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Home » Recipes » Breakfast & Brunch » Smoothies

Kale Avocado Green Smoothie

Gluten FreeGrain FreeKosher for PassoverNo OilVegan

Published: Feb 7, 2023 · Modified: Jul 5, 2023 by Debra Klein · This post may contain affiliate links · 29 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This Kale Avocado Smoothie is satisfying and refreshing. A green smoothie with avocado and hemp seeds is great for weight loss and tops my list for smoothies for diabetics. You’ll love the creamy deliciousness from healthy fats and the tasty zing the lemon and ginger provide….a totally crave-worthy healthy smoothie!

Green smoothie in a mason jar surrounded by greens, lemon, apple, ginger and avocado.

This post has been updated from the original posted May 14, 2018.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • Why you’ll love it
  • How to make it
  • Debra’s Pro Tips
  • How to store and serve your smoothie
  • More Avocado Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe

This kale avocado green smoothie is a great option if you don’t want to start your day with a sugary breakfast. I love the zing from the fresh ginger and lemon juice, the rich creamy texture the fresh avocado provides, with just a hint of sweet from the apple. This avocado smoothie recipe is loaded with healthy ingredients to boost your immune system, help fight chronic inflammation and improve overall gut health.


A creamy avocado smoothie is a delicious way to start the day. It’s the perfect breakfast smoothie or enjoy it as an afternoon pick me up. This healthy smoothie recipe is loaded with greens for energy, and a great source of healthy fats and dietary fiber to keep you satisfied. Add some green tea for a caffeine boost if that’s how you roll! Plus, the healthy fats naturally found in the avocado and hemp seeds provide essential fatty acids to help with the absorption of all the essential nutrients from the greens.


This lemon ginger detoxifying smoothie is just the type of green smoothie I enjoy…rich and creamy with a bit of zing. If your taste buds are used to a sweeter smoothie, you’ll definitely want to try my chocolate cherry smoothie, or the delicious Orange Julius Smoothie.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Labeled ingredients: kale, spinach, ginger, apple, avocado, lemon and hemp seeds.
  • Leafy green vegetables: I chose kale and spinach. You can mix and match your favorite greens for a total of 2 cups. Other great choices include collard greens, lacinato kale, swiss chard, watercress, parsley, romaine or green leaf lettuce, purple kale, arugula or micro-greens.
  • Avocado: Avocado smoothies contain fats, protein and fiber that help with satiety. Smoothies CAN BE a weight loss tool since you’re less likely to snack when you are full.
  • Hemp seeds: Blended, these add to the creaminess factor…plus they contain high amounts of healthy fats, protein, and magnesium. Substitute with chia seeds or ground flax seeds.
  • Ginger: The ingredient that adds zing in flavor and nutrition. Here’s a list of health benefits to consuming fresh ginger.
  • Lemon: The vitamin C in citrus fruits helps your body absorb the iron found in leafy greens. Plus, lemons help prevent constipation, high blood pressure, indigestion as well as improve the skin, hair and teeth.
  • Apple: Did you know that green, tart apples contain less sugar and carbs than red ones? Also, the high fiber content in apples slows down the digestive process and the absorption of the sugars.  Apples are one of the lowest glycemic fruits you can choose, which means they don’t spark a rise in glucose levels in your body that will trigger an insulin response. Steady blood sugar levels equal steady energy levels.
  • Optional: A splash of vanilla extract gives the elusion of sweet flavors, without actually adding any sweetener. Dairy-free milk (soy milk, unsweetened almond milk or oat milk would taste great) instead of water will produce an even thicker smoothie. Add a teaspoon of matcha or brewed green tea instead of the water for a caffeine boost.

Why you’ll love it

Pouring a green smoothie from a pitcher to a mason jar.
  • Post workout smoothie: This one is hydrating, refreshing and satisfying.
  • Low sugar smoothie recipe: smoothies without banana are a great addition to healthy weight loss. This delicious smoothie is low on the glycemic index. It won’t spike your blood sugar the way some smoothies that are loaded with fresh fruit will.
  • Smoothies for Diabetics: Create blood sugar balance by adding healthy fats, protein and fiber to the mix, like this green smoothie with avocado, hemp seeds and leafy greens.
  • Delicious way to get more greens into your diet.
  • Avocado goodness: Green smoothies can be a healthy breakfast option. Fat soluble vitamins in the greens needs good fats from the avocado to aid in absorption.
  • Beautiful: The gorgeous green color is just an added bonus! Let the sun shine in!

How to make it

For a super smooth smoothie, use a high speed blender like a Vitamix. If you don’t have one, any blender will work, you just may need to run it for a bit longer to break up the fibrous kale.

Prep the produce for your smoothie:

  • First, wash the kale and spinach. If you’re not using a high speed blender, remove the center hard rib from the kale.
  • Roughly chop the apple and peel the lemon.
  • Halve the avocado and scoop out the flesh.
  • Use a grapefruit spoon to scrape off the peel from the fresh ginger.
Avocado half, kale, spinach, lemon, ginger, apple and hemp seeds in the pitcher of a blender.

