Kale, Spinach, Apple, Celery & Lemon Juice
The first time I made this Kale, Spinach, Apple, Celery & Lemon Juice I was rather new to green juices and smoothies and a bit dubious about how it was going to taste, despite its beautiful deep emerald colour.
With a hefty dose of our homegrown cavolo nero, otherwise known as Tuscan black kale, plus some spinach and celery I thought it might something that, although you can feel it ‘doing you good’, is best downed in one.
I needn’t have worried though. With green apples & lemon in the mix, the result isn’t bitter at all but rather sweet and tart with the leafy veg providing pleasant, grassy undertones.
I think this is a great juice to get started on if you’re not used to the sometimes more challenging green juices.
Cavalo nero, and other types of kale, are packed with vitamins and minerals so make a great addition to juices and smoothies.
You can replace the cavolo nero with any other kale, chard or dark green leaf but through the winter we have stacks of cavolo nero in the garden so it’s a great way to use it up. Homegrown veg will always be so much fresher than any you can buy and therefore have more of their nutrients in tact.
When juicing leafy greens, I find it easiest to scrunch them into a ball before putting in the juicer’s feed tube.
Kale, Spinach, Apple, Celery & Lemon Juice
Serves 1
Juice or blend together:
- 2 apples
- 2 celery sticks (including leaves if it has them)
- half a lemon (skin and pith removed)
- 2 large leave of cavolo nero or other kale
- 1 large handful of spinach leaves
Pour into a glass, stir and drink.
NOTE ON THE ROLE OF JUICES & SMOOTHIES IN A HEALTHY DIET
No matter how many glasses of juice or smoothie you drink in one day, they’ll still only count as one portion of your daily recommended minimum of 5. The bulk provided by eating lots of whole fruits and vegetables has beneficial effects on the bowel which you won’t get by drinking juices and smoothies. But juicing and liquidizing fruit and vegetables may make some nutrients more available to us, so my view is that one juice or smoothie a day, made with fresh fruits and vegetables and not concentrates, may have a role in a healthy diet.