies everyday for nearly 2 years. My 45 year old body has never felt better. My smoothie is a meal, more concerned with general health and no worries about weight loss, but I exercise a ton! So...my meal includes the following:
      non fat unsweetened greek yogurt, kale, cukes,1/2 sweet pepper, 1/3 cup oatmeal, Tart Cherry juice (keeps my joints happy), frozen berries, and...a raw egg. The egg adds awesome protein and raw is the most nutritious way to consume egg, as cooking will denaturate the protein. Today's supermarket eggs are super fresh and safe. No need for expensive hemp or chia, shoot-eggs are under $2 a dozen!

    41. Christi says

      November 29, 2016 at 6:30 pm

      5 stars
      I was really hungry and this tasty smoothie was just what i needed. Definatly a daily drink.

    42. Zalak Desai says

      December 22, 2016 at 6:40 am

      4 stars
      I just tried this and it turned out to be great, I also added a kiwi in it. Tasted wonderful!

    43. Roxanne says

      February 14, 2017 at 6:16 pm

      5 stars
      This was my first time making a spinach smoothie and it was AMAZING. It tastes nutty and is nutritious of course. I highly recommend this recipe for anyone who is starting to drink green smoothies! It's not thick at all, I added three ice cubes and used 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk. It was dee-lish!

    44. Lola says

      July 09, 2017 at 1:29 pm

      3 stars
      I just tried making this and it really wasn't my favorite. I don't like the consistency and I thought the contrasting flavors would be way tastier. Would I make it again? probably not but I might try tweaking the recipe somehow

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