Best homegrown veggies & greens to add to fruit smoothies?

[cmdr-apollo]

When I had a juicer, I often made smoothies which included carrots and spinach and such but I haven't been able to do this since my juicer broke.
Now, I drink smoothies nearly everyday using my blender or Magic Bullet. I'm really looking into experimenting with my blended smoothies by adding veggies and greens to them. Of course, the base will still be fruit (bananas, strawberries, different types of berries, mangoes, peaches, etc). I just want to add different things.

Does anyone have any favorite non-fruit smoothie additions that I should look into growing?

 

[blueiris]

This isn't exactly related, but your post reminded me of my mom who used to make the best tomato juice I have ever had. Her second husband had a side business of selling produce at the flea market. When he had too many tomatoes she would make up some juice.

I remember it was a long process and she cleaned and chopped up boxes of tomatoes (I helped!) which she boiled and processed down into this incredible juice. I remember watching her strain it repeatedly with cheesecloth and a sieve. When it was all over, this stuff was clear and sparkling!

I wish I had the exact recipe. She tried it later with food processors, but could never duplicate the perfection with modern appliances.

It tasted like the elixir of the Gods!

 

[ChanellG]

Kale is a good one and so is spinach. My mom started doing this recently and you can't even taste the kale. She just ordered an emulsifier as well so I have a feeling she is about to turn into the juicing and smoothie monster, lol. If I had one of those things (it makes bread dough and soup!) I might get lazy and never cook again - especially in summer!

 

[claudine]

Personally, I really like pea, strawberry, and banana smoothie. It sounds like a rather weird combination but believe me, it's delicious. The best thing about smoothies is that they're so healthy, I love them

 

[Soliloquy]

I'm growing blueberries, blackberries (and now even a raspberry plant) and occasionally throw some into smoothies. Strawberries are another great addition, though I'm not growing any at the moment.

 

[headfullofbees]

Chillies. Not too hot. Nice fruity ones like Chenzo.

 

[ChanellG]

Personally, I really like pea, strawberry, and banana smoothie. It sounds like a rather weird combination but believe me, it's delicious. The best thing about smoothies is that they're so healthy, I love them

Claudine, I've been trying to imagine what it would taste like to have peas in my smoothie and I just can't get there, lol. Are you using frozen peas? Canned ones? Cooked ones? Peas pureed in a soup I get, but I don't know... When I think smoothie I think bananas, strawberries, pineapple, apple, melon... I usually have my green in salad or sautee, but peas, that's really different.

 

[claudine]

Claudine, I've been trying to imagine what it would taste like to have peas in my smoothie and I just can't get there, lol. Are you using frozen peas? Canned ones? Cooked ones? Peas pureed in a soup I get, but I don't know... When I think smoothie I think bananas, strawberries, pineapple, apple, melon... I usually have my green in salad or sautee, but peas, that's really different.

I know, it's a little weird idea but it tastes really good . I use canned peas because they're softer. They're very delicate, so you have too add a lot of them, otherwise you'll barely taste them.

 

[ChanellG]

Well, maybe if I barely taste them I will be more inclined to use them in my smoothie, lol. I always intend to get frozen ones I can toss into the rice cooker when I am making rice, but it never happens. My aunt buys the canned ones and heats them as a side for dinner some times, but I rarely think about them even though I like them.

 

[cmdr-apollo]

Personally, I really like pea, strawberry, and banana smoothie. It sounds like a rather weird combination but believe me, it's delicious. The best thing about smoothies is that they're so healthy, I love them

Wow, I would never think to add peas. It's so strange that I just have to try it! I have a ton of cans of peas so I have no excuse to not experiment. I can't even imagine the flavor, so this should be an interesting experiment whether I end up enjoying the flavor it or not.

 

[claudine]

Well, I'm a big fan of canned peas and this is why I like adding them to many of my meals. I find them very delicious. One of my favorite snacks is canned peas with mayonnaise. But a smoothie with some peas is good too

 

[ChanellG]

I don't like mayonnaise, so that is all I am going to say about that, lol. I'm going to have to look into all of the health benefits of peas and think about what they could be combined with.

Check out this green smoothie recipe: http://www.muffintinmania.com/2011/07/green-smoothie-cups.html

 

[claudine]

Check out this green smoothie recipe: http://www.muffintinmania.com/2011/07/green-smoothie-cups.html

Almonds and coconut water sound delicious! But I would have to replace spinach with something else - I simply can't stand the taste of it, in my opinion eating spinach is like eating grass . Maybe I could replace it with a banana

 

[maddie]

I add spinach, kale, beet leaves, radish leaves, cucumbers, to banana and other fruits and nuts. My children get bored if it tastes the same.. two ingredients are constant in my case.. wheat grass and bananas. These form my base for my green smoothies. I love them. One way to get the kids to have veggies in a healthy form.

 

[ChanellG]

...But I would have to replace spinach with something else... Maybe I could replace it with a banana

I add spinach, kale, beet leaves, radish leaves, cucumbers, to banana and other fruits and nuts. My children get bored if it tastes the same.. two ingredients are constant in my case.. wheat grass and bananas. These form my base for my green smoothies. I love them. One way to get the kids to have veggies in a healthy form.

I was going to suggest kale instead of spinach since banana isn't exactly a substitute. Maddie, are you one of those mothers who sneaks veggies into stuff kids live to eat like spaghetti sauce and mac and cheese by grating and pureeing them?

My mom made a drink just now that is part smoothie and part agua fresca with kale, fruit, water, and nuts.

 

[happyflowerlady]

I know that green smoothies are one of the healthiest foods to have, but I am still getting used to the taste of drinking them, and just the look of drinking something that is Army Green colored. If they come out a pretty, vibrant green, then it is a little better, but still just strange tasting. I usually close my eyes, smell, and then drink. If I don't see it, and just smell how it will taste, it is much better to me.
I add spinach, kale, and dark lettuce, like romaine, to my smoothies.
I have been thinking that I will try a tomato juice smoothie with some of the hot mustard leaves in it to spice it up.

 

[claudine]

I was going to suggest kale instead of spinach since banana isn't exactly a substitute.

I've eaten kale only once so far and I really don't like it because it reminds me of spinach, lol . But thank you for the suggestion. I'm just not a big fan of leafy greens - except for broccoli, these I really love

 

[maddie]

I was going to suggest kale instead of spinach since banana isn't exactly a substitute. Maddie, are you one of those mothers who sneaks veggies into stuff kids live to eat like spaghetti sauce and mac and cheese by grating and pureeing them?

My mom made a drink just now that is part smoothie and part agua fresca with kale, fruit, water, and nuts.

Of course I am. How else can I get my older boy to eat healthy.. infact just this morning he said "Mom, just do anything to mask the taste and smell and I will drink it up, but don't tell me what you put into it.. " LOL that was my moment.

 

[ChanellG]

@Happyflowerlady - I could never do that! I'm not big on spicy stuff and I just don't care for tomato drinks. I love the green juice from Odwalla and Naked brands so I would have no problem with green smoothies, though I would probably just add spirulina powder and eat my greens in salads or sautees.

@Claudine - I am a kale convert! I like the dragon kale the best, followed by the big leafy one - the curly one is okay, but it's harder to clean and dry, etc. I think that one is best for making kale chips, which I have yet to do. I love spinach and now I am a fan of rainbow chard as well, thanks to my local farmer's market - in fact I want to start growing it.

@Maddie - that is too funny! I think you just have to be sure to use sweet fruits like kiwi, banana, melon, and grapes - speaking of, guess what I got yesterday?