Green Smoothie

Recipe from Veggies Natural Juice Bar & Cafe

Adapted by Ali Slagle

Published Jan. 10, 2024

Green Smoothie
Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne. Prop Stylist: Megan Hedgpeth.
Total Time
10 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Rating
5(1,152)
Comments
Read comments

For a green smoothie that’s neither too sweet nor reminiscent of gazpacho, make the “Stew” from Veggies Natural Juice Bar & Cafe in Brooklyn. Fresh, spicy and sweet everyday staples like agave or honey, greens, ginger and banana harmonize thanks to one ingredient that brings them all together: vanilla extract, which enhances and balances flavors in baked goods and beyond. The Stew was invented on Veggies’s opening day, when a customer named Stew asked for a drink using a few requested ingredients. Co-owners Ian Callender and Jahman McKenzie named the smoothie after him, also paying tribute to Caribbean stews. Mr. Callender advises not to add more liquid to this smoothie — the greens bring their own — or more vanilla or ginger, which can overpower. The proportions for this recipe have been fine-tuned and perfected over time. —Ali Slagle

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

Advertisement

Ingredients

Yield:1 (16-ounce/2-cup) smoothie
  • ½cup unsweetened non-dairy milk (almond, oat, soy or hemp)
  • 1tablespoon agave or honey, plus more to taste
  • 2packed cups/2½ ounces spinach leaves
  • 1½ packed cups/1½ ounces de-stemmed, torn curly kale leaves (from 2 leaves)
  • 1thin slice/3 grams fresh ginger
  • 1ripe, large banana
  • ½cup ice cubes
  • 1teaspoon vanilla extract
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (1 servings)

299 calories; 4 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 62 grams carbohydrates; 9 grams dietary fiber; 39 grams sugars; 9 grams protein; 147 milligrams sodium

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.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Pour milk and agave into a blender. Add spinach, kale, ginger and banana. Blend on high until smooth.

  2. Step 2

    Add the ice and vanilla and blend on high until smooth. Taste and add more agave or honey, if desired.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Ratings

5 out of 5
1,152 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Comments

Judi

Ginger is easily frozen. When you need some, just grate on a microplane zester, skin and all. It's a ginger game changer. Always have it on hand, never rotten.

theGrossman

I was given a recipe from a nutritionist. No need for honey or agave which many doctors consider the same as using refined sugar. And by adding the avocado it becomes very smooth in texture. Kale Avacado Banana Pineapple Ginger

Van

You can easily freeze ginger and then it doesn't rot. Easy to grate when it's frozen too!

Maranda

I knew I wouldn’t love this but I at least hoped to tolerate it. Not the case. No amount of banana and vanilla extract can mask the bitterness of the spinach and kale so if you’re not okay with that this is not for you.

Shira

Smoothie is great as written! I added vanilla protein powder & still tastes perfect.

Emily

Delicious, perfect. It tastes just like my favorite green smoothie from the tragically closed Haymarket Cafe in Northampton, MA. Long live the Spanking Smoothie!

Private comments are only visible to you.

Recipe Tags

or to save this recipe.