Green Pina Colada Smoothie (Vegan)

Have you perused my recipe index lately? There’s a decided shortage of beverage recipes on Natural Comfort Kitchen. Maybe it’s because I like to save my liquid calories for wine, or because drinks can prove especially difficult to capture in a picture, at least in a way that entices you to make them at home. When this 3 ingredient green pina colada smoothie recipe presented itself in the most unlikely situation, though, I knew it was destined for blog greatness.

As scattered as I can be about a consistent workout routine, there is a very short list of things that will keep me from making Maria’s Friday morning yoga class. I’ll brave mild hangovers and severe allergies to get there. I think it’s been six months or so since I discovered her class, and, I kid you not, every single session is totally different, completely centering, and a vigorous workout. On top of all that, she’s always sharing real life tidbits as the class begins or ends, or sometimes as we part ways after class: books she recommends, insights on why I’m feeling so dang lethargic this week, yoga “history”, and, on a recent Friday, her simple, decadent green pina colada smoothie recipe.

Despite my volatile relationship with smoothies–I can never make a routine out of them for more than four days in a row–something moved me to give this one a try. After all, it’s simpler than simple–just 3 ingredients that I actually had on hand. And, the blazing summer heat has been suppressing my appetite for anything but ice cold liquids and maybe some guacamole. So I blended up what I thought looked like reasonable ratios of coconut milk, frozen pineapple chunks, and a big handful of CSA kale. Oh my goodness. Best decision of the summer. Yes, the homemade coconut milk played a significant part in the end result, but I didn’t expect this tropical creation to come out so smooth and delicious, covering any trace of kale flavor.

Side note: homemade coconut milk is easier than it sounds. Much easier, in my opinion, than most homemade nut milks. However, the recipe below provides completely viable store bought substitutions.

I won’t lie and say I’ve made this thing every day for the past two weeks, but I have made it an awful lot, even more for me than for Steve, who is much more consistent than I am with his daily breakfast smoothie. As we enter what is, in many places, the most scorching hot (and sticky!) last month of summer, and you’re sweaty and lethargic and lacking much appetite, you should definitely turn to this smoothie for breakfast, snacktime, and happy hour. Yep, that’s right. It tastes so much like a traditional pina colada that I have no qualms about throwing in a splash of rum, but let’s try to make it to Friday before we go getting all crazy with the booze.

Until then, cheers to heat waves and healthy smoothies!

A Note About Blenders

I’m not so näive as to think I’ll persuade you to purchase a Vitamix in a single blog post. It’s a big decision. Honestly, it took me getting one as a gift to get it into my house. Do I strongly recommend Vitamix? Yes. Do I have experience with “copycat” Vitamix blenders at lower price points? No. Do I trust Amazon reviews for way less expensive blenders than a Vitamix? Yes. Whew…that was a lot of questions.

Long story short, I made the jump from a Target blender to a super spendy Vitamix in one leap. But you can, and should, make this pina colada smoothie regardless of your blender model. If you want to use a Target or BB&B blender, go for it! It will still be tasty. Here are a few recommendations for blenders at all price points. Bonus: any purchases made using the links below help support NCK.

• My Vitamix
• Ninja, a more reasonably priced high powered blender
• A highly rated “conventional” $30 blender

Green Piña Colada Smoothie

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• Author: Tessa
• Total Time: 5 mins
• Yield: 1 smoothie (2 C) 1x

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Description

The most colorful piña colada you’ll ever drink! This healthy smoothie has tons of tropical flavor, healthy fat, and nutritious greens…without any added sweetener. Pineapple provides all the sweet you need!

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 C unsweetened coconut milk (see notes)
• 1 C frozen pineapple chunks
• 1 large handful greens, such as kale or spinach

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Instructions

1. Add ingredients to a blender in the order listed. Blend, starting on low speed and increasing gradually, until completely smooth with no visible fragments of greens. The consistency should be fairly thick, but for an even frothier smoothie, add a couple ice cubes, a few more pineapple chunks, or a couple chunks of frozen banana.
2. While some smoothies don’t keep well made ahead, this one does! Refrigerate it for up to 24 hours, shaking it up or stirring before you drink it.

Notes

This smoothie recipe is vegan.

I like using homemade coconut milk–it’s extra fragrant without any additives. I strain mine through a mesh strainer–no cheesecloth or towels, since it will get blended into a smoothie anyway. Feel free to substitute any coconut milk beverage or canned coconut milk (full fat or light) in the smoothie. Canned will provide the most piña colada-like results.

• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Category: Drink
• Cuisine: Healthy, Vegan

Note: This page contains affiliate links. It does NOT contain sponsored content. Affiliate links (to products I recommend, on Amazon) offset my ingredient and website maintenance costs, so I can keep bringing you tropical recipes like this one. Thanks!