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Spinach and Banana Smoothie with Apple Juice
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients for the smoothie. Wash the bananas, pat them dry and peel them – choose ripe ones with brown speckles (they are sweeter and softer). Wash the spinach and celery and pat off any excess moisture. Cut the celery into pieces small enough to fit comfortably in the blender.
Put the 2 bananas into the blender. The banana is the "base" of the smoothie: it gives a thick texture and natural sweetness, with no need to add sugar.
Add 35 g of spinach to the bananas. Young spinach is preferable – the leaves are more tender and free of bitterness. Mature spinach with large leaves can give a slight bitter note.
Put 110 g of celery into the bowl. Celery is a "classic detox" ingredient: it adds a refreshing note and increases the volume of the smoothie without extra calories.
Pour in 250 ml of apple juice. Freshly squeezed juice has a brighter flavour, but shop-bought juice with no added sugar will also do.
Switch the blender to the "smoothie" setting or run it on high speed for 1–2 minutes. The time depends on the power of the blender – in a powerful one (Vitamix, Bosch 1200 W+) the smoothie is ready in a minute, while in budget models it can take up to 2 minutes to become smooth.
You should get a smooth green drink like this. If any pieces remain, blend for another 30 seconds. The ideal consistency is like that of thin kefir.
Pour the finished spinach and banana smoothie into a glass and enjoy a tasty, wholesome drink.Bon appétit!
Tips
- 1
USE young spinach – its leaves are more tender and it has no bitterness. Mature, large spinach with thick stalks is less suitable for smoothies.
- 2
The banana MUST be ripe (with brown speckles on the skin) – green bananas will give a "grassy" taste and a starchy texture.
- 3
Pour the LIQUID ingredients (the juice) into the bottom of the blender first, then add the solid ones (banana, spinach, celery) – this way the blades catch the ingredients better.
- 4
Drink the smoothie STRAIGHT AWAY after making it – after 30 minutes the vitamins begin to oxidise and the colour darkens. The same principle applies to other fresh smoothies.
Video
FAQ
What can I use instead of apple juice? +
Alternatives: water (50 kcal less over the whole batch – good for a diet), coconut water (a nutty note, +5 kcal/100 ml), almond milk (a vegan option with a creamier taste), orange juice (sweeter and brighter in colour, but the smoothie will take on a "warm" shade). Apple juice is neutral and sweet and does not overpower the spinach. Grapefruit juice will add a bitter note – an acquired taste. Never replace it with a sweetened juice (such as concentrates) – the calorie count will shoot up two or three times.
Can I make it without celery? +
Yes, the smoothie will be milder in flavour. Replace it with: 100 g of cucumber (a similar refreshing note), 100 g of courgette (more neutral), or simply increase the spinach to 60 g (a stronger "green" taste). Without celery the smoothie will be sweeter and more "banana-like" – an acquired taste. If you do not like the "grassy" flavour of celery, start with half the amount (55 g). Use leaf (stalk) celery – it has a pronounced flavour, and the stems can simply be cleaned of their fibres.
Can I make it in advance? +
I do not recommend it. A fresh smoothie is the most wholesome; after 30 minutes oxidation begins: vitamins C and the B group break down, the colour darkens, and it separates into liquid and foam. If you need to take it with you, pour it into an insulated mug or a shaker and screw the lid on tightly (oxidation is slower without air). At most, keep it 2–3 hours in the fridge. Before drinking, shake it or blend it again with a mixer. Making it in the morning from vegetables prepped the night before is not worth it – the taste will be quite different.
Which blender should I choose for smoothies? +
A power of 600 W or more, otherwise the spinach and celery will not blend until smooth. A countertop blender is more convenient than a hand blender for large portions. Professional models (Vitamix, Blendtec) are 1200–1500 W and make a smoothie in 30 seconds, but they are expensive. For home use, models from Bosch, Philips or Redmond at 600–1000 W are enough. A jug of at least 1 litre is essential, so a banana plus liquid will fit. The blades should be stainless steel, ideally "serrated" for greens.
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