Summer is creepin’ on and I’m craving fresh, green things, like this green spirulina smoothie.
What makes it super green? We’re about to find out. Shall we?
This smoothie is about as easy as it gets: 5 ingredients, 5 minutes, 1 blender.
The base is frozen banana, cucumber (we learned about cucumber’s health benefits in my Cucumber Smoothie), and coconut milk. I include hemp seed as an optional addition for healthy fats and protein. And last but not least, spirulina!
I asked you guys on Twitter if you’d be interested in seeing any recipes with spirulina, and you said yes! I’ve included tips on where to buy and how to use it in the notes.
Spirulina is an extremely nutritious blue-green algae that’s high in B vitamins and minerals like iodine, beta-carotene, antioxidants, iron, and manganese. It’s also 60% protein and a complete protein, containing all essential amino acids – 1 Tablespoon boasts 4 g protein.
So what’s the big deal? Spirulina is a very concentrated source of vitamins and minerals and also very detoxifying and alkalizing to the body, which is why it’s considered a “super food” in many circles. I’ve been incorporating it mainly into my smoothies and love its intense color, neutral flavor, and health benefits. It’s a great way to get a green smoothie without adding handfuls of kale.
What does it taste like? Eaten directly, it has a somewhat unpleasant taste – kind of like seaweed. But, when thrown into smoothies or desserts, it’s undetectable. Huzzah!
I hope you all LOVE this gorgeous smoothie! It’s:
Creamy
Bright green
Perfectly sweet
Insanely nutritious
Quick + Easy
Portable
& Delicious
This smoothie makes the perfect plant-based breakfast or snack. For even more protein, add more hemp seeds, chia seeds, or your favorite vegan protein powder. And don’t forget your toppings! I went for blueberries, hemp seeds, and granola (which was inspired by my girl @shutthekaleup!).
For more smoothies spirulina would pair well with, check out our Hide Your Kale Smoothie, 5-Ingredient Detox Smoothie, Ginger Colada Green Smoothie, and Creamy Cucumber Pineapple Smoothie!
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram so we can see. Cheers, friends!
Super Green Spirulina Smoothie (5 Ingredients!)
Ingredients
SMOOTHIE
- 1 medium ripe banana (previously peeled and frozen // ~1 cup as original recipe is written)
- 1/2 cup sliced cucumber (organic when possible // skin on)
- 3/4 – 1 cup light coconut milk (or other non-dairy milk // less for thicker smoothie, more for thinner smoothie)
- 1 cup spinach or chopped kale (organic when possible // I like to freeze mine)
- 1 tsp spirulina powder*
- 1 Tbsp hemp seed (optional // or sub chia seeds or vegan protein powder)
FOR SERVING optional
- 1/4 cup frozen or fresh blueberries (organic when possible)
- 1/4 cup granola (store-bought or homemade*)
Instructions
- To a blender*, add frozen banana, cucumber, coconut milk, spinach, spirulina, and hemp seed (optional). Blend until creamy and smooth, scraping down sides (or using smoothie wand) as needed.
- If too thick, thin with water or more coconut milk. If too thin, thicken with ice or more frozen banana. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more banana for sweetness, cucumber for freshness, or greens or spirulina for green color. See note about spirulina (brands + how much to add).
- Serve immediately as is or in my preferred: top with blueberries, granola, and more hemp seeds. Best when fresh, though leftovers will keep covered in the refrigerator up to 2 days or the freezer for 1 week. Thaw to enjoy from freezer.
Notes
*When adding spirulina to smoothies, start with 1 tsp and add more as desired, but this is the max for me without tasting it. Otherwise, it can start tasting a little seaweedy.
*Granola recipes: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola, Banana Bread Granola, Simple Quinoa Granola, or Nut ‘n’ Honey Granola (the one I used in photos).
*Find my blender review here.
*Spirulina also works extremely well when added in the same quantity to my Ginger Colada Green Smoothie!
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without toppings or hemp seeds.
Dani says
This is my go to morning smoothie, obsessed. Love the creamiest of the coconut and the fresh cucumber. Sometimes I add blueberries for added sweetness or pineapple and zucchini or Avocado. It’s very versatile for other additives, that one of the reason’s it’s my go-to.
