A green smoothie with spinach, strawberries and banana is ready in a few minutes and takes just a handful of ingredients to make. The banana provides a creamy, sweet base, the strawberries add colour and freshness, and you can hardly taste the spinach. Below you’ll find the recipe, plus answers to the questions people often ask about it.
How do you make a green smoothie with spinach, strawberries and banana?
Put the spinach, strawberries, banana and a splash of liquid into a blender and blend until smooth. The quantities below are enough for about two glasses; you’ll need a blender or a hand blender.
Ingredients:
- 1 large handful of fresh spinach (about 30 grams)
- 1 ripe banana, or 2 small ones
- 1 handful of strawberries, fresh or frozen (about 100 grams)
- 150 ml orange juice or water
- Optional: 1 scoop of neutral protein powder (whey or vegan), the serving size stated on the packet
Here’s how to make it:
- Wash the spinach and strawberries. Peel the banana and break it into pieces.
- Place the spinach at the bottom of the blender, along with the liquid. It’s easier to blend the leaves to a smooth consistency if you put them at the bottom rather than on top.
- Add the banana, the strawberries and, if using, the protein powder.
- Blend for about 30 to 60 seconds, until there are no more pieces of spinach or lumps left.
- Pour the smoothie into a glass and drink it straight away, whilst it’s still fresh and cold.
Why can you hardly taste the spinach?
Young spinach has a mild, almost neutral flavour, whilst banana and strawberry are sweet and aromatic. As a result, the fruit determines the flavour and the spinach mainly provides the green colour.
A ripe banana also acts as a natural thickener: it makes the smoothie thicker and creamier, so it tastes rich without any dairy or sugar. The riper the banana, the sweeter and milder the flavour. If you’d prefer a less pronounced colour, use a little less spinach; for a greener smoothie, simply add an extra handful.
If you prefer to use a sturdier leaf such as kale, you’ll notice the vegetable flavour a little more. In that case, blend the leaves extra well to ensure the texture remains smooth.
Can you add protein powder?
Yes. A scoop of neutral protein powder (whey or vegan) turns this into a protein smoothie: a more substantial breakfast or a post-workout snack. Choose a neutral or mild flavour to keep the fruity base intact.
Protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass. Protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass. Stick to the serving size stated on the packet, which is usually one scoop. If you’d like to know what’s right for you, find out how much protein you need each day. You can read more about the powder itself in the section on the benefits of protein powder.
How much sugar is there in this smoothie?
The smoothie mainly contains natural sugars from the banana and strawberries. If you choose orange juice instead of water, this will add free sugars from the juice.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre and the WHO advise limiting your intake of free sugars. If you want to limit your intake, use water instead of orange juice, or squeeze half a fresh orange and top it up with water. Whole fruit provides fibre as well as sugar, whereas juice contains very little fibre.
Is this green smoothie suitable for breakfast?
On its own, the smoothie is quite light, as fruit and liquid are digested quickly. If you add porridge or a scoop of protein powder, it becomes a more substantial breakfast.
If you want to take the smoothie with you, make it just before you leave and keep it cool in a sealed bottle. Give it a quick shake before drinking, as fruit pieces and spinach can settle at the bottom over time.
How can you vary the recipe?
The basic combination of liquid, fruit and a leafy green is easy to adapt. For example, replace the strawberries with blueberries, mango or raspberries, or use kale instead of spinach for a heartier leafy green.
If you want to make the smoothie more filling, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of rolled oats or a tablespoon of linseed. Rolled oats make it thicker and more substantial for breakfast. A handful of ice cubes, on the other hand, makes it even more refreshing on a hot day.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use frozen fruit?
Yes. Frozen strawberries or frozen banana pieces make the smoothie thicker and colder, without you having to add ice cubes. If necessary, leave the fruit to stand for a few minutes; this makes it easier to blend until smooth.
How long does the smoothie keep?
The smoothie tastes best when freshly blended. You can store it, covered, in the fridge for up to about a day. The colour will darken slightly due to the banana and spinach – this is normal; just give it a quick stir before drinking.
Can I make the smoothie vegan?
Yes. Use water or a plant-based drink as the liquid and choose a vegan protein powder instead of whey. The rest of the recipe remains the same.
Which protein powder works best in a fruity smoothie?
A neutral or plain flavour works best, as the fruit already provides the flavour. Both whey and vegan powders are suitable; choose whichever suits your diet. A strong flavour such as chocolate doesn’t go as well with the fresh fruit.
Do I need a powerful blender?
A standard blender or hand blender is sufficient for this recipe. If you’re using fresh, slightly firmer fruit or lots of leafy greens, blend for a little longer. Put the liquid and the spinach at the bottom of the container; this will help the mixture blend more quickly.
Want to turn your smoothie into a more substantial breakfast or a post-workout snack? Then take a look at our protein powders for a neutral whey or a vegan option. Fancy more? Check out our other protein-rich smoothie recipes.
