This nutrient rich beet kale smoothie not only is ultra healthy, but also naturally super sweet and filling too. Features banana, apple, hemp seeds, kale and raw red beet. Simple, fully plant-based and rich in antioxidants.
This energizing beet kale smoothie is such a great way to fill up on valuable nutrients right in the morning. Packed with antioxidants and fiber, it is also vibrant in color and beautifully appetizing.
And hiding vegetables in smoothies is so great! We all know about blending in some greens with the fruits, but how about other veggies? I have made this banana carrot smoothie often and we all love it! And now beets: they make this smoothie thick, hearty and nicely red with a delicious unique flavor.
Plus, beets are naturally pretty sweet! They pair well with fruits, but they also have a nice earthy flavor that balances out the overall flavor of the smoothie. The combo of banana + apple really sweetens up the drink, so I think that without the earthiness from the beets, this smoothie might actually be too sweet for me. So, it really worked out perfectly!
This banana beet smoothie also includes kale for added nutrition, but the green color is taken over by the beets and you won't really taste it. It can be a good way to provide some extra "green" nutrition to kids without them noticing.
What's to love about this recipe
- Flavorful and easy way to enjoy more vegetables.
- Highlights beet and kale: two vegetables highly nutritious and rich in antioxidants.
- Naturally sweetened using apples and bananas.
- Fully vegan, plant-based and dairy-free.
- Kid-approved!
Ingredients you'll need
- Fresh beets: raw and bright red beets are best. If you have yellow beets, that will work too, although the color won't turn out as nice. I used half of a medium size beet.
- Kale: any raw kale leaves will work or use spinach if that's all you have.
- Apple: choose your favorite!
- Frozen bananas: fresh bananas will work too, but using frozen bananas adds to the creamy texture of the smoothie to makes it feel super rich and chills it too.
- Hemp seeds: optional and easy to swap for chia or flax seeds. Like in my strawberry chocolate smoothie and blueberry pineapple galaxy shake, I love using hemp seeds as they turn the drink creamier and silky without using any dairy product, plus it provides extra healthy omega-3 fats.
- Plant-based milk: use your favorite kind, but choose unsweetened if possible.
What kind of kale to use in smoothies
A high-speed blender will easily crush raw kale leaves smoothly, no matter the kind. I love to use dino Lacinato kale (or Tuscan kale) for its deep green color and it simply is the kind of kale I keep in the house for salads and soups, so I always have it ready-to-go for smoothies.
But, if you are just starting out adding kale to your smoothies, you could use baby kale leaves. They are a little milder in flavor, even a little sweet and less bitter, and have all the same health benefits as Lacinato or curly kale. They also are more tender, which can help to completely blend them, especially if you don't have a high-speed blender.
In any case, remove the thick stems from the leaves for a smoother result.
Also, for a smoother kale drink, check out this kale tonic!
How to make it
Prepare the veggies
Clean all produce very well, peel the beets and chop into large bite sized chunks. Remove the stems from the kale leaves. Also, I recommend to slice the frozen bananas as it will blend easier this way.
Blend and serve
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until ultra smooth. You can take a break mid-way to scrape the walls and make sure none of the kale leaves got stuck on the sides or bottom.
Taste and adjust flavor and texture (add more milk if needed). Serve and enjoy right away.
Watch how to make it
Helpful tips
- You might need to adjust the amount of plant-based milk to add. I used half of a medium size beet, which was about 3-4 ounces, but if the beet you use is bigger, then use more milk to compensate so it will easily blend.
- Also, cut the beet in smaller chunks first, this will help blend the veggie.
- I highly recommend to use frozen bananas to make your smoothie super creamy. If you don't have any, then fresh bananas will work out too, but your smoothie won't be as cold and might end up thinner. In that case, add a few ice cubes to cool it down.
Recipe variations
Like most smoothies, this recipe is highly customizable. Here are a few ideas:
- Swap the kale for spinach or baby spinach leaves.
- Add some frozen berries! The color and flavor would work very well in this recipe.
- To make it more convenient, use frozen kale. Add it while still frozen to the blender!
- I have some Acai powder that I like to include in drinks, especially to make Acai lemonade. So, I added a spoonful in this blender to try it out and it worked out so well.
- You can swap the plant-based milk for coconut water for a fun change!
How to make it more filling
Are you like me and enjoy having smoothies for breakfast? In that case, you can boost it with more protein (and fiber) to feel full longer. Try blending in:
- Nuts or nut-butter.
- More hemps seeds.
- Rolled oats. In that case, try using about ¼ cups and soak it in the milk for 10-15 minutes before blending (you can do that right in the blender). This will soften the grain and help blend to a smoother texture.
- Almond yogurt. It will add protein, but also make the smoothie super creamy. Yum.
Do I need a high-speed blender to make it?
A high-speed blender would definitely give you a better result in this case: the tough beet and rough kale will blend to a super smooth texture. You don't really want to end up with small chunks of beets, even if tiny.
If you don't have a high-speed blender, then you can cook/steam the beet first to make it more blend-able. Most grocery stores also has packaged whole cooked beets ready-to-go, which would work well here and blend very easily. Just make sure they are not flavored!
More smoothie recipes you might like
- Green peanut butter smoothie
- Watermelon banana smoothie
- Oat milk smoothie
- Banana chai smoothie
- Cucumber strawberry smoothie
- Blackberry, strawberry and banana smoothie
- Peach pineapple smoothie
- Raspberry and blueberry smoothie
- Watermelon mango smoothie
- Tropical island green smoothie
- Arugula smoothie
I hope you like this beet kale smoothie as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!
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📖 Recipe
Beet Kale Smoothie
Equipment
- Blender (high-speed recommended)
Ingredients
- ½ medium size beet (or one small beet, about 3-4 ounces) - peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 medium size apple - roughly chopped
- 1 frozen banana - sliced
- 2-3 leaves of kale - or a handful of baby kale leaves
- 1 tbsp hemp or flax seeds
- 1 cup plant-based milk - or more
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a blender a blend until very smooth.
- Pour in serving glasses and enjoy right away.
Video
Notes
- I highly recommend using frozen bananas if possible. They will make the smoothie creamier. You can easily freeze your own whenever they turn brown: remove their peels and store in bags/containers in the freezer. If you only have fresh bananas, that's fine too, just know that your smoothie won't be as cold.
- To make your smoothie more filling, feel free to add some nuts or nut-butter, pumpkin seed butter for a nut-free option, vegan yogurt, rolled oats (soak in the milk for 10-15 minutes prior to blending) or simply add more hemp seeds.
- Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.
NUTRITION
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