Kale Smoothie

This energizing kale smoothie recipe is a great morning pick-me-up! Banana, peaches, and fresh ginger make it creamy, sweet, and refreshing.

Kale smoothie

This kale smoothie recipe is such an energizing way to start the day! Now that the weather’s warming up in Chicago, it’s made its way into my breakfast rotation of freezer burritos, muffins, and avocado toast. Refreshing and nutritious, it’s what I crave on mornings when the sun is shining, the air smells sweet, and it really feels like spring is on its way.

The magic of this kale smoothie recipe is that it doesn’t actually taste like kale. Don’t get me wrong, kale’s flavor has its time and place. It’s irresistible in a kale salad or pasta, but in a smoothie, it can easily become overwhelming. Here, I balance it with sweet peaches, creamy banana, and a touch of fresh ginger. The resulting smoothie is sweet, creamy, and absolutely delicious. Even Jack, a devout berry smoothie lover, happily polishes off a glass. Make it for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or anytime you’re craving a tasty, nourishing treat.

Kale smoothie recipe ingredients

Kale Smoothie Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this healthy kale smoothie recipe:

  • Kale, of course! I often make this recipe with green curly kale, but any variety will work here.
  • Almond milk – Use your favorite brand of unsweetened almond milk, or make your own.
  • Frozen banana – It makes the smoothie sweet and creamy.
  • Peaches – For extra sweetness and peachy flavor.
  • Ginger – It gives the smoothie a delicious kick! I love how its warm flavor plays off the sweet peaches.
  • Matcha powder – I blend it into my smoothie for an energizing, antioxidant-packed boost. If you don’t have any on hand, feel free to skip it! This recipe is still delicious without it.
  • And ice cubes – To make the smoothie thick and frosty.

Add all the ingredients to a high-powered blender, and blend until smooth!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Leafy greens, peaches, and banana in a blender

Kale Smoothie Recipe Tips

  • Freeze the kale. I like my smoothies to be really thick and frosty, almost like soft (and healthy) ice cream instead of a drink. If you do too, I recommend freezing the kale to get an extra-thick texture. And if you’re starting with fresh peaches instead of frozen fruit, make sure to freeze them too!
  • Add the almond milk to the blender first. When you’re blending frozen ingredients, it’s important that you add the liquid to the blender first. If the blades can’t reach the liquid, they’ll stall. Frozen fruits and veggies are too icy to blend up on their own.
  • Taste and adjust. The secret to making a perfect smoothie is adjusting it to suit your tastes. After you blend it together, try a spoonful. Then, add more greens if you like it earthier, more ice if you like it frostier, more milk if you like it thinner, or a drop of honey or maple syrup for extra sweetness. Rinse and repeat until you find a balance of flavors you love!

Kale smoothie in a blender

Kale Smoothie Variations

Like all smoothies, this kale smoothie recipe is super flexible! Adjust it to suit your tastes or to use the ingredients you have on hand. Here are a few ways I like to change it up:

  • Replace the peaches. For a wintry variation on this kale smoothie recipe, replace the peaches with pears. Frozen mango would work nicely here too.
  • No banana? No problem. Instead, use a quarter of an avocado to make this smoothie thick and creamy.
  • Try different leafy greens. Fresh or frozen spinach would be a great substitute for the kale.
  • Or another milk. If you don’t have almond milk on hand, use any type of milk you do have. Homemade oat milk would be great here!
  • Give it a superfood boost. Pack extra nutrients into your kale smoothie by adding a scoop of chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, or even protein powder.

Let me know what variations you try!

Kale smoothie recipe

More Favorite Smoothie Recipes

If you love this kale smoothie recipe, try one of these smoothies next:

Get This Recipe In Your Inbox
Share your email, and we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus, enjoy daily doses of recipe inspiration as a bonus!

