Ingredients You’ll Need and Why

There are just six total ingredients for this recipe, and each is explained below – why, what it does, and what you can substitute. These are my notes from testing and you can find the full recipe card below.

• Spinach: I always use frozen because it’s cheaper and easier. If your blender isn’t very powerful, use spinach that’s frozen in leaves rather than blocks. You can partly or fully thaw the spinach first if necessary.
• Avocado: a medium ripe avocado. Avocados must be ripened at room temperature and do not ripen in the microwave or oven, despite what you might have seen online.
• Mango: frozen is easiest and helps give the smoothie a thick, creamy texture. Fresh mango can be substituted if you have frozen banana or avocado. Pineapple is a good sub for mango, or add an extra banana. I’ve made this with raspberries in place of mango and liked that too.
• Banana: this should be very ripe to add sweetness to the smoothie, at least speckled as pictured. Banana adds body, sweetness, and a creamier texture.
• Ginger: a little fresh ginger brightens the flavour of the smoothie. If you don’t like ginger, omit it or sub a little vanilla or another spice like cardamom.
• Milk: I usually use homemade oat milk. Any milk will be fine. Yogurt is good if thinned slightly with a little water.

How to Make a Spinach Smoothie

It’s a smoothie, there’s not much to do! I recommend finely grating the ginger before adding unless you have an ultra high-powered blender (I don’t).

Step 1: add all of the ingredients to a blender or blending container (if using an immersion blender).

Step 2: mix on high speed until very smooth and serve immediately.

Expert Tips for the Best Green Smoothie

• Use two frozen ingredients: if you use fresh spinach, for example, then make sure either the banana or avocado is frozen to keep the texture intact. If a thin smoothie is preferred, then use fresh spinach or fresh mango instead of frozen. Adding too much milk will make the smoothie bland.
• Sweeten to taste: you might want a sweeter smoothie, and you can do that by blending in a soft date or two or by sweetening with something like maple syrup or honey. Choose a liquid sweetener so that it blends in fully.
• Don’t store it: most smoothies are best served right away, and this is no exception. If you do have too much, freeze it into popsicles or ice pops and serve that way instead.

More Smoothie Recipes

• Spinach Pear Smoothie – a green smoothie without banana
• Banana Avocado Smoothie – this is very creamy, almost like a milkshake
• Chocolate Cherry Smoothie – high protein without powder
• Cantaloupe Smoothie – with fresh melon and hemp hearts

If you make this Avocado Spinach Smoothie recipe or any other vegetarian drink recipes on Occasionally Eggs, please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It’s such a help to others who want to try the recipe. For more OE, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, purchase the Occasionally Eggs cookbook, or subscribe for new posts via email.