This is my tried and true Green Juice recipe made with fresh kale and romaine, cucumbers, celery, lots of lemon, and green apples for sweetness. It’s so refreshing and loaded with nutrients – the perfect way to start your day!
Green Juice has been a part of our diet for several years now, and it’s one of THE BEST healthy eating habits we’ve made (we’ll talk more about the benefits of leafy greens in a sec).
For me, eating healthy is all about enjoying what I eat. So, when we started making green juice, I said “If it tastes like grass, I’m not interested.” Turns out, it tastes amazing! This juice recipe is light and refreshing, with a little sweetness from the apples and a nice brightness from the lemon.
Plus, it’s so easy to modify the ingredients to your liking. Or, if you’re more of a smoothie fan, try my Pineapple Green Smoothie. It’s quick, tasty, and just as nutritious!
Benefits of Green Juice
So, we all know that green vegetables are healthy, but leafy greens take it to another level. They’re full of essential vitamins and minerals like iron, folate, calcium, and beta-carotene, just to name a few and they have less sugar then fruit juice.
These can help boost your immune system and promote healthy digestion. Leafy greens are also rich in antioxidants that help with cancer prevention and improve liver and kidney functions.
Green juice (sometimes called kale juice or spinach juice) is a great way to get more leafy greens in your healthy diet and allows your body to absorb the nutrients quickly and easily. Not to mention, it helps to strengthen your hair and nails, and makes your skin *glow.* So, let’s get started!
Ingredients
- Green apples — This is what adds natural sweetness to the juice. Also a great source of Vitamin C and fiber. You can replace apples for oranges, kiwi or even grapefruit too.
- Stems of Celery — You can also use fennel if you have it on hand.
- Large Cucumber — I like to use English cucumbers, but any variety will work here. They’re super hydrating and give the juice such a refreshing flavor.
- Greens — I use a mix of healthy greens like romaine leaves and kale so you get all the benefits without an overpowering flavor.
- Lemon —Remove the peel and the white pith, as they’ll make the juice bitter. If you’re making this juice in a blender, just add lemon juice instead of the whole lemon.
Instructions to Make the Best Green Juice
Juice (or blend) :
- If you’re using a juicer, simply wash and juice ingredients. It’s that simple!
- If you’re using a blender, toss everything in and blend until smooth.
Strain:
- Then, use a fine mesh sieve or nut milk bag to strain the juice into a storage container. Try to squeeze out as much of the juice as possible, using a wooden spoon to press the pulp down.
Enjoy:
- Enjoy your juice immediately and serve it over ice if you’d like!
Olivia’s Recipe Tips
- If you’re making this in a blender, you may need to cut the fruits and veggies and remove the veins from the kale so everything fits nicely.
- Green juice is best served right when you make it. To save time, you can prep the fruits and veggies the night before and keep them in an air-tight container in the fridge.
- You can store the juice for an extra day in the fridge. It may separate as it rests, so you’ll want to give it a mix before serving.
When To Drink Green Juice
Drinking green juice first thing in the morning can help your body absorb the nutrients better than if you drink it with a meal. We usually have one 250ml glass 20 or 30 minutes before breakfast and put the rest in a mason jar in the fridge.
I love to have it on hand, especially when I’m feeling snacky. A glass in the afternoon helps me feel more satiated and energized throughout the rest of the day.
It’s also a great option about 30 minutes before or immediately after a workout. This fresh juice will give you a much-needed hydration.
Recipe Variations
Use fresh herbs: If you have fresh herbs on hand, toss ‘em in! Parsley is especially great in your juice and adds a wonderfully nice earthy note.
Amp up the greens: I use kale and romaine lettuce, but there are so many options for greens. You can add in collard greens, Swiss chard, spinach, microgreens, wheatgrass etc.
Add a boost: For even more nutritional benefits, try adding in fresh ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, or bee pollen.
Frequently Asked Questions
I always remove the peel and pith (white part) of the lemon, so the juice isn’t bitter. Otherwise, the choice is up to you! If you’re using a juicer, there’s no need to peel the ingredients. If you’re using a blender, peeling is optional but it does make straining the green juice easier.
Green juice should not be too sweet, but you can add more sweetness by using a sweeter variety of apples. You can also add a little honey, coconut water, or a pitted date.
You sure can! Instead of discarding the pulp, you can add it to smoothies for extra nutrition. If you’re a gardener, you can mix it in with your soil or add it to your compost!
If you enjoy this recipe, be sure to check out my collection of healthy smoothie recipes! We make these on repeat all summer long and I know you’ll love them too!
More Green Juice Recipes to Try:
1. Celery Juice
3. Fruit Juice
Green Juice Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 green apples halved and quartered
- 4 celery stalks
- 1 cucumber peeled
- 6 romaine leaves
- 5 kale leaves
- 1 lemon peeled
Equipment
Instructions
- Wash all the ingredients and pass them through a powerful juicer. It's as simple as that! Serve immediately with ice if you wish.
- If you are making this juice with a blender, put all the ingredients into a high-powered blender and blend until smooth, typically taking about 1 to 2 minutes. If necessary, use the tamper to help you to push the ingredients into the blender blades.
- Then, strain the green juice through a fine-mesh strainer or nut milk bag into a storage container. Use the back of a spoon to press on the solids, squeezing out as much juice as you can. Dispose of the solids afterward. Enjoy!
Tips
- Make sure to wash everything thoroughly before juicing.
- You can substitute kale for chard, spinach, and collard greens.
- Pear is a great swap for apples or if you want to add additional sweetness.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
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Patricia says
It seems to be a very healthy and tasty juice.
The apple adds a special flavour. I will try to put a slice of ginger. Can I use a regular blender or should be a juicer? Thank you. Congratulations! Your blog is awesome!
Olivia says
Thanks, Paty. I am glad you like my blog 😉 Yes, you can blend the ingredients on the highest level setting. After blending it, you have to pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve to extract the liquid. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by 😉
Carlyle says
Green juices also taste surprisingly good and refreshing. Making one every morning can be an event for the whole family. For extra nutrition an ounce of aloe vera juice can be added to the juice. Aloe vera juice is good for your joints and a healthy digestive system.
Olivia says
Great tip!
Janet Peterson says
Delicious green juice! I didn’t have celery and used a full english cucumber. So refreshing and delicious. Thank you!
Olivia says
Happy you liked it!