This Kiwi Smoothie is light, refreshing, and packed with kiwi flavor! It has hidden greens and it can be ready in just 5 minutes! The smoothie is vegan and gluten-free, and if you don't usually add kiwi to your smoothies, I highly recommend giving it a try! Serve it in a tall glass or in a bowl with your favorite toppings!
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Why You'll Love This Kiwi Smoothie
Sweet tropical flavor - Kiwi doesn't get used in smoothies as often as it should so I created this smoothie to change that! It has a delicious tropical flavor that combines kiwi, mango, pineapple, and banana for extra creaminess. It's vegan, gluten-free, and made with just wholefood ingredients that should be easy to find in any grocery store!
Refreshing breakfast or a healthy snack - You can serve this as a meal replacement for breakfast with your favorite protein powder or as a light snack. It's perfect for hot summer days when you're craving something lighter and refreshing! It's packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber.
Ready in 5 minutes - This smoothie comes together in just a few minutes so it's great whether you're looking for a quick pre-workout smoothie to boost your energy, a quick snack on the go, or a light breakfast to start your day right!
Ingredients
- Kiwi - I like peeling and freezing the kiwi chopped into chunks ahead of time so that it thickens and cools down the smoothie. This is especially great when your other fruit isn't frozen but it's an optional step Just make sure you have a ripe kiwi so it's soft and sweet. Unripe kiwi is very tough so it might not blend as well and it's much more tart. If you don't like how tart green kiwi is, try golden kiwi!
- Banana - I recommend using frozen banana, it yields a much creamier smoothie!
- Mango and pineapple - To add some extra flavor, I add frozen mango and frozen pineapple. You can add other fruits and berries as well but keep in mind that anything with a darker color like raspberries or blueberries will change the color of the smoothie which is why I kept it simple with just mango and pineapple.
- Greens - You can add baby spinach, kale, or a mix of greens depending on what you have. I like adding a mix of greens, the same ones I'd use in a salad. It's a great way to use up any leftover greens or lettuce that would otherwise go bad. If you like hiding veggies in your smoothies, this is a great smoothie for hiding greens without changing the flavor!
- Coconut water - Pure coconut water is amazing in this smoothie! It goes really well with all the flavors and it's extra refreshing. I love using it in my post-workout smoothies.
- Protein powder - This one is optional but great if you want to serve this smoothie for breakfast as a meal replacement or a more filling snack. I like using either unflavored protein powder or vanilla protein powder here. You don't want to use anything too flavorful so it doesn't overpower the kiwi.
Variations and Substitutions
- Different liquid - If you don't have enough coconut water or don't want to use it, you can use almond milk or coconut milk instead. You can also use water to keep it really simple or orange juice to add more sweetness. If you're adding orange juice, I recommend doing 50/50 orange juice and water or coconut water so the smoothie isn't too sweet.
- Smoothie bowl - This recipe is meant to be served in a tall glass because it's quite thin. If you want to turn it into a smoothie bowl that's thick enough to hold toppings, add only 1 cup of liquids instead of 2 cups, and make sure all your fruit is frozen. You can add more liquid as you blend to reach desired consistency but you don't want to add too much at first.
- Greens - If you like hiding veggies in your smoothies, add a handful of baby spinach! It will make it even more green and it adds extra nutrients!
- Green powder - You can add your favorite superfood green powder blend or something like spirulina or chlorella powder. Keep in mind this might change the flavor slightly so don't add too much if you still want to taste the kiwi.
- Yogurt - Add some plain Greek yogurt for a more creamy texture and a protein boost. You can also use vegan yogurt if you prefer.
- Sweetener - You can always add a little bit of agave, maple syrup, honey, stevia, or monkfruit to sweeten the smoothie but I usually don't find this necessary. Make sure all your fruit is ripe to avoid a tart smoothie.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add everything into a high-speed blender. I recommend adding any leafy greens and liquids first to help everything blend more easily.
- Blend on high until smooth and add more coconut water if needed.
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- Serve in a tall glass and enjoy!
- Alternatively, you can serve it in a bowl and garnish it with berries, more kiwi, nut butter, chia seeds, Greek yogurt, or any other toppings. You will need to add less liquids to the blender to keep the smoothie thicker so it can hold your toppings.
Tips & Tricks!
- The best way to peel your kiwi - You can use a good vegetable peeler and peel it just like any other veggie. I find it's easier to do this when you cut off the top and bottom first. You can also peel it by scooping out the flesh using a spoon. I like eating it this way when I'm just snacking on it but for this smoothie, my go-to is cutting off both ends and using a knife to cut off the skin without wasting too much of the flesh. Simply stand the kiwi on the cut side and slice underneath the skin following the shape of the fruit.
- Freeze your kiwi - To make the smoothie thicker, freeze your kiwi or any of the other fruits ahead of time. This way, the smoothie will be naturally thicker and you won't have to use any ice. Ice tends to make smoothies more icy than thick because it melts quickly.
Serving Suggestions
You can either serve it in a tall glass as is or you can serve it in a bowl with toppings like berries, diced mango, pineapple, or more kiwi. If you're serving it in a bowl, I recommend adding less liquids to the blender at first and then adding more as needed so the smoothie is thick enough to hold the toppings.
Storing
Smoothies are always best consumed right away because they can oxidize quickly after blending.
That being said, if you need to store it, keep it in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Pick a jar that fits the amount of smoothie you have the best because the less air there is in the jar, the longer the smoothie will stay fresh.
You can also freeze any leftover smoothie in an ice cube tray for later. Once frozen, take the frozen smoothie out of the ice cube tray and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When ready to defrost, toss the cubes into a blender with coconut water or milk and blend until smooth.
FAQs
Yes! Kiwi fruit skin is actually edible, you just need to cut off the tough top and bottom. If you don't want to because of the texture or to avoid possible pesticides, you can totally peel it! I always do. If you have golden kiwis, their skin is much thinner and smooth so it's much easier to eat. The fruit is also sweeter and milder in flavor.
Yes, you can definitely use milk in this smoothie but kiwi might make the milk curdle which is why I opted for coconut water instead.
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes
Below are four other similar tropical smoothies that you might enjoy if you like this one. The passion fruit one is a popular one on Pinterest and one of my all-time favorites! If you want to see all the latest ones, head over to Smoothies!
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Print📖 Recipe
Kiwi Smoothie
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Smoothie
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Kiwi Smoothie is light, refreshing, and packed with kiwi flavor! It has hidden greens and it can be ready in just 5 minutes! Serve it in a tall glass or in a bowl with your favorite toppings!
Ingredients
- 1-2 cups leafy greens (like baby spinach, baby kale, or a mix of greens)
- 2 cups coconut water (substitute water or milk if preferred)
- 1 cup frozen or fresh chopped kiwi, skin removed
- ½ cup frozen mango and/or frozen pineapple
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 scoop of protein powder (optional)
Instructions
- Add everything into a high-speed blender. I recommend adding any leafy greens and liquids first to help everything blend more easily.
- Blend on high until smooth and add more coconut water if needed.
- Serve in a tall glass and enjoy!
Equipment
Notes
The smoothie is best enjoyed right away but you can store it in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 24 hours if necessary.
The nutritional facts are only an estimate and they’re counted without any protein powder because all brands are different and the protein amount may vary greatly.
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Veronika Sykorova says
Kiwi doesn't get appreciated enough as it should, this is such a good smoothie for the summer, you'll love it!