The Best Creamy Green Smoothie

This delicious green smoothie was borne out of an insatiable desire to replicate Go Green or Go Home. A truly addictive smoothie I discovered at Raw Remedy Juice Bar, a cute organic cafe located in Palm Springs. Quite honestly, it might be the best green smoothie I’d ever had! Rich and creamy, with a light hint of ginger and topped off with fragrantly sweet bee pollen. Greens-packed perfection in a cup.

I jotted down the ingredients and when we got home I proceeded to play around with various ratios. Soon enough I came up with a pretty close replica! I’m not sure if it’s exact, but it is down right delicious. Since I don’t like using processed non-dairy milks, I tried it with both raw pasture raised milk and water. Surprisingly the version with water was just as good.

With avocado, banana and chia seeds, this smoothie comes out rich and creamy without the addition of any milk. It’s the perfect treat for days when you crave greens but want them packed into a tasty smoothie.

Cooking Notes

This recipe yields enough smoothie for two servings, but I don’t recommend storing the leftovers for a later snack. Aside from the fact that after the produce has been liquified prolonged exposure (30 minutes or more) to oxygen will cause the precious nutrients to begin to dissipate, taste wise, sitting in the fridge for a couple hours will cause the smoothie to become a little bitter. So drink it all up, share with a friend, or reduce the ingredients by half for a 16 oz serving.

Greens

Err light on the kale! Too much kale will make the smoothie taste a bit too cruciferous, or bitter. Spinach on the other hand tends to feel more creamy when broken down. So if you’re in a pinch and only have spinach on hand you could still make this smoothie with the same amount of spinach, however if all you have is kale then just keep it light on the greens.

Lacinato kale tends to come in smaller leaves, so if you use the  more common Curly Kale (the big curly leaves), consider using just one big leaf.

Chia Seeds

The recipe calls for a half cup hydrated (pre-soaked) chia. I suggest that you make a jar of hydrated chia seeds to have on hand for smoothies or a quick breakfast. This way you don’t have to mess around with waiting for the chia seeds to plump up before adding them to a recipe.

I like to have a 32 oz mason jar of hydrated chia seeds going in the fridge for ease of use. To do the same, simply follow these easy steps:

• put 1/2 cup dry chia into a 32 oz mason jar
• fill with filtered water
• shake it up and continue to shake every couple of minutes
• after 10-15 minutes and a few shakes the mixture should stop separating
• place in fridge and eat over the course of the week

Bee Pollen

Be sure to buy bee pollen that comes refrigerated, and to reap the most health benefits buy a brand that is pesticide free and sourced near your local area. Packed with an array of nutrients, bee pollen delivers:

• natural allergy relief
• myriad vitamins & minerals
• proteins, lipids and fatty acids
• enzymes, carotenoids & bioflavonoids
• antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties
• toning and detox properties

All of this adds up to bee pollen being a true health food. Eating bee pollen can help stimulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, strengthen capillaries, promote weight loss and reduce LDL cholesterol levels.

A word of caution for pregnant women: you may want to avoid bee pollen because it has been known to stimulate the uterus.

Dry Goods & Equipment Shopping List

• Organic Chia Seeds (so much cheaper in bulk!)

• Glass Straws

• Vitamix or Blendtec