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This Tropical Zucchini smoothie is light, refreshing, and packed with fruits and veggies, including a whole zucchini! Enjoy this creamy smoothie as a healthy breakfast, post workout meal, or afternoon snack.
Skip the expensive smoothie bar this summer and learn how to make DELICIOUS and NUTRITIOUS smoothies at home with my Sunday Summer Smoothies Series!
Purchasing frozen produce is one of the cheapest ways to enjoy the flavor and health benefits of fruits and veggies (it's one of my top freezer pantry essentials). All the nutrients without the ridiculous price tag!
Smoothie recipes are easily one of my favorite ways to get extra veggies and fruits in. I don't naturally gravitate towards green salads or raw veggies and never have. And my husband does NOT like wilted greens in cooked dishes. The solution? Adding a handful of greens to your daily smoothie.
In this particular green smoothie, the added leafy greens help emphasize the green color of the zucchini and adds a nice earthiness that balances the sweetness in the fruit. Trust me, you basically won't taste it!
Now, I usually make this zucchini smoothie with the overflow of zucchini from the garden during summer (I don't have a garden, but I have many friends that share their bounty with us!).
You can fit almost an entire zucchini in this smoothie – it adds natural creaminess without affecting the flavor. So much better than baking banana bread when it's too hot to by using the oven!
Here's What You'll Need
Tip! If all of your ingredients are fresh, chop and freeze them together in a single layer on a baking sheet like this, then add them to the high speed blender!
- Frozen pineapple chunks: Pineapple adds a natural sweetness and tropical flavor to the smoothie. It’s rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C, and keeps the flavor of this smoothie light and refreshing.
- Frozen banana: Bananas contribute a creamy texture and natural sweetness. Without it, this smoothie will be on the icier side.
- Frozen Raw Zucchini: This mild-tasting vegetable adds a boost of vitamins and minerals without overpowering the flavor. It’s low in calories and high in antioxidants.
- Fresh kale: Kale is a powerhouse of nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and K. It also adds a vibrant green color and a slight earthiness to the smoothie.
- Water or coconut water: Choose water for a lighter option or coconut water for added electrolytes and a hint of tropical flavor. If you want a creamier smoothie, use a dairy or non-dairy milk like almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk.
- Ground flaxseed: Flaxseed is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. I love adding it to smoothies because you'll never taste it! Feel free to substitute equal amounts of chia seeds or hemp seeds.
Optional Smoothie Add-ins
- Add nut butter: If you want to add additional creaminess, I'd recommend almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter over peanut butter. Peanut butter won't work well with the overall tropical flavor.
- Add protein powder: Feel free to add a scoop of your favorite unflavored or vanilla protein powder.
- Swap in yellow squash: I regularly freeze diced zucchini and yellow squash together. Feel free to use them interchangeably in this zucchini smoothie.
- Swap in frozen cauliflower: Frozen cauliflower florets add a very similar creaminess and mildness as zucchini. Feel free to swap it in as needed, or make yourself a cauliflower zucchini smoothie!
- Add yogurt: Greek yogurt or coconut yogurt add a great natural creaminess.
Add sweetness: If you use ripe fruit, added sweetness shouldn't be necessary. If your fruit wasn't very sweet, add 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey, or add 1-2 pitted medjool dates. - Add coconut flakes: Blending shredded coconut into your smoothie is a great way to boost the tropical flavor, healthy fats, and natural creamienss.
Tropical Zucchini Smoothie Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups (414 ml) water or coconut water
- 1 cup (100 grams) frozen pineapple chunks ($0.82)
- 1 cup (137 grams) frozen banana sliced ($0.27)
- 1 cup (100 grams) frozen zucchini ($0.93)
- 1 (40 grams) handful fresh kale ($0.48)
- 1 tablespoon (8 grams) ground flaxseed ($0.05)
Instructions
- Add ingredients to high powered blender.
- Blend until smooth, stopping to push ingredients down towards blade as needed.
- Enjoy immediately.
- Add nut butter: If you want to add additional creaminess, I'd recommend almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter over peanut butter. Peanut butter won't work well with the overall tropical flavor.
- Add protein powder: Feel free to add a scoop of your favorite unflavored or vanilla protein powder.
- Swap in yellow squash: I regularly freeze diced zucchini and yellow squash together. Feel free to use them interchangeably in this zucchini smoothie.
- Swap in frozen cauliflower: Frozen cauliflower florets add a very similar creaminess and mildness as zucchini. Feel free to swap it in as needed, or make yourself a cauliflower zucchini smoothie!
- Add yogurt: Greek yogurt or coconut yogurt add a great natural creaminess.
Add sweetness: If you use ripe fruit, added sweetness shouldn't be necessary. If your fruit wasn't very sweet, add 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey, or add 1-2 pitted medjool dates. - Add coconut flakes: Blending shredded coconut into your smoothie is a great way to boost the tropical flavor, healthy fats, and natural creamienss.
Notes
- This smoothie makes a little less than 24 ounces of smoothie. This is my preferred single serving size, but feel free to split the smoothie with a friend or halve the recipe for a smaller serving.
Disclaimer: The Nutritional Information provided for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the facts listed is not and cannot be guaranteed.
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Recipe FAQs
If I don't answer your question here, write me a comment and I'll do my best to answer it!
Can I use fresh zucchini?
As long as the banana and pineapple is frozen, you can get away with using fresh, raw zucchini. However, if you want the creamiest smoothie possible, I highly recommend frozen zucchini.
Can I substitute the kale with other greens?
Yes, you can use spinach, Swiss chard, arugula or any other leafy greens you prefer. Each green will add its own unique flavor and nutritional benefits.
How long can I store the smoothie?
For the best taste and nutritional value, it’s best to consume the smoothie immediately. However, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Shake or stir well before drinking.
Alternatively, freeze the blended smoothie in ice cube trays. Then, when ready to drink again, re-blend the smoothie cubes with coconut water until creamy again! (You'll need less liquid to blend these smoothie cubes).
Recipe Tips
- Use ripe fruits: The riper the fruits, the sweeter your smoothie will be. This is especially important for bananas and pineapple.
- Blend in stages: If your blender has trouble blending all the ingredients at once, start with the liquid and greens, then add the fruits and vegetables in stages.
- Make it a freezer meal: If you want to streamline your daily smoothie routine, turn this zucchini smoothie into a smoothie pack. Place all of the ingredients, except the liquid, in a freezer-safe quart-size bag. Remove as much excess air as possible, then freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, dump ingredients in blender, add liquid, and blend.
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