If you haven’t tried a Green Monster smoothie yet, then I really think you’re missing out. Honestly! You’ll love this Matcha Green Tea Green Monster Smoothie Recipe!
Especially after going through Project Veg-Up last month, I’ve found that it can often be difficult to get your recommended servings of fruits and veggies with the craziness of every day life. If you’re short on time, then the Green Monster smoothie may be your best solution. You get two fruits servings (if you count 1/2 a banana as one fruit serving) and one vegetable serving (thanks to the healthy addition of spinach – click here for spinach health benefit info).
Now, you may be wondering, “Can I use frozen spinach in a Green Monster smoothie?” I wondered the same thing, so I tried out the theory that you could with this recipe. As it turns out, it works just fine (you just need less spinach in frozen form since it’s more tightly packed). And do you know what this means, people?
It means you can have a complete breakfast using ingredients exclusively out of your (well-stocked) refrigerator and/or freezer! I love convenient things that rock! 😉
This smoothie has a health boost with the addition of matcha green tea. Click here for some info on matcha green tea health benefits. And check out this quote by Dr. Weil:
In addition to providing trace minerals and vitamins (A, B-complex, C, E, and K), matcha is rich in catechin polyphenols – compounds with high antioxidant activity. These compounds offer protection against many kinds of cancer, help prevent cardiovascular disease and slow the aging process. They also reduce harmful cholesterol in the blood, stabilize blood sugar levels, help reduce high blood pressure and enhance the resistance of the body to many toxins. The most important polyphenol in matcha is EGCG (epigallo-catechin gallate), which is the subject of many medical studies. Matcha has a significant amount of dietary fiber and practically no calories. ~Andrew Weil, M.D. (source )
Matcha Green Tea Green Monster Smoothie
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Breakfast
Description
Matcha green tea powder adds a subtle, yet intoxicating flavor punch to the regular green monster smoothie. And for those who don’t know, a green monster smoothie is one made with spinach! Trust me, you can’t taste it. This recipe is a great way to start your day right – with a serving of fruit and veggies, plus matcha green tea goodness. I added yogurt to this smoothie for the protein (to help me stay full) and probiotics (because they’re good for you), but you could substitute additional milk.
*Vegetarian, Vegan if you use vegan milk and yogurt*
Ingredients
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder, to taste (I really like matcha, so I went with 1 teaspoon)
- 1 banana (a frozen banana will give you a thicker consistency, but non-frozen works, too)
- 1/4 cup frozen spinach (or 1 1/2 –2 cups loosely packed, fresh baby spinach)
- 1 individual vanilla yogurt, preferably organic (or sub milk if you don’t want to use yogurt, use coconut or soy milk yogurt for vegan option)
- 1/4 cup milk of choice (use vanilla/sweetened rice milk for extra sweetness or use plain/dairy milk and add sweetener of choice, if desired) – add additional milk if you want a more liquidy texture.
- 2 cubes ice
- additional sweetener of choice, optional/if needed (I didn’t need it, but flavor your smoothie to your taste)
Instructions
- Place matcha powder, banana, spinach, yogurt, milk (plus sweetener if using), and ice in a blender.
- Note: place matcha powder in the blender first so it gets covered with other ingredients. This helps keep the powder from blowing around the blender when you turn it on.
- Cover and blend until banana/spinach/ice is processed and smooth, and the matcha is well-incorporated, about 1-2 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
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You may also like these fabulous smoothie recipes:
Or these matcha recipes:
Do you prefer smoothies with or without yogurt? Why?
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I have yet to try Green Monsters. I really need to- it really is the perfect snack or breakfast!
Yes! Doooo ittttttt! 🙂
this sounds awesome I need to start putting green tea in my smoothies!
I love putting matcha in green smoothies! That grassy flavor is so fresh and springy.
I love love green monsters! Adding matcha just makes it even better! But I have never thought to use frozen spinach. I stock up on this as spinach is a staple in the home and goes just as fast as it gets restocked. So having frozen on hand is a must! Great idea!!!
Thanks Destini! 🙂
I love green monsters and I never would’ve thought I’d say that a couple years ago! It’s amazing what you’ll try when other people post about it 😉
Yogurt is hit or miss with me in smoothies, depends on my mood and if it’s a “snack” smoothie or a “meal” smoothie.
yum looks great! where do you get matcha?
Hey Amy – I got mine on amazon.com. I just read through the reviews for several different kinds before picking this one: http://www.amazon.com/SerendipiTea-Matcha-Culinary-Organic-4-Ounce/dp/B00117GEGU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312594850&sr=8-1 🙂
Thank you so much for testing frozen spinach! I stopped making GM when it got too expensive to buy massive amounts of fresh spinach. I think I’ll have to go make one now 🙂
Lacey – have you tried the frozen spinach method yet?
