Gateway Green Smoothie Recipe

[Photograph: Carolyn Cope]

If you're new to—or slightly suspicious of—green smoothies, this recipe is the place to start. It's easy to like and every bit as friendly as befits someone from the tropics.

Notes:

Use baby spinach for a milder-tasting, sweeter smoothie. If you like a brighter, tangier note to your sweets, try the sorrel. Both greens are beginner-friendly since they're not bitter or earthy in flavor.

This recipe does not require a high-speed blender. Just process until it's completely smooth. If your blender needs a little extra water to make that happen, that's okay. And if you're using a regular blender, slice the frozen banana before adding it.