How do I cut the bitterness?

[hapahaole]

I just made a green smoothie with:

1 bunch kale
1 carrot
flaxseed
bee pollen
water

It is so bitter! Usually I add fruit to my smoothies but with the fruit added it would have been way too much smoothie for me to handle in a day and I wanted to use up the entire bunch of kale since I have a lot of produce to use up right now.

So are there ways to cut the bitterness?

TIA!

[Veronica01]

Green smoothies are generally 60% fruit, and 40% greens... and do not reccommend putting vegetables, roots into smoothies. Green juice yes, smoothies no.

Use a fruit like banana, mango, grape, papaya etc for a base and then add another kind of fruit like berries, peaches, apples and then add some greens.

I'm not sure where you got the information from to blend veggies into a green smoothie. :)

You can look up Victoria Boutenko's Green For Life book, or try googling green smoothie recipes, or check the forum here.

PS Kale is EXTREMELY strong smelling and tasting, i dont know anyone that eats a whole bunch of kale in one smoothie. It would ruin my smoothie. I put 2-5 leaves in, depending on size. With other greens like spinach and romaine you can put in a lot more because they are mild. But i would guess you won't be able to stomach an entire bunch of kale in a smoothie no matter what you put in it

[Veganforlife]

I agree. Also add something like a lemon...

[hapahaole]

Oh I'm drinking the smoothie. I'd say most of my concoctions aren't great but I manage to drink them just fine because they make me feel great!

I've never read about not putting root veggies into smoothies. Is there a reason for it?

Thanks!

[JCB44]

remove the white stems

[garden granny]

add stevia or agave to sweeten it.

[Veganforlife]

Oh I'm drinking the smoothie. I'd say most of my concoctions aren't great but I manage to drink them just fine because they make me feel great!

I've never read about not putting root veggies into smoothies. Is there a reason for it?

Thanks!

I think because they are so thick. They are better juiced, like beets, carrots, etc. and THEN added to smoothies...

[Dimond]

You can easily make savory smoothies or soups, but you need to think in terms of flavors that blend together. An avocado would be the best to make it taste better. Other ideas: herbs like cilantro or parsley, garlic, olive oil.

[Veronica01]

Yes remove the stems of kale, they're the most bitter, the Boutenko's even reccommend it and they live on smoothies.


Also you don't want to mix root veggies and fruits (if you were going to) as the starch in them does not digest well with the carbohydrates in fruit. It can give you cramps or bloating problems.

Juicing is different because there is no fibre and the juice is digested very quickly without any problems.

Also over time will power might not be enough if all of your smoothies taste aweful lol. You want positive memories and associations with food. Mine usually taste relatively good to great as it shouldn't be a chore to eat food that is healthy. :)

[steveoregon]

1 bunch kale
1 carrot
flaxseed
bee pollen
water

While Kale is very nutritional, it also adds a strong green taste to a smoothie.

Spinach, lettuce, or chard is a better choice for a beginner. I really have to pile a lot of spinach in a smoothie to make it too green. You definitely need fruit in that recipe if you want it to taste better.

.

[iluvmangos]

I HATE kale in smoothies. Makes it spicy. Maybe try a different green next time.

[snoops]

You guys have obviously never tired this smoothie recipe...

I copied this from kidkid a couple pages back in the recipes section. I use strawberries instead of cherries. Its awesome, chocolaty, spicy goodness.


i just made this bomb smoothie out of things I had lying around. it goes something like this (I didn't measure, sorry):

.A entire bunch of kale (probably could have added spinach too, but didn't)
.half a bag of red cherries (take the pits out. I just bite them out)
.handful of cacao nibs
.a handful of goji berries
.a squeeze of agave
.a pinch of cinnamon
.some freshly grated nutmeg
.a handful of frozen berries (I had a mix of blue, straw, and rasp)
.two or three or four shakes of cayenne pepper (depends on how hot you want it. I like it hot)
.about a cup of water. It should be pretty thick, but blended until smooth

I could only drink about a third of it before I was really really full.
It's pretty open to interpretation. The important parts are the kale, cacao nibs, cherries, and cayenne! Spicy bittersweet and sexy. Nice color too, rich red-brown.

Have a beautiful day!

[spicyfull]

When I have too many Vegetables, I Freeze some that are Freezable to use later as when they are not as plentiful..because when it is in Season I eat My fill of it or Freeze what I can't eat.

[hapahaole]

I made a better smoothie today, only half a bunch of kale and almost an entire pineapple, flax, and spirulina. It actually tastes good! I don't taste the bitterness at all today!

