Start your day off right with a green apple smoothie. It's filled with nutritious fruits and veggies like spinach, zucchini, pineapple, and a whole green apple.
Recipe summary
Flavor: Fruity, sweet, refreshing.
Made with simple ingredients. A whole green apple, pineapple, spinach, and zucchini create a thick and creamy vegan smoothie in the blender.
Great for: Breakfast, post-workout, afternoon pick-me-up.
More smoothies: Chocolate Zucchini Smoothie, Peppermint Smoothie, and Blueberry Zucchini Smoothie
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Spinach - Fresh baby spinach is best because it has a mild flavor and tender texture that blends into your smoothie seamlessly. Spinach can be substituted with your favorite fresh leafy greens.
- Pineapple - I recommend using frozen pineapple because it thickens your smoothie slightly and helps keep it cold.
- Zucchini - For this recipe, you'll need about a cup of cubed zucchini, or about one small, fresh zucchini. Zucchini makes a great addition to smoothies because it has a mild flavor and is rich in vitamin B6, potassium, and fiber (WebMD: Health Benefits of Zucchini). If you'd like, you can swap your frozen ingredients and use fresh pineapple and frozen zucchini. I recommend that one ingredient be frozen for best texture.
- Apple - You'll need one small green apple for this recipe. No need to peel your apple beforehand - the peel blends seamlessly into the smoothie.
- Liquid - Today we're adding water, but your favorite smoothie liquid works in this recipe. Green tea, coconut water, or almond milk are great alternatives.
How to make a green apple smoothie
- Add chopped veggies to a blender and pour in your liquid of choice.
- Carefully seal and blend until smooth. Add more water as needed to achieve your desired consistency. Smoothie should look smooth and bright green.
Tips and tricks
Don't add ice - For a flavorful frozen smoothie, don't add ice. Instead, use one frozen ingredient like pineapple or zucchini. Ice waters down your smoothie and makes the flavor bland.
Add optional mix-ins - Add your favorite smoothie mix-ins, like a tablespoon of flaxseed, chia seeds, or protein powder.
Use a high performance blender - Use a blender intended for smoothies for a smooth, even texture.
Enjoy immediately - For best taste and texture, enjoy your smoothie immediately. Over time, your smoothie will lose its cold, frozen texture, color becomes muted, and flavor can decline.
Frequently asked questions
No, zucchini has a very mild flavor that's not noticeable in a smoothie. It's a great way to sneak extra veggies into your diet when you otherwise don't enjoy them on their own.
Try adding a tablespoon of chia seeds or flaxseeds, a scoop of protein powder, or a spoonful of your favorite nut or seed butter.
Add a teaspoon or more of honey or maple syrup if you'd like a sweeter smoothie.
📖 Recipe
Green Apple Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 small (125 g) zucchini, cubed (about 1 cup)
- 1 small (80 g) granny smith apple, cored and cubed
- 1 cup (35 g) baby spinach, chopped
- ⅔ cup (95 g) frozen pineapple
- ¾ cup (170 g) water, add more as needed
Instructions
- In a blender add your smoothie ingredients: zucchini, apple, spinach, pineapple, and water.
- Blend until smooth, adding more water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
Recommended Equipment
Notes
- Use a single base: Use one frozen fruit or veggie for best texture. If using fresh pineapple, opt for frozen zucchini slices.
- Sub the water: Water can be substituted with your favorite smoothie liquid, like almond milk or green tea.
- Extras: Add extras like 1 tablespoon of flaxseed or chia seeds, a scoop of protein powder, or a spoonful of your favorite nut butter if desired.
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