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High-speed blender

Green Smoothie

Spinach that actually disappears. Cold, drinkable, and done in a minute in a high-speed blender.

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A tall glass of green smoothie on a marble counter in morning light.

This is the smoothie we make when breakfast needs to be fast and green without tasting like a salad. Ripe banana and frozen pineapple do the sweetening. Spinach does the rest — and in a high-speed blender, you won't see it.

Load the jar liquids first, fruit last. Start on low, then go up. If the blender stalls, use the tamper and push toward the corners, not the blades.

Same machine, different mood: that blender will also puree a pot of soup until it's silk. There's a note at the bottom for that, because hot liquid in a blender deserves a little respect.

Why you'll love this

  • No spinach specks
  • 5 minutes, two glasses
  • Banana is the only sweetener
  • Works with pineapple or mango

High-speed blender with tamper

Green Smoothie

Spinach that actually disappears. Cold, drinkable, and done in a minute in a high-speed blender.

Prep
5 minutes
Total
5 minutes
Yield
2 glasses (about 12 ounces each)

Ingredients

  • 2 packed cups (60g) baby spinach
  • 1 frozen banana, in chunks
  • 1 cup (140g) frozen pineapple or mango
  • ¼ ripe avocado (optional, for a creamier sip)
  • 1½ cups cold water or coconut water
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • Pinch of fine salt

Instructions

  1. 1

    Load the high-speed blender in this order: water, lemon, spinach, avocado, then the frozen fruit on top. Liquids first keep the blades from stalling.

  2. 2

    Start on low, then ramp up to high. Blend until the jar looks one even green and you can't see spinach specks, 45 to 75 seconds. Use the tamper if the vortex stalls — push toward the corners, not the blades.

  3. 3

    Taste. Too thick? A splash more water. Not cold enough? A few more frozen chunks and a 10-second blend.

  4. 4

    Pour and drink. It'll separate if it sits; a short pulse brings it back.

The same jar, for soup

A high-speed blender will puree roasted tomato or squash soup until it's completely smooth — and the friction can even finish heating it. Work in batches, never past the max line. Take the center cap off so steam can escape, start on low with a towel over the lid, then turn it up. Hot liquid expands. Treat it like a pot, not a smoothie.

Notes

  • Ripe banana is doing the sweetening here. If the fruit is tart, add a date or a teaspoon of honey.
  • Frozen fruit is what makes it cold. If yours is fresh, add a handful of ice and expect a slightly thinner drink.

Special tool: High-speed blender with tamper. See the blender we use.