If you’re a little intimidated by the idea of green smoothies, this pear smoothie is the perfect way to ease yourself in. Yes, it has baby spinach in it, but it also has pear, banana, and dates. All of their sweet and fruity flavors will outweigh the flavor of the greens. Let’s do it!
What do I need for a spinach pear smoothie?
I used Medjool dates to sweeten this particular pear smoothie. To get the dates soft enough to blend into a smoothie, I soak them in boiling water for a few minutes, but if your dates are particularly soft (it can be hit or miss with the dates we get here) and you have a powerful blender, you might be able to skip that step. And hey, worse comes to worse, you have a few delicious chunks of date in your smoothie.
You’ll also need:
- Baby spinach. Don’t worry—the green flavor will be masked by the pears and dates! If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you could use baby kale instead.
- Banana. The banana is a double threat here: it sweetens and it thickens the smoothie.
- Pear. Can’t have a pear smoothie without the pear!
- Milk. To give you the perfect smoothie consistency.
- Ice. To give your smoothie some chill!
Can I make a pear smoothie with no banana?
Absolutely! You can replace the banana with 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or half a ripe avocado. You might want a little more sweetener if you go this route.
How I make this smoothie vegan?
Good news! As long as you used plant-based milk, this pear smoothie is already vegan!
What kind of blender do I need?
Nobody wants to be drinking chunks of spinach. So to get this pear smoothie super smooth, you’ll need a high-powered blender. These are our favorites:
- BUDGET: Ninja Professional Blender. With it’s under-$100 price tag, this powerful blender is the one to go with if you’re on a budget or new to green smoothies. We used it for several years and loved it!
- SPLURGE: Vitamix Professional Blender. This blender is top-of-the-line, and the one we use today in the Wholefully test kitchen. If you’re a smoothie pro who makes tons of smoothies and other blended recipes, you might want to consider saving up for a Vitamix.
How can I pack more nutrition into this pear smoothie?
You can add whatever mix-ins sound good to you. For a pear smoothie, I like to add:
- Ginger. The pear-ginger flavor combination is always a good one, and ginger has loads of health benefits, so sometimes I’ll add some dried or fresh ginger. Just remember, a little ginger goes a long way!
- Local bee pollen or honey. Keep your seasonal allergies in check with local bee pollen or honey.
- Hemp seeds. Hemp adds so much plant-based protein, without the chalky texture of protein powder.
To save yourself some time, you can mix your favorite add-ins with the spinach and freeze them into booster packs for some faster smoothie making.
Enjoy!
Pear and Spinach Smoothie
This Pear and Spinach Smoothie is sweetened using Medjool dates and bananas—no added sugar at all. It's a great way to start off your morning!
Ingredients
- 2 Medjool dates, pitted
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 ripe banana, broken into pieces
- 1 ripe pear, cored and cut into chunks
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened milk of your choice
- Handful of ice
Instructions
- Place the dates in a heat-proof small container (I like a small glass measuring cup). Pour the boiling water over the dates and let soak for 5-10 minutes, or until the dates expand.
- Combine the dates and soaking water, plus all the remaining ingredients in the carafe of a high-powered blender. Blend on high until smooth and no chunks of dates or spinach remain. Pour into two glasses and serve.
Notes
Use whatever milk you like (almond, cashew, soy, coconut, cow's, goat's, etc.), just make sure it is unsweetened and unflavored.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1 smoothieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 270Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 124mgCarbohydrates: 55gFiber: 7gSugar: 32gProtein: 9g
At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.
