Discover the top 25 tasty fruit and vegetable pairings for creating nutritious, delicious smoothies.
Smoothies are a delicious way to increase your daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Blending together fruits and veggies creates a nutrient-dense beverage that makes achieving your daily recommendations easy and tasty.
However, not all produce pairings result in ideal smoothies. The key is choosing combinations of fruits and vegetables that blend well nutritionally and flavor-wise.
Certain fruits and veggies contain complementary vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Mixing produce with contrasting textures and flavors often yields the most appetizing smoothies too.
In this article, we’ll explore 25 of the best fruit and vegetable combinations for crafting nutritious, great-tasting smoothies. Whether you’re looking to get more greens into your diet or simply make a refreshing beverage, these produce pairings are sure to help you blend up something delicious.
Why Fruit and Vegetable Pairings Matter for Smoothies
Choosing the right fruits and veggies to blend together is important for two key reasons: maximizing nutrition and optimizing taste.
Nutrition
Different fruits and vegetables contain their own unique set of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. For example, leafy greens like spinach and kale are loaded with iron, calcium, and folate. Berries are packed with antioxidant compounds like anthocyanins.
Combining produce with complementary nutritional profiles allows you to create smoothies with a broad spectrum of health-promoting compounds. This helps ensure you meet more of your daily nutrient needs in one convenient beverage.
Blending spinach with mango, for instance, gives you the iron in the greens along with the vitamin C in mangoes which boosts iron absorption. Pairing beets with berries provides antioxidants from the berries along with nitrates that improve blood flow from the beets.
Taste
The right fruit and veggie pairings also lend themselves to balanced, appetizing flavors. Sweet fruits complement bitter greens while neutral-tasting produce like cucumbers and pears mix nicely with tart or acidic fruits.
Certain textures also blend together smoothly, like pulpy fruits and leafy greens. Produce with more liquid-like flesh like watermelon and grapefruit combine well with dry veggies like carrots or celery.
Overall, thoughtfully combining fruits' and vegetables’ diverse flavors and textures is key for creating smoothies you’ll want to drink cup after cup of.
Now let’s explore 25 of the tastiest and most nutritious fruit and vegetable pairings to blend up in your smoothies!
25 Best Fruit and Vegetable Combinations for Smoothies
1. Bananas + Spinach
Creamy bananas perfectly mask the taste of leafy spinach. Bananas provide filling fiber while spinach offers iron, vitamin K, and folate. The potassium from the bananas also balances the mineral content of greens nicely.
2. Pineapple + Kale
Sweet pineapple balances the slight bitterness of kale wonderfully. Pineapple supplies vitamin C and bromelain enzymes while kale provides vitamins A, C, and K along with cancer-fighting compounds like sulforaphane.
3. Peaches + Carrots
Juicy peaches blended with carrots create a sweet flavor combo. Peaches offer vitamin C and beta carotene while carrots provide vitamin A and fiber. Together they make for an antioxidant-rich smoothie.
4. Kiwi + Celery
Tart kiwi complements the mild flavor of celery stalks. Kiwi offers an excellent source of vitamin C and potassium while celery provides vitamin K, folate and antioxidants like coumarins. The crisp, refreshing flavors pair nicely together.
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5. Apple + Cucumber
Refreshing apple juice blends deliciously with hydrating cucumber. Apples offer fiber and vitamin C while cucumbers provide vitamin K, potassium, and antioxidants. The crisp flavors pair wonderfully.
6. Watermelon + Cucumber
The juicy sweetness of watermelon blended with cool cucumber makes for a super hydrating smoothie. Watermelon provides lycopene and vitamins A and C. Cucumber offers vitamin K, magnesium and silica. A perfect light and refreshing pairing.
7. Dragonfruit + Fennel
The mild sweetness of dragonfruit matches beautifully with licorice-flavored fennel. Dragonfruit offers betalains and vitamin C while fennel contains vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. A unique and tasty blend!
8. Grapes + Bok Choy
Pop a few red grapes in your smoothie to balance bok choy's earthy flavor. Grapes provide vitamin C and polyphenols while bok choy offers glucosinolates to support detoxification along with calcium, iron and vitamin C.
9. Blackberries + Beets
This striking color combo also packs a nutritious punch! Antioxidant-rich blackberries turn vibrant pink when blended with beets. Blackberries offer vitamin C while beets provide blood pressure-lowering nitrates and anti-inflammatory betalains.
10. Strawberries + Broccoli
Mask the flavor of mild broccoli by blending it with sweet strawberries. Strawberries provide an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese while broccoli offers a hefty dose of vitamins C, K, A, and folate.
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11. Kiwis + Zucchini
Blend vibrant green kiwis with mild zucchini for a smoothie bursting with vitamin C. Kiwis offer more vitamin C than oranges along with potassium. Zucchini provides vitamin C, magnesium, and manganese.
12. Honeydew Melon + Celery
Refreshing honeydew melon blended with crisp celery stalks makes for a hydrating smoothie. Honeydew provides vitamin C and potassium. Celery offers vitamin K, folate, and antioxidant polyacetylenes. A light and revitalizing combination.
13. Cherries + Kale
Tart cherries perfectly balance the bitterness of leafy greens. Cherries provide inflammation-fighting anthocyanins along with vitamin C. Kale offers vitamins A, C, and K, plus cancer-preventing sulforaphane.
14. Mango + Spinach
Silky sweet mango nicely masks any vegetal flavors from spinach. Mangoes provide vitamins A and C while spinach offers iron, folate, vitamin K, and antioxidants. The spinach accentuates the tropical flavor.
15. Blackberries + Carrots
Deeply pigmented blackberries turn bright orange when swirled with carrots. Blackberries offer anthocyanins and vitamin C while carrots provide immune-boosting vitamin A.
