Imagine a luxuriously creamy green smoothie that tastes like a dessert but is made with nutritious foods like peanut butter, bananas, and kale. And all you need are five simple ingredients to make this dairy-free vegan beverage!
While juicing has been popular for a long time, I prefer making smoothies. You get all the nutrition from the fruits and vegetables while keeping the fiber.
And they are so delicious and easy to make. With a little planning, you can have a quick breakfast or post-workout recovery meal in as little as 5 minutes.
While this peanut butter green smoothie features kale, you can experiment with your favorite greens and whatever you have in your refrigerator. Some options include spinach, Swiss chard, parsley, broccoli, and celery.
Ingredients
To make this recipe, you'll only need 5 ingredients:
- Non-dairy milk (I prefer unsweetened organic soy, but you can use your favorite such as almond or oat.)
- Kale (Any variety will work such as curly shown in the photos, Lacinato, or baby kale.)
- Peanut butter (I recommend a natural one without added sugar.)
- Medjool dates
- Bananas (Once they are ripe, remove the peels and freeze them so they are ready to go.)
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Instructions
Because I want to make sure my kale peanut butter smoothie is completely blended without any bits of greens, I like to make it in two steps:
- First blend the liquid, dates, and kale until partially broken down.
- Then add the peanut butter and frozen banana and blend until completely smooth.
Layering
The key to any successful smoothie is two fold: Use a high-speed blender and layer the ingredients in the proper order:
- Liquid
- Sweetener and any powders
- Greens
- Soft ingredients
- Fresh fruit, nuts and seeds
- Frozen fruit and ice
As mentioned in the recipe for this green smoothie with peanut butter, it helps to pre-blend the non-dairy milk, dates, and kale before adding the rest of the ingredients. This way you don't end up with any unwanted chunks.
Substitutions
This green smoothie recipe is highly adaptable to suit your preferences and dietary needs. The only ingredient I suggest making sure you use is the frozen banana, but even that can be substituted for a different fruit, if you like.
- Non-dairy milk options include soy, coconut, almond, oat, and rice.
- Sweetener options include different types of dates, pure maple syrup, brown rice syrup, and agave nectar.
- Greens options include spinach, chard, and collards.
- Nut butter options include almond, cashew, walnut, and sunbutter.
Additions
Boost your smoothie or give it a different flavor profile by adding one or more of the following:
- Açaí (powder or frozen smoothie packs)
- Avocados
- Beets (juice or raw shredded)
- Brazil nuts (limit to one or two nuts a day)
- Cacao (nibs or powder)
- Cayenne (powder)
- Chia seeds
- Flax seeds
- Goji berries (dried)
- Hemp seeds
- Matcha (green tea powder)
- Pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- Spirulina (powder)
- Sunflower seeds
- Walnuts
And for even more recipes, join the Vegan Mediterranean Diet Recipes Facebook group for support, inspiration, and fun.
If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars! ★★★★★
📋 Recipe
Peanut Butter Green Smoothie
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsweetened non-dairy milk, (I used organic soy)
- 2 Medjool dates, pits removed
- 1 cup kale, ribs removed, roughly chopped (or substitute fresh spinach)
- 1 Tablespoon peanut butter, (or other nut butter)
- 1 frozen banana
Instructions
- Add the non-dairy milk, dates, and chopped kale to your high-speed blender. Place the lid on and blend until the greens are partially broken down.
- Next add the peanut butter and frozen banana. Place the lid on and blend again until completely smooth, using the tamper, as needed. (The tamper is the stick that comes with your blender that assists with pushing ingredients toward the blade.)
- Pour in a glass and enjoy right away.
Notes
- Non-dairy milk options include soy, coconut, almond, oat, and rice.
- Sweetener options include different types of dates, pure maple syrup, brown rice syrup, and agave nectar.
- Greens options include spinach, chard, and collards.
- Nut butter options include almond, cashew, walnut, and sunbutter.
- Açaí (powder or frozen smoothie packs)
- Avocados
- Beets (juice or raw shredded)
- Brazil nuts (limit to one or two nuts a day)
- Cacao (nibs or powder)
- Cayenne (powder)
- Chia seeds
- Flax seeds
- Goji berries (dried)
- Hemp seeds
- Matcha (green tea powder)
- Pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- Spirulina (powder)
- Sunflower seeds
- Walnuts
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
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This recipe was originally published 8/29/2016. It was updated for improved user experience and to include additions and substitutions.
Teretha
I love this smoothie, I enjoy adding different options to it. Very tasteful and energizing!
Amy Katz
Thank you, Teretha! I'm so glad you are enjoying it.
Jill
I made this and it’s yummy!!! One question though, can I use honey instead of dates? I tried the dates and my vita mix just couldn’t get the dates mixed down, so I had chunks of dates.
Amy
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Jill! You can use any sweetener you like instead of the dates. I sometimes use agave when I don't have any dates.
Kristina
So, this smoothie is amazing! I did make a change because I didn't have frozen bananas,
So I added one non-frozen banana
And 1/2 a cup of frozen pineapple instead. I usually stick to my recipe for green smoothies, and I love kale in the morning (it gives me energy), but I woke up this morning craving peanut butter, so I went searching through my Smoothie board on Pinterest and found this recipe. I'm so glad I did!
Amy
Thank you so much, Kristina! I'm so thrilled you enjoyed it!
Sarah
I make a smoothie like this too! Perfect way to get a boost of greens into my kiddos in the morning!
Amy
That's great! You have very healthy kids.
Molly Kumar
Green Smoothies are my goto feel good food and this one really looks GORGEOUS ! What a great combination to use greens + peanut butter #nom
Amy
Thanks Molly! I'm happy you like green smoothies and peanut butter, too! 🙂
Jess
I like the way you think - I'm all for starting my day with PB or chocolate too!
Amy
May as well start the day on a sweet note, right? 🙂
Mary Ellen @ VNutrition
I always throw in spinach or kale to my smoothies but never taste it because there's so much other tasty stuff in there like in your smoothie!
I love peanut butter so this looks delicious!!
Amy
Yes, I love that you get the pretty green color but yet it doesn't taste like a blended up salad.
Cadry
I love peanut butter in my smoothies too. Plus, it gives the drink staying power that it wouldn't have otherwise. Without something filling like that in a smoothie, I get hungry again much quicker. Looks great, Amy!
Amy
Thanks Cadry! I agree, I need something substantial in my smoothies.
Jenn
I make something very similar to this...it's one of our favorites!! Nut butter and kale are always my go-to in smoothies!
Amy
Great minds, Jenn! 🙂
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite
I love adding spinach in my smoothies! The more greens you can pack in the better! Looks delicious.
Amy
Thanks Sophia! I usually make this one with kale.
Linda @ Veganosity
I always add kale or spinach to my smoothies. I love the peanut butter in this recipe!
Amy
Thanks Linda! It's really yummy. 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
When I see PB I'm just one big happy girl 😉
Amy
You and me both!