Yay! We’re so glad you’ve been enjoying it, Dani. Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications! xo
Sarah says
Let me just start by saying I almost gave up on spirulina. I was told it’s as easy as adding it to your water, juice, or smoothie. After several attempts of drinks that turned out tasting like a fish tank smells I turned to google hoping that I didn’t just waste my money on something I couldn’t make taste good with my normal drinks. I was so reluctant to make this as it seemed like an odd combo that would increase the weird flavors that already come with spirulina. Boy was I wrong! It was delicious and refreshing!! So glad I found this recipe. It was earthy yet still sweet, the coconut and hemp hearts give it such a nice nutty flavor and it all manages to taste amazing together. That being said it is a healthy smoothie recipe so one shouldn’t go into this expecting it to taste like a tropical fruit smoothie.
Aw, YAY! We’re so glad this recipe was helpful, Sarah. Thank you for sharing! xo
Emily Jean says
Yummy, delicate flavor. I also like mixing it up by subbing frozen pineapple or kiwi for the banana and kale for the spinach.
Yum! Thanks so much for the great review, Emily!
Sarah says
Hello,
Thank you for this great recipe that I discovered 4 months ago, I loved it and for your amazing website, it helped me improving the way I eat ! and I absolutely love the menu that we can search with so many different filters.
Since then I changed the recipe with ingredient I can easily get around here, and to vary:
adding a small apple, 1 tsp maca, pollen, flax seed, a little bit of cinnamon, no spinach, rice milk, 2 dates (or 1 tsp of honey) and sometimes a tsp of tahini.
As I do this smoothie very often I don’t put spinach, it contains oxalic acid and it’s not good for the kidney to eat to much of this frequently, as I read in my cours studying about plants.
Have a nice day :)
Thanks so much for the great review and for sharing your experience, Sarah! So glad you enjoy the smoothie!
Genesis says
Hey, I was wondering if you could post some recipes using wheat grass powder! I’ve been loving the ones I’ve tried so far and actually have been adding the wheat grass myself but sometimes it affects the overall smoothie. If you have some great combos that you don’t mind sharing I would love to see them! Thank you 😊
Hi, we’ll add it to our ideas list! We think it would work well in place of spirulina in this recipe. Hope that helps!
Lauren says
AMAZING. This is my first smoothie with spirulina – I’m obsessed. I’m going to try your spirulina smoothie bowl next. I love it, especially the coconut-cucumber flavor combo. I also blended my blueberries in :)
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Lauren. Thank you for sharing! xo
Chase says
Yum! Will be making this a lot.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the lovely review, Chase! xo
Line Nord says
Love this smoothie! No problem becoming a better version of myself when I can have things like this :) Now my daily home office lunch routine. Just consuming that green color! I’m using oat milk, just like it more. Thanks!
We’re so glad you enjoy it! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Sydney says
used a vanilla vegan protein and YUM! The cucumber is a great touch
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Sydney! Thanks for the lovely review!
Sophia says
Delicious!! I followed the recipe directly and would not change a thing.
Amazing! Thanks for sharing, Sophia!
Lisa says
I used flaxseed and it turned out very nicely.
Great! Thanks for sharing, Lisa!
Kate G says
Sooo good!
Modifications:
•Chlorella instead of spirulina, because it’s what I had on hand. The color was a little less vibrant, because chlorella is dark green instead of blue-green, but it has generally the same benefits.
•For banana haters, like my husband, you can use 1/2 c. frozen mango and 3-5 sweet dark cherries.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Kate! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications!
Michelle says
This was my first time using spirulina and I love the bright green color of the smoothie! Really didn’t taste the spirulina at all. I used unsweetened soy milk instead, since that’s all I had. And I added a small splash of orange juice (less than ¼ cup) at the end because it just needed a little citrusy sweet flavor for me. Will definitely make again and a great intro to spirulina!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Michelle! Thanks so much for sharing!
