A sweet-and-spicy Ginger Blueberry Smoothie is a refreshing start to the day! If you've never added spice to a smoothie, this is a great place to start.
This smoothie is one of the revamped recipes from the second edition of 40 Days of Green Smoothies. If you've been wanting to start a green smoothie habit but weren't sure how to get into the swing, I've gotten amazing feedback about this book as a resource.
More from the new 40 Days of Green Smoothies: Chocolate Shake Green Smoothie, Banana Berry Fresh
40 Days of Green Smoothies is a 6-week program that helps make green smoothies doable and accessible. It focuses on keeping things affordable by keeping your shopping list short.
Speaking of shopping lists! Each week kicks off with a shopping list, so your freezer will be stocked for that week's smoothies. The smoothies for each week use different combinations of the same small set of ingredients, so you don't have to invest your life savings in frozen fruit.
Making Your Ginger Blueberry Smoothie
Like all of the smoothies in the book, this one only takes a few minutes to make. Fill your blender with sweet banana and frozen blueberries, a handful of kale, a touch of ginger puree (see below), flax meal, water and ice. Blend, and sip!
You'll notice that the kale amount offers a range, and that's because depending on how "green" you like your smoothies, you may want more or less. If you have been making green smoothies for a while, you can use more kale without tasting it.
Regardless of your kale choices, the resulting smoothie is a little bit sweet, a little bit spicy, and a lovely way to start your day.
If you need more than a smoothie in the mornings, you can pair this up with additional breakfast items or have it as a mid-morning snack instead.
Making Your Ginger Puree
This ginger blueberry smoothie uses fresh ginger puree to add some kick without much work. I like to use the puree instead of a piece of ginger, because if the blender doesn't get that ginger well incorporated, it's no fun to suck a super spicy hunk of ginger up into your straw.
Making the ginger puree is super quick - way faster than mincing ginger by hand - and it's a really handy thing to have around. Make yourself a batch, and you can scoop up ginger for recipes, as needed.
It keeps for 3-4 days in the fridge. If you make more than you need, just pour the mixture into an ice cube tray. A standard ice cube is 2 tablespoons, so it's easy to pop out and defrost a cube whenever you need some fresh ginger for a recipe.
You can watch the quickie recipe video for this smoothie or get the written recipe below! Happy blending!
Ginger Blueberry Smoothie with Sneaky Greens
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup kale - ribs removed
- 1-2 tablespoons ginger puree - see above for how to make it
- 1 tablespoon flax meal
- 1/2-1 cup water - as needed to get things moving
- 4 ice cubes
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to your blender, but start with just 1/2 cup of water. Puree until smooth, adding water, 2 tablespoons at a time, as needed to get a smooth mix.
Video
Notes
- If you're new to green smoothies, start with 1/4 cup of kale. If you don't mind a little "green" taste, then go for the full 1/2 cup.
- For a spicier smoothie, use more ginger. If you want it more mild, use less
- How much water you need depends on your blender. Some blenders work better with more liquid than others. Start low, and add slowly until you get the smoothie you want.
Have a question? Tried this recipe? Share your thoughts!