Step 1: Place spinach, kale, apple, lemon, ginger, avocado and hemp seeds into the pitcher of your blender. It’s ok if the greens are wet.

Blender pitcher filled with avocado kale smoothie ingredients including ice, hemp seeds, lemon.

Step 2: Add water and ice cubes. If you prefer to use any type of plant milk or coconut water instead of the water, still add the ice.

Gorgeous lime green colored smoothie made with kale and avocado.

Step 3: Blend until smooth and creamy.

Pitcher of green smoothie, pouring into a wide mouth mason jar.

Step 4: Pour and Enjoy. This kale avocado smoothie recipe makes 2 large smoothies. If you would like to save half for later, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I like to use a mason jar so I can shake before drinking.

Debra’s Pro Tips

  • Sip your smoothie from a reusable straw...super fun!
  • Choose different greens each time you make this for greater gut microbiome diversity. Collard greens in smoothies? You bet!
  • If you don’t have a ripe avocado, use frozen avocado chunks. About ½ cup cubed frozen avocado is the equivalent of half a fresh avocado.
  • To wean away from sugary smoothies, add half a banana the first time for more of an avocado banana smoothie…next time you can eliminate it. Your taste buds will adjust.
  • If you’d like to eliminate the apple, use a small zucchini instead.

How to store and serve your smoothie

  • Serve: Drink cold or at room temperature. Pour into popsicle molds and enjoy as a frozen treat!
  • Store: Store in a jar with tight fitting lid in the fridge. Drink within 48 hours for optimum nutritional value.
  • Freeze: You can freeze your smoothie to enjoy at another time. Use an airtight container. Leave a couple inches extra space to allow for expansion when frozen. Thaw in the fridge. Shake well before drinking.

More Avocado Recipes

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    4-ingredient Homemade Guacamole Recipe
  • Large rimmed white plate with lemony arugula salad. Thinly sliced radish, quartered artichoke hearts, thinly sliced avocado plus pomegranate seeds and lemon slices decorate the simple salad.
    Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
  • Black and White checkered napkin with a glass pitcher of avocado dressing plus cilantro and lime.
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  • Blood Orange, greens, fennel,
    Orange and Fennel Salad

Did you know commenting and rating recipes is one of the best ways to support your favorite food bloggers? If you made this recipe, please consider a five star rating below and leave a comment. Also, please share your photos on instagram by tagging me @dkhealthcoach and using the hashtag #debraklein

📖 Recipe

Green smoothie in a mason jar surrounded by greens, lemon, apple, ginger and avocado.

Kale Avocado Smoothie

Author: Debra Klein
Lemon Zinger Smoothie with kale and avocado is tasty and refreshing. Lemon and ginger bring the zing while the avocado adds a creamy deliciousness. A green smoothie that's totally crave-worthy and great for weight loss. 
5 from 41 votes
Rate this Recipe
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 256 kcal

Equipment

  • Blender
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons
  • Metal Straws

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup kale firmly packed
  • 1 cup spinach firmly packed
  • 1 small apple
  • 1 lemon peeled
  • 2 inch knob of fresh ginger
  • ½ avocado small
  • ½ cup ice cubes
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • ¼ cup hemp seeds

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth and creamy.
  • You can make this in advance and store in the refrigerator in a glass jar with lid. Shake well before enjoying within 24 hours of making for best retention of nutrients.

Notes

Leafy Greens:  I used 1 cup spinach and 1 cup green curly kale.  Use 2 cups of your favorite leafy green vegetables, or whatever you have on hand.  More good choices include: lacinato kale, purple kale, collard greens, swiss chard, arugula, microgreens, watercress, romaine lettuce, and bok choy. 
Apples:  Choose your apple based on your health goals and your taste preference.  Green apples have less calories and carbs than red apples.  A tart granny smith apple has just 14.9 grams of carbohydrates, where as a red fuji apple has around 21 carbs, depending on the size. 

Nutrition

Calories: 256kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 12gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 45mgPotassium: 460mgFiber: 7gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 4970IUVitamin C: 47mgCalcium: 154mgIron: 5mg
Note

The nutrition calculations were done using online tools. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients you used. You are ultimately responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information is accurate, complete and useful.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag me @dkhealthcoach or use hashtag #dkhealtcoach on Instagram so I can see it!!

Looking for more Healthy Passover Recipes? Discover new and exciting ways to enjoy Kosher for Passover Recipes while maintaining a balanced diet with Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes for Passover.

Categories

Gluten FreeGrain FreeKosher for PassoverNo OilSmoothiesSnackVeganKale

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    Chocolate Cherry Smoothie

Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 41 votes (33 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Rachel

    May 30, 2018 at 12:42 pm

    Yum, what a great way to get some extra veggies!