I still haven’t gotten into the green smoothie thing. Maybe I need to give it another shot. When I do make smoothies though, I prefer them without yogurt. They’re creamy enough for me with frozen bananas.
I agree. I usually go without yogurt unless I want it to be extra filling or for the probiotics. I like the creaminess of rice/soy milk with the banana.
Have you tried a Green Monster ever?
That smoothie must be SO good! I LOVE matcha!
I love the idea of using frozen spinach. Fresh is so expensive when it’s not in sale!
Ooh that sounds good! I had never heard of matcha green tea before. I make a different smoothie to get in my spinach. It has spinach, frozen berries, whey protein, and ice. If I have it as a pre- or post-workout shake then I also include BCAAs, glutamine, l-carnitine, and flax seed oil. It’s the shake from Jackie Warner on Thintervention, and it’s yummy – much better than eating a cupful of frozen spinach plain!
Nice mixins Susan! 🙂
Delicious! 😀
For some unknown reason, I never use yogurt in my smoothie. No reason, other than I just forget and opt for soymilk instead. But yogurt would make it much creamier, I think?
Will be trying this recipe soon! 😀
Excellent! Let me know how you like it Sarah! 🙂
I bought Matcha for the first time last weekend after having a Matcha Frappe from Wegmans. I am in love! Do they use Matcha in bubble tea? That’s what it reminds me of.
I think it depends on the bubble tea shop. Some places brew tea and add bubbles. Some use powder mixtures to make theirs. My guess is that somewhere someone uses matcha powder. But, most likely, matcha is so expensive, most places probably do not actually the real deal. 😉 Hope you like your matcha! I have a few recipes with it – linked above! 🙂
Just made this tonight. Thanks tons, tastes excellent. I added some grapes to sweeten it slightly (:
Hi Lee! I absolutely love comments like yours. I always wonder if people are checking out my recipes but not commenting. lol Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and let me know. I’m so glad to hear the recipe worked for you, and I love your idea of adding grapes! Did you use frozen or fresh? 🙂
I googled basic smoothie recipes and found your blog. I just tried to make a green monster with frozen spinach and am floored by how great they taste. I added a little sweetener and just cant believe how wonderful it turned out !!!!
Thanks
So glad to hear you liked the smoothie, Myron! 🙂
Do you always use your matcha without exposing it to hot water? I debating is Matcha in terms of benefits attained through hot water or could one just add it to cold water and mix?
Hi Aaron, Sorry for the extremely delayed response. Somehow I missed your comment. According to this web site (http://www.gotmatcha.com/questions_answers.html), they say on hot vs cold: “Drink it both ways and experience the same benefits .” HTH!
Hi there,
Thanks for the recipe! I look forward to trying it. One question — when you say “one individual yogurt”, how many ounces/mL is that? I buy my yogurt in a large tub so I’ll be measuring it out with a cup measure.
Cheers!
Hi Nici, Oh my, I’m so sorry I missed your comment somehow. I think single servings are typically between 4-6 ounces. For me, I’d probably measure about 1/2-1 cup, depending how much of the yogurt you want in the smoothie. Those amounts should be good for texture and flavor. 🙂
Yum! I’m big on tossing some Greek yogurt in to up my protein, and if I have any leftover cooked steel-cut oats or quinoa in the fridge I’ll throw in 1/4 cup as well for extra bulk and voila! breakfast 🙂
Ooh, I haven’t tried cooked quinoa in a smoothie before! Thanks for the tip, Caroline! 🙂
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book
in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics
to drive the message home a bit, but instead of
that, this is fantastic blog. A fantastic read.
I’ll certainly be back.
I’ve been making green smoothies for a while but have never added macha green tea powder, can’t wait to try it with the new addition! 🙂 Quick question, can I add oatmeal to the recipe?
Hi Pooja! Hope you like the addition of the macha. 🙂 I think oatmeal would be great in this. I’d recommend soaking it a little like how I prepare it in this pumpkin pie smoothie recipe: http://www.thechiclife.com/2012/01/pumpkin-pie-smoothie-recipe-good-use-of-leftover-canned-pumpkin.html
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
You don’t have to add matcha green tea to any/your green tea smoothie. Just need to make a Matcha green tea smoothie. My favorite is “Tripla Tea Smoothie Grade Matcha”. Oatmeal? What a great idea!
Hi! I felt compelled to post that I’ve been making this since my matcha powder came in and it’s SO delicious! I actually have been adding the oatmeal and it keeps me full longer. 🙂 I’ve also taken to adding just a drop of peppermint extract and it gives it a really fresh minty taste which I also love. I cannot thank you enough for introducing me to matcha powder!