Spinach Smoothie (Dairy-Free)

This quick, dairy-free spinach smoothie is ready in just 5 minutes. See how to make the healthy and delicious recipe in a blender with 4 ingredients.

Recipe Highlights

• This easy spinach smoothie is dairy-free and ready in just 5 minutes.
• The green color comes from baby spinach, which is packed with antioxidants and fiber.
• Frozen banana gives the drink a naturally thick and creamy consistency while making the drink cold without adding ice.
• Made with just 4 ingredients, this healthy smoothie is so refreshing on hot days.

RELATED: Spinach Greek Yogurt Smoothie

Spinach Smoothie Health Benefits

Fights Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress can increase the risk of chronic disease like diabetes or cancer.

Spinach, which is used in this smoothie, can help reduce oxidative stress. That’s because they’re high in antioxidants.

There are also antioxidants in chia seeds and bananas.

Reduces Inflammation

Chia seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids. These are good fats with anti-inflammatory effects.

The antioxidants in spinach are anti-inflammatory too.

This is important because inflammation can lead to disease, just like oxidative stress.

Increases Fullness

Spinach smoothies increase satiety because of their fiber content.

Most of the fiber comes from banana, but spinach has some as well.

Supports Immunity

Spinach is packed with vitamin C, an essential nutrient for the immune system.

Your cells need vitamin C to fight germs that make you sick.

RELATED: Green Smoothie Bowl

Ingredient Notes

• Pineapple juice
  The tart and sweet flavor of pineapple juice balances the earthiness of leafy greens.
• Chia seeds
  A rich source of anti-inflammatory fats, chia seeds add even more nutrients to the smoothie.
• Baby spinach
  Baby spinach is milder than other leafy greens and full of antioxidants. You can use regular spinach in place of baby spinach. Just be sure to cut away any hard stems first.
• Frozen banana
  Frozen banana slices give this drink a creamy texture and cold consistency. Banana also adds some natural sweetness.
  

Step-by-Step Instructions

For full ingredients and instructions, scroll down to the recipe.

1. Pour pineapple juice into the blender.
   Avoid air pockets by adding the liquids first.
2. Add chia seeds.
3. Add baby spinach.
4. Add frozen banana.

5. Blend until smooth.
   Start on a low speed, then increase to high.
6. Pour into a cup. Serve immediately.

Optional Add-Ins

Protein powder

Adding a scoop of protein powder to smoothies is a great way to make them more filling.

A vegan or whey protein powder is best for building muscle. Unflavored or vanilla protein powder will taste best in this recipe.

If you’d rather focus on skin health, use powdered collagen instead.

Seeds

Instead of chia seeds, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of hemp seeds or flax seeds to this drink.

Both options are high in anti-inflammatory fatty acids, just like chia seeds.

Green powder

For even more nutrients, add a scoop of green powder to this recipe.

Green powder is made of dehydrated and crushed fruits and vegetables. The exact ingredients depend on the brand.

This add-in will intensify the naturally green color of the drink.

Blender Tips

Chop fruits into chunks.

It’s important to cut fruit, especially bigger fruits like bananas, before freezing them.

Otherwise, if the frozen fruit is too big, it can damage the blades of your blender.

If you have a powerful blender, you can cut bananas into pieces about the size of apple wedges.

For less powerful models, cut bananas into slices instead.

Layer ingredients correctly.

When making a smoothie, avoid randomly loading the ingredients.

Doing so can increase the risk of air pockets and an uneven blend.

Instead, add the liquids and any liquid add-ins first. Follow with seeds, powders, or nut butters, if you’re using them.

Next, load any leafy greens, fresh fruit, and heavier items like frozen fruit or ice.

Protect the motor by blending on high.

Blending on low speed for too long can overwork the blender’s motor.

To prevent this, blend on low long enough to break down the ingredients. This should take about 10 seconds.

From there, quickly increase the speed to high for the time listed.

Move ingredients with a tamper.

A tamper allows you to rotate ingredients in the blender jar.

This is done while the blades are moving, ensuring all of the ingredients are pureed.

Simply insert the tamper through the lid while the blades are rotating. The stopper will prevent it from going too far down.

Remove every drop of smoothie.

After pouring a smoothie in a glass, use a blade scraper to remove every last drop.

This is a tool that lets you reach the nooks and crannies of a blender.

Expert Tips

• When freezing bananas, pick ones with yellow-brown peels. This is a sign that the bananas are ripe and sweet.
• For a creamier, less sweet, smoothie, replace the pineapple juice with plant-based milk.
• If the smoothie is too thick for your liking, pour a bit of pineapple juice into the blender. Then blend for 10 seconds to combine.
• To make the drink sweeter, add a pitted and chopped Medjool date or 1 tablespoon date syrup.
• Refrigerate leftover smoothie in an air-tight jar for 1-2 days. The ingredients will likely separate, so mix it before drinking.

Questions You May Have

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• Green Smoothie
• How to Make a Smoothie
• 17 Best Green Smoothies

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