Heidi says
Last year before attending a 2 week wellness vacation in Thailand, I found this recipe. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, IT just the way it is. I took the recipe to Thailand with me and the chefs at Phuket Cleanse quickly became accustomed to making it for me. They enjoyed it, too. Other guests began requesting it. I have made it from time to time with the inclusion of blueberries and alternate between Spinach and Kale or a combination, but always have to have cucumber for the balance and freshness. I typical use 2 tsps Spirulina. Thank you for this recipe as it has become a staple on my smoothie menu.
Wow, love it! Thank you so much for sharing, Heidi! xo
Kaelee says
I have spirulina chips…do you think blending these in would be weird?
Hmm, we aren’t familiar with those so we’re not sure!
Juliana says
I wanna like this smoothie, but I’ve done it 2 times and unfortunately for some reason it doesn’t settle well in my stomach :/ I think might be too much coconut milk, which I usually don’t have any problem with, I don’t know :/
Hi Juliana, you could maybe try another non-dairy milk and see if that helps?
Juliana says
Reading the comments, I think it might be the spirulina that made me nauseated, since I’m not very used to it :/
Arifa says
Did you try the Hemp seeds? That’s what makes my stomach upset so I sub chia seeds
Juliana says
Arifa, I eat hemp seeds all the time, so shouldn’t be that.. thanks! :)
Regelyn says
wanna try that, I will add to my healthy lifestyle list
Anna says
First time using spirulina. Only added 1/2 tsp instead of 1 to start. It did not turn out as green as the pictures but still tasted great!
Hi Anna, we’re so glad you enjoyed it! Sometimes the vibrancy of the spirulina can vary by brand.
Claudia Fernandez says
It was good! I never would’ve added cucumber to my smoothie. Thanks! I added 3 dates to sweeten and used mixed tropical fruit instead of banana. Delicious!
Wonderful – thanks, Claudia!
Ashley says
I made this and just used water instead of coconut milk. I threw in some cinnamon and a dab of maple syrup. Turned out ok. I actually think it would be amazing w any dark chocolate nut milk. But I may be partial..
Lilia Treyger says
Light and refreshing Medusa cocktail, following which you feel marvelous and alive, blood flowing and mind reeling. Will make another towards week’s end!
Thanks for sharing!
Marianne says
THIS. I’ve been trying different green smoothies without finding one that I really wanted to repeat. Until this one!
Funny enough, I was about to take my morning spirulina ‘pills’ when I came across this smoothie recipe and was excited to realize I had all the needed ingredients. I was concerned about the sweetness when putting the ingredients in the blender, but the taste had a nice balance in the end. I live in the tropics where bananas have amazing flavor and I think that helped. I find bananas in the U.S. bland so I’d probably play with adding something more to give sweetness if making this back there.
Finally, reading others’ comments on here about spirulina making them sick… now I understand why the packaging mine comes in indicates to start with only a small amount the first few days and then slowly increase the quantity. It’s powerful stuff and the body needs to adjust. Great stuff though! Mine come in a compressed pill form so I just crushed them up before putting them in the blender for this recipe.
You’ve made me excited about green smoothies and my spirulina! THANK YOU for sharing this recipe!
Angel says
Has anyone made this without bananas? I can’t stand the taste of them. I was thinking Greek yogurt?
Dana says
I made it with frozen mango instead of banana. Yum!
Emira says
I made this smoothie today and even though the color didn’t turn out as vibrant as in the picture it still tasted amazing! I’m planning of making this at least twice a week. I will try to make it with almond milk instead of coconut milk this time to make it lighter.
Prolgae Organic Spirulina says
These are some good recipes to make Organic Spirulina fun to consume for kids and adults. The benefits of this superfood are amazing and this way of presenting it makes people crave for it.
Thank you for sharing.
I have been using Organic Spirulina by Prolgae on a daily basis and it has really worked out for me. I use the Spirulina Powder rather than the capsules, but this smoothie recipe will make my day anytime.
Celia says
This looks amazingly yummy and healthy, but even though I love the whole concept of spirulina (and have a full jar, glaring at me every time I open my super-foods drawer…) I can’t stand the taste of it, even in small amounts, and haven’t found a proper way to hide it yet :S
Is this recipe effective at masking the “fish tank” taste?