    Reply
    • Debra Klein

      May 30, 2018 at 1:16 pm

      Smoothies are the perfect vessel for that!

      Reply
    • Tyanne Johnson

      February 14, 2023 at 9:26 pm

      5 stars
      Love the lemon! You can never have too much lemon.

      Reply
      • Debra Klein

        February 14, 2023 at 10:06 pm

        Totally! That plus the ginger is the zing I love!

        Reply
  2. Cristina Alciati

    June 20, 2018 at 5:29 pm

    Perfect way to eat kale when it keeps on coming in your weekly veggie box delivery!! 😀 Lovely pictures too.

    Reply
    • Debra Klein

      June 20, 2018 at 5:38 pm

      Thanks and don’t I wish I had a never ending delivery of kale!!

      Reply
  3. Nikki G- lifelovelychaos.com

    June 20, 2018 at 11:36 pm

    I like how you mention this won’t raise blood sugar. My in laws are coming and have diabetes very badly. I will e making this for breakfast for them!

    Reply
    • Debra Klein

      June 26, 2018 at 10:06 pm

      Perfect plan in that situation!! Tasty too.

      Reply
  4. Debra Klein

    December 30, 2018 at 6:57 pm

    Thanks so much for including my Green Lemon zinger Smoothie in your green smoothie roundup!

    Reply
  5. Megan

    January 23, 2019 at 1:08 pm

    That’s a good looking smoothie.

    Reply
    • Debra Klein

      January 24, 2019 at 12:38 pm

      Thanks. I tend to not like sweet smoothies and this is my current go to. Almost every single day. The healthy fats in the avocado help you absorb all the goodness from the greens.

      Reply
  6. Lewis Johnson

    February 06, 2019 at 3:49 pm

    Delicious recipe!

    Reply
    • Debra Klein

      February 06, 2019 at 10:12 pm

      THanks so much! Enjoy!

      Reply
  7. N. Sasson

    February 09, 2023 at 7:31 pm

    5 stars
    Dear Debra,

    I love & appreciate all your great & healthy recipes. You are the best for me!
    Thank You!

    Reply
    • Debra Klein

      February 11, 2023 at 7:21 am

      It’s my pleasure.

      Reply
  8. Faye

    February 14, 2023 at 6:50 am

    5 stars
    Wonderful smoothie.

    Reply
    • Debra Klein

      February 14, 2023 at 11:45 am

      Glad you enjoyed it Faye.

      Reply
  9. Eleanor Lovett

    February 14, 2023 at 5:43 pm

    I MADE THIS DID NOT DRINK IT YET.WHAT YOU DO WITH THE SEEDS IN.LEMON

    Reply
    • Debra Klein

      February 14, 2023 at 6:23 pm

      Great question. I make this several times a week and have never taken the seeds out, or had one in my smoothie.

      Reply
  10. Alexandra

    February 14, 2023 at 10:28 pm

    5 stars
    This is such a delicious and refreshing smoothie. I love the addition of the lemon for freshness and added flavour. So good!

    Reply
    • Debra Klein

      February 16, 2023 at 10:09 am

      Exactly….that lemon is great for flavor and hydration!

      Reply
  11. Andréa Janssen

    February 15, 2023 at 4:02 am

    5 stars
    A smoothie is the perfect way to eat some extra veggies and gather those vitamins. And this smoothie was really delicious too. Loved it.

    Reply
    • Debra Klein

      February 16, 2023 at 10:08 am

      Thanks Andrea…I totally agree on both grabbing some extra nutrition and how yummy it is!

      Reply
  12. Nora

    February 15, 2023 at 2:54 pm

    5 stars
    What a delicious green smoothie! Perfect when it has to go fast in the morning!

    Reply
    • Debra Klein

      February 16, 2023 at 10:05 am

      I know….the quick/easy factor is real in the early morning!

      Reply
  13. Andrea White

    February 18, 2023 at 1:40 pm

    5 stars
    such a yummy smoothie! love how nutritious it is too!

    Reply
    • Debra Klein

      February 18, 2023 at 4:51 pm

      Thank you Andrea….yum, yum!

      Reply
  14. Janet

    January 09, 2025 at 10:22 am

    5 stars
    Very nice! Love the lemon Zesty Taste! This will be my go-to Smoothie 🥤

    Reply
    • Debra Klein

      January 09, 2025 at 12:54 pm

      The zingy lemon is my favorite part and this is my go-to green smoothie as well!

      Reply

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Photo of Debra Klein in the kitchen, smiling, tossing a salad.

Hi, I’m Debra, Holistic Health Coach and Culinary Instructor inspiring healthy choices with seasonal plant-based recipes. I'm also passionate about transforming Traditional Jewish Foods into dishes that are nutritious, delicious, beautiful and satisfying. Let's get into the kitchen and have some fun.

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