16. Pear + Cucumber
The mild flavor of cucumber perfectly complements the sweetness of pear. Pears provide fiber, vitamin C and copper. Cucumber offers hydrating water and beneficial antioxidants. A light and refreshing blend.
17. Asian Pear + Mint
Refreshingly sweet Asian pear goes well with mint's cooling flavor. Asian pears provide copper, vitamin K, and antioxidants. Mint aids digestion and supplies antioxidant compounds like rosmarinic acid.
18. Plums + Bok Choy
Blend richly flavored plums with mineral-rich bok choy. Plums offer vitamin C and polyphenols that support heart health. Bok choy provides glucosinolates, calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin A.
19. Cantaloupe + Ginger
Spicy ginger nicely complements sweet cantaloupe. Cantaloupe provides potassium and vitamins A, C, and B6 while ginger aids digestion and supplies anti-inflammatory compounds.
20. Peaches + Fennel
Juicy peaches blended with licorice-flavored fennel make for a unique flavor combo. Peaches offer niacin, potassium, and vitamin C while fennel contains vitamin C, folate, potassium, and fiber.
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21. Pineapple + Celery
Bright pineapple pairs well with watery celery stalks. Pineapple supplies bromelain enzymes and vitamin C while celery provides hydrating electrolytes. The flavors intermingle nicely.
22. Strawberries + Beetroot
Sweet strawberries help mellow out earthy beetroot in this vibrant pink smoothie. Strawberries provide vitamin C, manganese and antioxidants. Beetroot offers blood pressure-lowering nitrates, folate and potassium. A nutritious and delicious blend.
23. Pears + Spinach
Blend creamy pears with earthy spinach for a balanced smoothie. Pears offer fiber, vitamin C, and copper while spinach provides protein, vitamins A and K, iron, and antioxidants.
24. Oranges + Carrots
A classic combination: sweet oranges and carrots. Oranges provide vitamin C and potassium while carrots offer beta carotene which converts to vitamin A.
25. Strawberries + Carrot
Sweet strawberries combined with carrots create a nutritious and brightly colored smoothie. Strawberries provide vitamin C, manganese and antioxidants. Carrots offer immune-boosting vitamin A, beta-carotene and fiber. A tasty way to pack in nutrients.
Tips for Creating Fruit and Vegetable Smoothie Combinations
Follow these simple tips for crafting smoothies that maximize the nutrition and flavor of your favorite fruit and veggie combinations:
Use Frozen Produce
Using frozen fruits and vegetables can help create smoother, thicker smoothies compared to fresh produce. The ice crystals in frozen produce also lend a more refreshing flavor. Opt for no-sugar-added frozen fruit and plain frozen veggies without any sauces.
Berries like strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and mangos freeze especially well. Leafy greens like spinach and kale also hold up great when frozen.
Add Healthy Fats
Blending in healthy fats helps create creamy, satisfying smoothies that will keep you full. Good options include:
Avocado - For a nutrition boost of fiber, potassium, vitamins E, K and B6. Adds rich creaminess.
Nut butters - Such as almond or peanut butter. Provide protein, fiber and vitamin E.
Chia seeds - Supply omega-3 fatty acids, protein and calcium. Also act as a thickener.
Flax seeds - Offer omega-3s, fiber and lignans that have antioxidant benefits.
Coconut milk - For healthy fats and creamy texture. Canned (full-fat) or make your own.
Use Seeds, Nuts, Oats
In addition to healthy fats, seeds, nuts and oats further boost the nutrition in smoothies with extra protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Great options include:
Chia seeds - Rich in protein, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, and omega-3s. Just 1-2 tsp packs a big nutritional punch.
Ground flaxseed - Provides fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and lignans. Use 1-2 tbsp per smoothie.
Hemp seeds - Supply protein, omega-3s, iron, and zinc. Add 1-2 tbsp.
Walnuts - Contain protein, magnesium, copper, manganese, and antioxidants. Use a small handful.
Almonds - Provide protein, calcium, iron, vitamin E, magnesium, and fiber. Add a handful.
Oats - Use dry oats or soaked oatmeal. Provide B vitamins, iron, fiber, protein, and antioxidants. Use 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup.
Boost with Protein Powder
Adding a scoop of plant-based protein powder amps up the staying power of smoothies. It also provides nutrients that fruits and veggies may be low in, like protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin B12.
Some top options include pea, hemp, brown rice, or soy protein. Always opt for unsweetened varieties without extra ingredients.
Spice It Up
Spices like cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric provide a flavor kick and health benefits.
Cinnamon lends sweetness and may help regulate blood sugar. Ginger aids digestion and has anti-inflammatory effects. Turmeric contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory curcumin.
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Conclusion
When making smoothies at home, thoughtful fruit and vegetable pairings are key to creating balanced nutrition and appetizing flavors in every glass. With so many possible produce combinations, there’s no shortage of nutritious and delicious smoothies you can whip up.
Be sure to experiment with the 25 fruit and veggie smoothie ideas suggested here. Combinations like berries with leafy greens, oranges with carrots, and pineapple with kale pack a nutritious punch.
Blending up fruits and vegetables also makes it easy to effortlessly increase your daily intake of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
So grab your favorite produce, fire up your blender, and start sipping your way to better health one tasty smoothie at a time!
About Author:
Gavin is the owner of Tru Foo Juice Bar. He has over 6 years of experience running a juice bar and creating juice and smoothie recipes for the consumer market.
His passion for juicing began in his early 20s as he explored natural ways to boost nutrition and energy. Over the years, Gavin has experimented with countless ingredient combinations to create the perfect juice and smoothie blends and bring them to the masses.