If not, do you have recipes that does the trick?
Thanks for the beauty + goodness ❤︎
Hi Celia! This recipe masks the flavor of spirulina well, as it only calls for a small amount. If you are still worried about it though, I’d recommend adding half the amount to start!
Melayna Grassi says
Absolutely delicious. Just recently started getting into spirulina. The cucumber really makes it taste refreshing while it has a rick creaminess from the coconut milk. I didn’t think there would be enough liquid to blend, but the cucumber really makes it work. love it!
We are glad you enjoyed it, Melayna!
Kathy says
My husband had polio when he was about 18 months old. He has been dealing with Post Polio Syndrome for many years. We consider Spiralina to be a miracle in his life. In 2002 we consulted with the premier Post Polio Clinic in the USA. After running tests and a full checkup they told us that if he was very lucky that he might go another 5 years before he would be in a wheelchair. Not what we wanted to hear. We would go back every 6 months for a follow up so we could tell how he was doing. My mother-in-law had given my husband a book on alternative medicine and he found a page that recommended Spiralina for nerve damage. Polio does not destroy the muscles it destroys the nerves that send the necessary messages from the brain to the muscles. So he started taking it with amazing results. The last time we had a check up at the Post Polio Clinic we asked them to run a muscle strength test. They agreed to do that and before long they had the whole clinic watching as he walked up and down the testing hallway. Something different was happening and everyone knew it. The doctor was stunned! She kept looking at his chart and then asked him to walk down the hall again. Finally she asked what he had been doing? BECAUSE He had gained 4 levels of muscle strength! It was unheard of for a Post Polio patient to gain muscle strength! The Spiralina had helped restore the nerves in his legs enough that he had regained the muscle strength! Spiralina has bought him many years of walking on his own two feet! The one thing we would recommend for storing the Spiralina is to keep it in the refrigerator or it will smell awful! As farmers we know about sillage… a way of storing corn fodder so that it can be used as feed for cattle. It will ferment and take on an unpleasant odor. Other than that it is wonderful! And it is very inexpensive!
Kathy says
Amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Kate says
I love this recipe! I will definitely try this! Spirulina is one of my favourite superfoods, however to be able to use this ingredient in my diet I have to mask its taste… always.. I just cannot stand the taste of spirulina…
Amanda Thomas says
This is the first thing I’ve tried with Spirulina and it is SO GOOD! Excellent recipe!
Julia says
I’m a raw-living foodist, and smoothies and spirulina are definitely a staple in my diet. I was searching for spirulina-smoothie inspiration and encoutered your recipe. Looks inviting! But after tasting, I thought it fell a bit (very much) flat on my palate, so I added a few things:
Your recipe (minus the milk)
3 Medjool dates
1/2 lemon, peeled
1 thumb fresh ginger
1+ cup homemade almond milk
I got the wow I was looking for! Now, it’s absolutely delicious and has tons of bonus vitamins. Thank you for the inspiration! :)
Val says
I just tried this and I liked it so much I had both servings at one pop! Here are a couple of tips that worked for me: 1) I was washing/chopping kale for something else and had extra, so I saved out 1 c. and put it in a container in the freezer with the banana. 2) I pre-tested my spirulina tolerance a while back by adding 1 tsp to about 1/4 c. orange juice + 2 cups cold water and drinking that. The orange juice masks most of the spirulina taste and it’s a quick and easy way to see if you’re going to have issues with the spirulina. Thanks for a great smoothie recipe! I’m looking forward to trying others, esp the Ginger Colada Green one.
Theresa says
This is a delicious smoothie that I drank almost every day for a while. Somehow I can’t stomach cucumber in smoothies so well, though. Makes me feel strangely nauseous. Does anybody else experience this and knows a remedy?
Meg says
I experience the same thing with cucumbers in smoothies and I’m hesitant with trying this recipe because of it. The taste just grosses me out unless I eat them normally. Just know that you’re not alone!
You can reduce them by half if you’re skeptical!