There were a bunch of little grayish white bugs all over some of the leaves though that were still very much alive. It's the first time I've encountered so many! I just washed them off, tore off the leaves they were chilling on and put them down the garbage disposal. I guess bugs comes with the territory eh?

Thank you for all your help!

[T-Bird]

not loads of bugs.

I get loads of organic greens, some fresh from the farm i my CSA box, lots of bugs = lazy farmer...

a few sure - but I have not seen a one in my CSA.

I've noticed the kale at the store - sometimes, sometimes not. Now I inspect it carefully - if there's a lot, I sub with other greens....

[hapahaole]

The kale was from Stanley's that I bought this past weekend. There were little families hiding in the curls of the kale. I still have the other half of the bunch to inspect tomorrow before I make my smoothie. I think I'll stick with flat leaf kale from now on...



not loads of bugs.

I get loads of organic greens, some fresh from the farm i my CSA box, lots of bugs = lazy farmer...

a few sure - but I have not seen a one in my CSA.

I've noticed the kale at the store - sometimes, sometimes not. Now I inspect it carefully - if there's a lot, I sub with other greens....

[T-Bird]

yeah - stanley's is what I was talking about!

With the buggy kind - I was spending a 1/2 hour inspecting all those curls in the morning - I don't have the time! LOL, the chard is an easy inspection though!

[hapahaole]

I was spending a 1/2 hour inspecting all those curls in the morning - I don't have the time! LOL, the chard is an easy inspection though!

Yeah, no kidding! I think I'll stick with the Farmers Market for now because I also notice that some of my other greens don't last as long. Even Whole Foods greens stay fresher.

[T-Bird]

But ya can't beat Stanley's prices!

whenever I get greens - I cut off the tip of the stems and soak them in cold water for an hour or two. They love it!

I inspect the kale for sure and if I suspect it's from the "lazy farmer" I don't buy it, but the rest - I'm a single mom and I gotta make this as cheap as possible! I went totally broke shopping at whole foods about 15 years back - that was the only organic option back then. I finally had to give it up completely.

So stanleys, and trader joes for me!

And familyfruitmarket.net has started in with organic fruits and earthbound organics greens. If you're in the portage park area, check them out. The organics are found at the end of the 1st ailse as you come in, and then some more in the front of the third I think - why it's split, I don't know.

In albany park - Julie's organics and more has just a few produce items, but generally good prices. On whipple, a block south of montrose ave.

[RawKnitster]

I LIKE kale in smoothies. Any kind of kale. It is the KING of GREENS. I will use half a bunch of kale and 2-3 pieces of fruit. If it tastes bitter I add a sprinkle of powdered stevia or a few stevia leaves.

I consider myself a lover of all smoothies. Victoria Boutenko's style works for me most of the time, but sometimes I prefer a SuperFood smoothie. There are different schools of thought on which type of smoothies are best, but there is no wrong way to do it.

[spicyfull]

The kale was from Stanley's that I bought this past weekend. There were little families hiding in the curls of the kale. I still have the other half of the bunch to inspect tomorrow before I make my smoothie. I think I'll stick with flat leaf kale from now on...

Let the kale sit in "Table SALT" water for a few minutes and continue to rinse them and you can sing a Hymn and say Farwell to the little family...

[haveyourcake]

If I went just a light smoothie I use an apple with some greens and lots of water. I often make this at the end of the week just before my veggie box arrives and I've run out of fun fruit.

[hapahaole]

Let the kale sit in "Table SALT" water for a few minutes and continue to rinse them and you can sing a Hymn and say Farwell to the little family...


Ha, I'll try that! Will they then rinse off easily after their "bath"? I've noticed even though water is beating on them from the faucet, alive, they won't fall off the leaves. I have to push them off or throw that part of the leaf out.

[T-Bird]

yes - does the salt disolve their "adhesives"?

[EastCoastie]

Kale can be bitter if you are using the stalks. Victoria Boutenko recommends taking the stalks off of greens when the stalks are big and thick.

[hapahaole]

Kale can be bitter if you are using the stalks. Victoria Boutenko recommends taking the stalks off of greens when the stalks are big and thick.

Aren't the stalks good for you though? I'd hate to waste anything even if they are a bit bitter.

Now I'm off to inspect my last bunch of kale!

[EastCoastie]

I don't know how good they are for you. And since it was unpalatable, Victoria Boutenko recommended that I take the leaves off the stem.