Kale Smoothie

rate this recipe:
5 from 21 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Serves 2
This vibrant kale smoothie is a healthy, energizing way to start your day! Matcha fills it with antioxidants, and peaches and bananas make it sweet and creamy.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1 medium frozen banana
  • 2 kale leaves, stems removed
  • 2 to 3 small ripe peaches, frozen, or 1/2 to 1 cup diced mango, frozen
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon matcha, optional
  • Handful of ice

Instructions

  • In a high-speed blender, combine the almond milk, banana, kale, peaches, ginger, and matcha, if using.
  • Blend until creamy. Add a handful of ice and blend again.

Notes

Tip: freeze the kale ahead of time for a frostier smoothie.

 

 

52 comments

Leave a comment:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. YES! This is almost the exact breakfast smoothie I make. Like you, I’m a matcha monster. I’m going to come over for breakfast tomorrow, k?

  2. Tieghan from halfbakedharvest.com
    07.17.2014

    A big fat yes to matcha, kale and peaches!! What a great smoothie! 🙂

  3. This looks amazing! I love peach smoothies AND green tea but I’ve always been scared to try a green smoothie… this is clearly the time. Also, thanks for clarifying exactly what matcha is because I’ve been curious but never remembered long enough to look it up. Yum!

    • jeanine
      07.18.2014

      it’s so good – it’s slightly sweet and it tastes entirely different from regular green tea (we love matcha most in ice cream!)

  4. amanda from easylittletiger.com
    07.17.2014

    this looks rad! my boss spent 80% of her time at her previous job in hong kong and she’s gotten me hooked on matcha lattes. soooo good and i’ve been wanting to try it with some other stuff. this looks like a good place to start.

    • jeanine
      07.18.2014

      I love matcha lattes too 🙂

  5. Not a smoothie for breakfast gal either but I have to admit this does look good! I’d add a scoop of hemp protein probably to keep me going until lunch…..anyhoo…Thanks for all your beautiful pics and delicious ideas! ❤️

  6. Leah from georgiapeachonmymind.com
    07.17.2014

    This sounds amazing!!! What a great pick me up. I’ve never tried matcha but now I need to. I never knew that it had so many more benefits than loose tea.

    • jeanine
      07.17.2014

      you need to try it! I’m mildly matcha obsessed if you can’t tell 🙂

  7. I feel the same way, I’m usually all for tacos for breakfast, but with the weather warming up I’m allll about the smoothies!

  8. Maryna from thisisasweetblog.blogspot.com
    07.17.2014

    The recipe sounds cool! And the idea of using kale leaves is awesome )

  9. A great combination of flavors, recipe is pinned! Great summer drink! thanks for sharing!

  10. Anze from kuhinjski-eksperimenti.blogspot.com
    07.17.2014

    You just reminded me I shouldn’t make banana bread muffins for breakfast. Thank you for that 🙂

    • jeanine
      07.17.2014

      ha, well I’d never say no to a banana muffin if there was one in front of me 🙂

  11. Ileana from alittlesaffron.com
    07.17.2014

    Ha, me too! I’ve been on a breakfast smoothie kick all week. It’s so perfect for these hot days, and it feels like such a treat. This one looks delicious.

  12. Wouldn’t have thought to include kale but sounds like a great breakfast alternative! Great suggestions for alternatives too!

  13. What an awesome idea, love everything in this smoothie!!

  14. valerie
    07.17.2014

    This smoothie recipe looks incredible. I’m obsessed with peaches right now. Can you use a drinking quality of matcha or is it best to stick with the stronger flavor of the cooking grade?

    • jeanine
      07.17.2014

      I like the cooking grade when mixing with other ingredients – the delicate flavor of (more expensive) ceremonial matcha can get lost. With the cooking grade – you can actually taste it. Although, Aiya’s is still nicely mellow and not too strong or bitter.

  15. Mmmm tasty! I tried a new Kale smoothie recipe this morning but didn’t love it. I’ll try this one tomorrow and see how it goes.

  16. Kari from cookingwithtoddlers.org
    07.17.2014

    What a great use for Matcha. I can’t wait to try this since its so hot here and hot matcha tea just isn’t going to cut it!

  17. perfect timing! the kale in our garden is bursting with glee!!!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.