Healthy Green Smoothie With Mint

Smoothies are an easy way to add more vegetables to your diet, and you can make them taste really delicious, too. Many people are turned off by green smoothies because they don't like the idea of drinking liquid vegetables. I wasn't crazy about them either, but once I figured out how to make them taste good I was hooked. This green smoothie with mint is one that I make often, especially when fresh herbs are in season. It has plenty of greens, and the addition of apple and freshly squeezed lemon juice makes this smoothie flavorful, bright, and tasty.

Try it with kale or spinach

I make this smoothie with either kale or spinach, depending on what I have on hand. If you're just starting out and green smoothies are new to you, I suggest trying this recipe with spinach first. Spinach offers a bit of a milder flavor that hides a bit behind the other ingredients, and it's a good place to start if you're new to green drinks.

Blender recommendations

When I first started out making green smoothies I was using an old Magic Bullet single-serve blender that did a horrible job of blending up my greens. I would end up with chunks of kale in my drink, and chewing leaves is not supposed to be part of any smoothie experience. It should be smooth as the name suggests. I finally caved and bought a Vitamix and my smoothies have been magical ever since. Yes, the Vitamix has a hefty price tag, but I've used it almost every day for ten years and so many aspects of my cooking (read more of my thoughts about Vitamix here). If Vitamix isn't an option for you, I've heard great things about the Ninja professional line, and the Nutribullet smart touch blender.

Tips for making a great smoothie

The most important tip for making a great green smoothie is to use ingredients that are as fresh as possible, cleaned, and trimmed. If your smoothie isn't blending, try adding just a little splash of water at a time until it's nice and smooth and at a texture that you like. Sometimes I prefer my smoothie to be thin and more of a juice texture, and other times I want it to be thick. Add as much water as you'd like to suit your taste.

If you start pouring your smoothie and it still has chunks in it or it's not smooth enough, pour it back into the blender and keep blending. I use my blender tamper to help push the vegetables down towards the blade, and it usually takes no more than a minute for my blender to break it all down. Don't fill your blender more than the manufacturer recommends or your smoothie may not be smooth enough. Slowly increase your speed to high and let it go for a bit until it looks silky smooth. Give it a taste, and remember you can always add a bit more lemon or mint if you'd prefer.

Storing your smoothie

This smoothie makes 3 servings, and leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 24 hours. Smoothies are best enjoyed right after they're made for maximum nutrition and flavor, but I have enjoyed this smoothie the next day and still tastes great. You will notice that some seperation occurs after this smoothie has sat for a bit. Just give it a stir or a shake and enjoy!

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