by Jennifer Provenza at Good Food From The Heart
With hearty kale, crisp celery, and juicy cucumber, this immune boosting smoothie will give you those vegetable nutrients you’ve been craving. This smoothie is refreshing and revitalizing when you aren’t feeling well, and will boost your energy and stamina when you are.
Whole Food Plant Based, Oil free, Sugar free, Gluten free, Soy free, Nut free
Why Drink This Immune-Boosting Cucumber, Kale, and Celery Smoothie?
Like a lot of people, I love smoothies! However, often, they are just full of sugar and can pack in more calories than you might want for a snack. Because, let’s face it, a smoothie is not a meal for most of us. Also, while I love fruit and eat it often, I sometimes find that I haven’t been getting in all the green veggies I should. I notice this especially in the winter when I don’t tend to eat a lot of salads. In fact, I often find myself craving green juice. Honestly, green juice can take some getting used to, but with just the right ingredients, it can be delicious! Best of all, I’ve noticed that when I regularly drink veggies I tend to get sick less and recover from illness faster. In fact, I was sick twice last month and I credit this juice and lots of homemade soup with helping me get back on my feet quicker, thanks to all the vitamins and nutrients I was getting! There is a great green juice at my local market, but it’s expensive and I don’t always have time to go there on busy days. Luckily, I discovered that I could create a smoothie with a similar flavor at home. It’s quick, easy, and pretty inexpensive too!
This immune-boosting cucumber, kale, and celery green smoothie is refreshing and delicious. With ginger and lemon, but no fruit or added sugar, this nourishing smoothie will have you feeling your best.
Ingredients
Kale: Kale is so healthy for you; it’s truly a superfood. Sometimes it gets a bad name, but in this smoothie, the flavor is really good.
Lemon Juice: The lemon juice offers vitamin C and a great tangy flavor.
Celery: The celery is full of antioxidants and adds a nice fresh flavor.
Cucumber: The cucumber is so fresh and delicious and also adds fiber and vitamin K.
Ginger: I use ginger paste, but you can also grate fresh ginger. It settles the stomach and adds a great zingy flavor.
Water Kefir or Coconut Water: The addition of water kefir or coconut water gives you some great probiotics or potassium and the lemon and ginger really open the nasal passages. (I like to use Kevita Lemon Cayenne water kefir). Be sure to look for a sugarless water kefir and just know that you will be getting some sugar if you use the coconut water option.
Substitutions
Substitution for the kale: Spinach makes a great substitute with a milder flavor. If you aren’t sure about kale or are new to green smoothies, try spinach instead.
Substitution for the other veggies: I wouldn’t recommend leaving out the cucumber, but you could replace the celery with more cucumber or even beets or carrots. You also could replace any of the veggies with fruit, such as pineapple or green apple.
Substitution for the liquid: You could use water or another juice if you prefer, but the water kefir or coconut water really give this smoothie a great flavor.
Substitution for the lemon juice or ginger: You can leave these out if you prefer, but they really add a great zing.
FAQ
You definitely can use raw kale in a smoothie! I use the leafy parts and skip the thick stalk.
I love both! Personally, I tend to use water kefir which is nearly free of sugar and contains lots of probiotics for my gut health. If you can’t find that, coconut water is a great alternative. It has more sugar, but it also has lots of potassium and electrolytes.
Yes! If you need to avoid acid, just leave out the lemon and use coconut water as the liquid.
Look, there are no rules here. If you want to add fruit, you do you. Some people really like a little added sweetness. This smoothie particularly works well with pineapple. Or why not try a green apple celery smoothie? Or even a papaya celery smoothie?
No, but it definitely helps. Honestly, the Vitamix was one of the best purchases I ever made (I get no kickbacks or anything, just sharing my opinion). I use it at least 1-3 times a day between making smoothies, soups, and sauces. It blends so perfectly and so quickly! I’m in love. However, you can definitely use a regular blender, you just may have to keep blending for a little while.
Absolutely! I do, during cold and flu season, especially.
Yes, just remove it from the freezer at least a half hour before you plan to drink it (because it will be frozen solid) and stir before drinking.
If you have a juicer, you can leave out the liquid and make a juice instead, but you will want to increase the amount of vegetables you use. You could also strain the smoothie through a nut milk bag to get a juice like consistency, but it will dye the milk bag green.
How to Make It
This really couldn’t be easier. Just pour the liquid into the blender, followed by all the other ingredients, and blend at high speed until it is completely smooth with no pieces of vegetable in it. Serve immediately. I like to follow this with a cappuccino because, coffee. But it would also go great with a healthy lunch or followed with a nice green tea. If you like smoothies, you may also like my Chocolate Covered Cherry Smoothie, my Strawberry Blackberry Banana Smoothie or my Pretty Pink Pitaya Dragon Fruit Smoothie
Immune-Boosting Cucumber, Kale, and Celery Smoothie (No Fruit)
Equipment
- blender
Ingredients
- 2 cups kale or spinach
- 15 ounces lemon flavored water kefir or coconut water
- 1 large english cucumber sliced
- 2 pieces celery sliced
- 1 teaspoon ginger paste or 1/4 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 green apple optional, chopped
- 4-6 ice cubes optional
Instructions
- Pour the water kefir or coconut water into a high speed blender. Add the remaining ingredients. If you need a sweeter smoothie, add the apple. Mix on high until well blended and smooth.
Notes
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Really refreshing! I tried it with and without the apple and I liked it both ways.