Maria says
Hi, I’ve been using wizelephant brand spirulina that comes with chlorella, as I heard these two superfoods compliment each other very well and good for detox. So far I’m delighted with it. Great smoothie recipe. Love the colour, so vibrant! Going to try just now ;)
Monica says
Awesome! I use use the same brand. Wizelephant combines chlorella and spirulina in one and the powder quality seems superb, great texture and such a vibrant color. Awesome smoothie recipe indeed, thaks for that ;)
CK says
Could I add Cinnamon, Turmeric and Cayenne to this for extra benefits?
Hi! Sure!
Kate says
I am on a smoothie kick from your website. Thank you for all these yummy recipes!
This was very mild and I was pleasantly surprised. ***I used fresh Cashew Mylk I just made.
Mirela says
If you love the benefits of spirulina you should also try moringa (organic is a must). It is even more powerful!???
Kate says
What does Moringa taste like?
Mirela says
Similar to spirulina, but milder.Still, better to mix it with smoothie or a little organic juice.In smoothie you can’t even taste it. ?
Elena Zinkov says
I absolutely love this! Thank you for the recipe. I love spiraling and this recipe looks delicious!!!
Anna says
Love this smoothie! I’ve just started using spirulina and this recipe was the best one I’ve tried so far. The combination of coconut and cucumber is delicious. I added a few celery stalks, but otherwise kept to the recipe. Thanks!
Dhruv Mangukia says
Hi Dana.
Spirulina is an amazing superfood, but it has a taste that is hard to deal with. I am sure that this recipie of yours will deal with the taste aspect. I have written an article entitled ’29 reasons to take spirulina every day.’ I will really appreciate if you take a look on my article and give a link.
Thanks in advance.
keep up the good work.
my best wishes.
Emma says
Hi! This looks great. I have developed an allergy to raw spinach and kale. Do you have any suggestions for what to substitute in its place? I used to love getting all my greens in my smoothies!
Hi Emma! You can replace it with any other greens! Chard perhaps?
Juliette says
Never tried Spirulina before but this green smoothie seems really healthy and well suited as summer approaches ! As I work in an events company in London where the food/cooking events category is quite popular, I am becoming more aware about eating homecooked meals with healthy products. I will definitely make this smoothie to sip on my way to work!
Nicole says
That is one very green smoothie
Deryn | running on real food says
The best thing about spirulina is it colour! This is gorgeous. I haven’t tried using cucumber in smoothies much but I love using zucchini! Chlorella is great too to switch up the spirulina. This looks sooo refreshing. Thanks!
nikki says
I love your site, so well designed. Thank you
I will try one of your recipes this week.
Hannah says
I am a big green smoothie fan, but unfortunately did not love this recipe! The flavour was just a bit lacking, and wasn’t creamy/sweet enough.
Carla says
Love your recipes Dana, I have made loads of them!!!!
I made this smoothie this morning as a post workout shake, I added a scoop of unflavoured vegan protein powder and used almond milk instead of coconut milk…. It was delicious! It was such a refreshing change to the usual fruit smoothie shake….. the balance was perfect
This one is definitely a keeper!
Thank you for such lovely vegan recipes :)
Tes says
Thanks for making a recipe with spirulina! I was so excited to try this smoothie! 1 tsp. of spirulina was a little too strong for me, so I’ll think I’ll try just 1/2 tsp. next time. :)
I was also able to find it in the bulk section of my local natural food store. Purchased 2 TBSP for under $2!
Stefani says
I bought some spirulina last year to make vegan blue cheese, and it’s more or less been languishing in the cupboard ever since. This recipe sounded like just the ticket to use it and some of the leftover veggies in the fridge, and what can I say – delish! In fact, I’m getting a wee bit hungry right now; I think the blender is calling me ;)
Kathryn says
Beautiful recipe! Will have to try this once I get some spirulina. Hope all is well in your life!
Jennifer Snuffleupagus says
I love spirulina. It’s more expensive than fits my $100/week Nyc budget, but lately I’ve been finding it at my petsits to mix into my morning smoothie.
Thanks for giving me some ideas!
Heather says
I would read a blog under the premise “100$ food budget weekly in NYC”. You definitely should consider publishing tips tricks and the beauty of living in the city!
