Green Smoothie

Recipe from Veggies Natural Juice Bar & Cafe

Adapted by Ali Slagle

Published January 9, 2024

  • Two glass cups filled with green smoothies.
    Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne. Prop Stylist: Megan Hedgpeth.
Media 1 of 2
Total Time
10 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Rating
5(2,042)
Comments
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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

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Ingredients

Yield:1 (16-ounce/2-cup) smoothie

  • ½ cup unsweetened non-dairy milk (almond, oat, soy or hemp)

  • 1 tablespoon agave or honey, plus more to taste

  • 2 packed cups/2 ½ ounces spinach leaves

  • 1 ½ packed cups/1 ½ ounces de-stemmed, torn curly kale leaves (from 2 leaves)

  • 1 thin slice/3 grams fresh ginger

  • 1 ripe, large banana

  • ½ cup ice cubes

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving

62 grams carbs; 299 calories; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 4 grams fat; 9 grams fiber; 147 milligrams sodium; 9 grams protein; 39 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

    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.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
2,042 user ratings
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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

One of the few reasonable nytimes cooking commenters

For some reasonable feedback: made as written; the recipe is excellent.

Jason Wittman

If you really want a truly healthy green drink, add a heaping tablespoon of Spirulina powder. Spirulina is the most complete natural food on the earth. A word of caution, though: Spirulina has more chlorophyll than wheatgrass so unless you are used to eating lost of green stuff, Spirulina is capable of cleaning like a green tornado, so start with just a little in your drink.

SMR

Smoothie recipes are infinitely adaptable and changeable. This is delicious as written. Everyone’s tastes are different, but I prefer not added sweetener (honey, agave, date, etc.). Fresh fruit adds enough for my taste. My favorite go-to is carrots, beet, kale/spinach, frozen mixed berries, ginger, mint, protein powder (unsweetened), and ice.

Patricia

My summer morning breakfast--excellent all around. Using frozen spinach (out of fresh, which seems to go off quickly) required more liquid for my Vitamix, but otherwise performed perfectly as written. A great way to get the deep green leafy veg.

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