This spinach and apple smoothie recipe is an incredibly easy way to pack in an extra helping of green veggies. Dairy free iron rich smoothie with applesauce and frozen spinach tastes fresh and delicious (you can taste the goodness!). On busy days a green smoothie is a great way to help you on your way to Five A Day.
We all know the importance of including plenty of veg in our diet, but including leafy greens is especially important. Nutrient rich leafy greens are among the healthiest foods you can eat, and it's not surprising that Popeye was famed for eating spinach.
Spinach is linked to vitality, and it's rich in iron, folic acid and numerous other vitamins and minerals. (This BBC article by a registered nutritionist explains more about the health benefits of spinach)
What you'll love about the recipe
- This iron rich smoothie recipe makes a great start to the day
- Making a healthy apple smoothie with cooked applesauce is super easy. It'll break down to a smooth texture easily, even without a high powered blender. It's an ideal immersion blender smoothie.
- Frozen spinach is easy and convenient to use in a green smoothie.
- Diary free, gluten free and vegan. Spinach and apple smoothie is also refined sugar free, and is naturally sweetened with fruit.
- This healthy green smoothie without banana is very low in calories and high in antioxidants.
Ingredients
- Spinach. Frozen chopped spinach is easy to use, and you can make this healthy green smoothie even when you are running low on fresh ingredients. If you remember, take the spinach out of the freezer to defrost, but if not, then use hot water to defrost it.
- Applesauce. You'll need unsweetened applesauce or cooked apple. Although cooked apples are slightly lower in some nutrients than raw apples, they are very good for digestion. Cooked apples are higher in a type of fibre called pectin, which is released during the cooking process and helps to protect the lining of the gut.
(Try this slow cooker applesauce recipe, perfect for making large quantities of apple puree!) - Water. You'll need to add some liquid to your spinach and apple puree to achieve a good texture.
Variations
- Try adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to your green smoothie with apples. As well as adding flavour, spices also have a nutritional benefit, even in tiny amounts. Or try a squeeze of lemon juice to make your smoothie taste even fresher.
- For a sweeter kid-friendly version, make a spinach apple and banana smoothie. Add ½ of a banana and blend with the other ingredients.
- For extra creaminess and healthy fats, add half an avocado for a spinach and avocado smoothie. Avocado is a great vegetarian source of folic acid and contains additional iron, making this combination even more nutritious
How to make spinach and apple smoothie
The advantage of using frozen chopped spinach and applesauce is that you can easily make this healthy dairy free smoothie with a stick or immersion blender. Immersion smoothies make for an easy clean up:). I use a tall jug with the immersion blender so that none of the vibrant green liquid escapes. Of course you could use a normal blender or food processor. If you're using raw apples in a smoothie, you'll need a super powerful blender to achieve a smooth texture.
Making this spinach and applesauce smoothie is very easy. Simply blend all of the ingredients together until smooth.
Frequently asked questions
It's quite hard to tell where the freshness of the apple finishes and the spinach starts, as it's a pretty mild flavour. If you hate the taste of spinach, you'll probably notice it, but otherwise, I would say it's certainly not dominant.
Yes, you can. But you will need a more powerful blender to achieve a smooth texture. Remove any tough stalks, chop the leaves and blend the spinach and water first before adding the applesauce.
If you remember, it makes the blending process slightly quicker. But if you are using spinach which is still frozen, use hot water in the recipe instead of cold and it will defrost pretty quickly.
Absolutely you can. However, spinach has a particularly mild flavour which works very well with apples. Its tender texture also breaks down well.
I'd suggest making your spinach and apple smoothie as close as possible to drinking it. That way it'll keep its fresh colour and goodness:)
Of course! Spinach and apple smoothie is packed with nutrients and fibre. It's a good source of folic acid, and this iron-rich smoothie is a great way to start your day and pack some extra fruit and veg into your diet. Enjoy!
Other healthy drinks
If you like smoothies, you might also like to try this protein smoothie with cottage cheese. Or try these other healthy drinks which are all made with nutritious ingredients.
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Recipe
Spinach and Apple Smoothie
Ingredients
- 80 g chopped frozen spinach ideally defrosted
- 100 ml applesauce or cooked apple unsweetened
- 100 ml water
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a tall jug and blitz with an immersion blender until smooth. If your spinach is still frozen, use hot water to help it defrost and mix together.
- If you prefer, use a blender or food processor.
Notes
- Try adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to your smoothie. As well as adding flavour, spices also have a nutritional benefit, even in tiny amounts. Or try a squeeze of lemon juice to make your smoothie taste even fresher
- For a sweeter kid-friendly version, make a spinach apple and banana smoothie. Add ½ of a banana and blend with the other ingredients.
Velda Robinson says
I threw in handfuls of spinach, 4 older apple crisp, made 3 nice cups , 2for morning, 3rd cup I passed around for opinions, asked about a spice to complement. Nutmeg won It's an easy smoothie. And Good!
Wendy Faulkner says
Thank you:) I bet you were feeling very healthy after that!