Laura says
Hi Dana, I was curious as to whether you use canned coconut milk or the kind in the carton when you make your smoothies?
Thanks!
Honestly, both work! But I like buying the canned because it is generally easier to find just coconut milk and water as the ingredients. Hope that helps!
Karen says
Ok so I made this for breakfast his morning and I am in love with this smoothie! I had a hard time with incorporating Spiralina in my diet and honestly couldn’t even find a “green” smoothie that I liked let alone adding the Spiralina. Thank you ONCE AGAIN for a fantastic recipe!!
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Karen!!
Kia says
Yum sounds delish!
Ps, I bought a pack of spirulina for $4.99 at Tj Maxx!
Emi says
I’m glad you point out that it has a neutral taste when added to a smoothie I will have to try this when/if we ever get a blender. I tried mixing a “shot” of it with water, yick! I don’t recommend.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
That looks great. I am rather addicted to green smoothies. I make a similar one, but I usually just add water and ice to mine. Shared!
Renee says
Yum! I haven’t done spirulina in a while. May have to change that! This looks delicious!
Patricia says
Oh wow! I love the color! It is so vibrant. Thank you for such a great recipe and amazing photos. I can’t wait to try it!
Natmari's Corner says
The color makes me want it and I know it is healthy! I never had spirulina before. :-)
Kayla says
Well…I’m a diehard seaweed fan, so. This. Is. just. omg!!@$%# !!
Okay, so you say that you can purchase the Spirulina at Whole Foods market, but I am curious about how much you actually get for $13? I’ve bought matcha powder from Whole Foods in the past, and I was shocked at how expensive it was for just a tiny pot of the stuff !
It would be awesome if you could let me know how large the pot the Spirulina comes in.
Thanks !?
katie says
Anytime I’ve had spirulina in a smoothie I throw up! Do you happen to know if some people are more sensitive than others? Always makes me sad to think of all the smoothies I cant drink :(
So odd! I’ve definitely never heard of that.
Jennifer Snuffleupagus says
I’ve heard of this before. Just read Amazon reviews and you’ll see this isn’t unheard of.
Jesse says
I made this recipe this morning and have been violently ill all day. Sort of freaking out because my kids took a sip. Spirulina is a no-go for me. Definitely not this recipe or the fault of anyone but my own very sensitive tummy…but yikes. Proceed with caution when trying spirulina.
Christine says
Yes I have been feeling very sick since my shake this morning and it happened last time I made it so decided to look it up. Now I know the culprit! Will cut it out for now and maybe introduce in smaller amounts. I put a heaping teaspoon in my smoothie. Ugh don’t know what to do to feel better maybe some greasy tacos lol!
Ivy Joeva says
I have heard of this. It’s could be your body’s way of detoxing, because spirulina is very detoxifying. I would start with a *very* small amount (1/4 teaspoon or less), and gradually increase as tolerated. Also make sure your spirulina is from a very pure source, stored properly and not expired.
Lois says
Sounds delicious and looks beautiful! How do you freeze fresh spinach or kale?
Hi there! I buy it pre-washed and then throw the whole bag in the freezer. Or, I wash and dry, and then lay in a single layer and freeze, then store in a container or freezer bag.
JOHN HERRMANN says
THE RECIPE SOUNDS GREAT HOWEVER I AM DISABLED AND UNABLE TO MAKE IT. CAN I BUY IT AND WHERE CAN I GET IT?
Hi John! Unfortunately we don’t sell any of our recipes as products at this time, but thank you for reaching out!
Samantha says
The color.. wow! Love using spirulina in my smoothies, it always gives it a little hint of mint.
Hannah @CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
The color of this smoothie is just fantastic!!
Like A Vegan says
This almost makes me wanna get back into spirulina!
Jennifer Snuffleupagus says
It’s an investment, but a fun way to treat yo’self. Treat your body right!
Julie Smith says
I drink it every day. I add paoaya,apples,bananas strawberries, blackberries. 2 tsp. And share it with my soon. I add water a d Almond milk. With a splash of coconut oil.