This green spirulina smoothie is decadent AND healthy! It's packed with protein, nutrients and antioxidants. And it basically tastes like a milkshake. What's not to love?
Need something green for St. Patrick's Day? Start off your day with this healthy "lucky" shake, and try not to think about all the beer you're about to drink.
It's also great pre or post workout (or surf lol)...just toss it in a to-go mug and you have a nutritious and filling breakfast.
This green smoothie was inspired by this strawberry mango smoothie, and my thick berry smoothie bowl .
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Ingredients
You only need 6 ingredients for this decadent spirulina smoothie.
- Frozen bananas - pro tip: if you have a bunch of bananas that are almost over-ripe, peel and place into an airtight container. Freeze for 12-24 hours before using. They're good for up to 3 months.
- Frozen mango chunks for tartness and creamy texture
- Ripe avocado for creamy texture
- Peanut butter...enough said.
- Coconut milk or other plant-based milk (or dairy milk...I won't judge ya)
- Spirulina powder for green color and protein
If you're going for the milkshake vibe, here are some ideas. Totally optional...
- Blueberries - add to the bottom of the shake for fresh fruity treat at the end.
- Macadamia nut butter - I was introduced to this in Hawaii and can't get it off my mind. You can also sub with peanut butter or nut butter of your choice.
- Coconut whipped cream - I discovered that ReddiWhip makes a coconut whipped cream a few weeks ago and am OBSESSED. I've seen it at Publix, Kroger, and Harris Teeter here on the East Coast....but if you can't find it, ask your local grocery store to stock it for you!
- Banana slices - extra sweetness
- Coconut flakes - if you want extra crunch
Instructions
Smoothies are pretty simple - we just need to load the blender. A personal blender (pictured below) works well, but if you're using something bigger like a Vitamix, double the recipe.
Load biggest chunks closest to the blades when using a larger blender. Cover with plant milk until almost all the ingredients are covered, then blend until smooth.
If you have a one-speed blender like a nutribullet, you may need to stop and stir a few times to get everything properly mixed.
If you're working with a multi-speed blender like a Vitamix, start on low speed and increase slowly as you see movement in the blender. It's ok to stop and stir.
In both cases, the blender typically needs 30-60 seconds to fully mix this creamy smoothie.
Pour into cup of choice, top with fruit and whipped cream if desired, and enoy!
Substitutions & Variations
This creamy spirulina smoothie is vegan, dairy-free, and gluten free.
- It can be nut free by substituting peanut butter for seed butter.
- If you have a peanut allergy, try another nut butter instead. Almond butter works well.
- Want it with no bananas? No problem, add more frozen mango.
- No ripe avocados on hand? Add more mango, frozen banana, or peanut butter or skip it altogether.
If you have some extra time, you can ripen avocados by placing in a paper bag with some bananas for 12-24 hours or more.
Looking for a thicker texture, more like soft serve? Or a smoothie bowl consistency? Add less liquid - start by covering the ingredients ¾ of the way. You may need to stop and stir more often.
Storage
Refrigerate smoothie in an insulated mug for up to 24 hours. Smoothie will melt quickly in a regular glass!
Equipment
The main piece of equipment for smoothies is a blender.
I have a Nutribullet and a Vitamix...both will work for this recipe with a couple notes:
Vitamix and/or larger multi-speed blenders
- Double the recipe so there's enough liquid to properly blend
- Load largest frozen fruit pieces toward the bottom closest to the blades
- Start blending on low and increase speed slowly as the smoothie blends and moves
Nutribullet and/or one-speed or personal blenders
- Keep blending as long as everything is moving
Smoothie tips for any blender:
- Stop and stir as often as needed
- If you hear the blender change pitch (e.g. it sounds louder or different but you didn't change the speed), stop, stir, and start again. It probably isn't blending your smoothie if this happens...
Want to know more about blenders? Here's everything I know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Spirulina is a cyanobacteria, a type of blue-green algae. In this case, the algae is more green than blue. Algae is one of the most primitive forms of the plant life on earth today - it's the bottom of the food chain that feeds all kinds of marine life.
It also has insane health benefits - in addition to extra protein, it contains essential vitamins and minerals too!
Look for spirulina in your local grocery store or health foods store near the supplements or protein powder. If you can't find it in store, order it online!
Yes, spirulina is packed with protein and all the essential amino acids. The quality of protein in spirulina is comparable to an egg. It's also packed with antioxidants and may lower bad cholesterol.
Absolutely! This green spirulina smoothie contains whole foods like banana and mango - both excellent sources of carbohydrate. It has plenty of protein from spirulina powder and peanut butter. The smoothie rounds out the macronutrients with healthy fat from peanut butter, avocado, and coconut milk.
Top Tips
Take your time blending this smoothie - the creamy, soft-serve like texture is worth it!
Want more smoothie action? I've got ya covered.
Creamy Green Spirulina Smoothie
Ingredients
Shake
- 2 Bananas Frozen
- ½ - 1 Cup Mangoes Frozen
- 1 tablespoon Peanut butter
- ½ Avocado Ripe
- 1 teaspoon Spirulina Or less if you want a less green smoothie
- 1-2 Cups Coconut Milk More if you like thinner smoothie
Optional Toppings
- 1 tablespoon Nut Butter I had Macadamia nut butter on hand, but use what you have!
- 1 tablespoon Blueberries
- 5 Slices Banana
- 1 teaspoon Coconut flakes
- 1 teaspoon Macadamia nuts
- ¼ Cup Coconut whipped cream
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients until smooth.
- Tip: start your blender on low, and build up speed as your ingredients mix in.
- Layer in blueberries, bananas, etc. as you desire, and top with whipped cream, and anything else you're feeling.
Angela Milnes says
this shake might as well be a milkshake it's so good! 10/10 would recommend.