How to Make a Super Healthy Smoothie (With Garden Ingredients)
This week, I was able to catch up with an old friend and mentor and make a delicious green garden smoothie at the same time. Nicole Burke, owner of Rooted Garden and Gardenary, joined me on Instagram Live to make her favorite smoothie.
The best part of this smoothie? We both walked to our gardens to cut the kale a few minutes before we went live. Give it a good wash and shake and you’re good to go.
The garden queen taught me a smoothie making trick that I love! When you’re making a smoothie with leafy greens, always start by blending the greens with a good amount of water before adding anything else. And no need to remove the center stem, just blend it well on high for a couple minutes and you’re good to go. Less waste, more fiber, win-win for everyone.
I met Nicole seven years ago when she came to do a garden consult for me. We found the perfect place for my garden and started a conversation about growing a small business, growing an Instagram account (for me, one of the necessary evils of small business) and more.
Nicole has lapped me on so many business-related milestones. I loved seeing her complete and photograph her beautiful book, Kitchen Garden Revival. And her membership for gardeners, Gardenary, which has over 1000 members. In fact, if you want to check out her membership, you can join monthly or yearly. If you’re in Houston and interested in an in-person garden consultation at your home, get $50-off with the code SMART.
You can watch our live kale smoothie demo here, just beware of the barking dog and other hijinx. Keeping it real over here for you guys!
Let me know what you think of this smoothie, and we’d love to see and repost your creations. Make the smoothie and tag us at @smartinthekitchen and @rootedgarden. We can’t wait to see (and hear) what you think!
Looking for more smoothie recipes?
Green Garden Smoothie
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 2-4 cups kale substitue spinach or Swiss shard
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1 cup frozen peach substitue mango, dark cherry, or wild blueberries depending on preference
- 1/4 cup frozen riced cauliflower
- 1/2 avocado
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 1 Brazil nut
- squeeze of lemon juice optional
Instructions
- In your blender, add the greens and then fill the blender with water up to the greens but not over. The water line will stop just under the greens. Purée well to liquify. I start at about a 3 on my Vitamix and slowly increase the speed to the highest level. Blend until completely smooth and no bits of green are left behind.
- Stop the blender and add all the frozen ingredients, banana, peach and cauliflower. Blend well to combine.
- Scoop half an avocado into the blenderand add chia seeds, ground flax and a Brazil nut. I sometimes like a squeeze of lemon in my smoothly for acidity, about a teaspoon or two. Replace the lid andblend well to combine, making sure the brazil nut is completely puréed and allthe ingreceitns are combined without any “chunks” left behind.
I’m excited to gather fresh produce from my garden and create a vibrant and nourishing beverage. Thank you for providing such a simple yet nutritious recipe that promotes a healthy lifestyle.
You are welcome! So glad you liked it!