Green Smoothie With Cucumber and Cumin

By Martha Rose Shulman

Published April 26, 2014

  • Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
2 minutes
Rating
4(213)
Comments
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This smoothie, the only savory drink in this week’s Recipes for Health, is a bit like an Indian lassi, with a little heat from the pinch of cayenne, and some lovely spice. I used a mix of baby greens – chard, baby kale and spinach, as well as parsley and mint. It makes for a filling lunch.

Featured in: Drink Your Greens

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Ingredients

Yield:1 generous serving

  • 1 cup kefir

  • ½ cup chopped celery

  • 1 cup chopped cucumber (seedless) (about 5 ounces)

  • 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

  • 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves

  • ½ cup, tightly packed, greens such as kale, chard, spinach

  • 1 quarter-size slice ginger, peeled

  • ½ teaspoon chia seeds

  • ½ teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds

  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

  • Pinch of cayenne (more to taste)

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving

23 grams carbs; 32 milligrams cholesterol; 209 calories; 2 grams monosaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 9 grams fat; 3 grams fiber; 177 milligrams sodium; 11 grams protein; 15 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend at high speed for 1 minute. Serve.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
213 user ratings
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Comments

SSP

I made this several times as is, and LOVE it. So refreshing. I agree with other reviewers that say it is better chilled. Lately I’ve started subbing the lemon juice and cayenne for about 1/2 cup of Wild Brine Korean Kimchi. It adds a tasty amount of salt, tartness, and spiciness with the benefit of additional veg and healthy bacteria.

Nats

After a month of rather heavy quarantine-anxiety cooking and eating, this really hit the spot. I used some outer leaves of romaine for the greens and skipped the chia seeds. It makes one large smoothie, which is, of course, a very light, but tasty and refreshing meal.

laurel

I did not love this smoothie at room temperature, but chilled it was refreshing & savory. Try sprinkling flake salt (smoked or not) on top.

Sheila H

Love this! It’s a great way to cut back on the sugar in your diet. It is so satisfying and complex that it seems to erase sugar cravings. I add a few ice cubes to the blender because, like others, I think it tastes best very cold. 1/2 cup celery = about 2 small stalks from a celery heart. 1 cup of cucumber = about half a cucumber.

SeanNC

I love this smoothie! I feel like making a tadka with some oil and cumin and muster seeds would make this sing!

Cat

Oh my, this is good. My only substitutes were: - only used the seedy parts and juice of cucumbers saved from another recipe - quadrupled the greens, using only kale - regular cumin powder because I’m lazy I was not expecting much but this really surprised me. Thanks Martha!

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