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This Mint Matcha Smoothie – a.k.a. a healthy Shamrock Shake – is loaded with vitamins and healthy fats, this dairy free, refined sugar free smoothie is a delicious treat you can indulge in without the guilt.
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Finally a Shamrock Shake you can feel good about!
No food coloring. No processed ingredients. No sugar overload.
Just whole food goodness that will leave you energized instead of needing a nap.
Ingredients you need
Bananas ~ You won’t taste it in the finished smoothie and it adds sweetness and a creamy “ice cream shake” texture.
If you only have fresh bananas, not frozen, they will work in a pinch. Add a few ice cubes to create a cold, creamy texture.
If you really can’t or don’t want to have banana at all, you can add a couple of Medjool dates instead.
Avocado ~ this brings a lot of creamy texture, but if you don’t have one or can’t have one, you can leave it out and use less milk, or add a couple tablespoons of rolled oats for thickness.
Baby kale ~ spinach can be used if you don’t have kale.
Although I always recommend adding leafy greens whenever you can for their nutritional value, if you don’t have any, you can just leave them out and not worry about a substitution. It won’t affect the green color of the drink at all.
Coconut Milk ~ any plant milk can be used instead. I recommend a thick, creamy one. Cashew, Oat, Pea, Soy, or Hemp milk would all be great choices. Almond milk will also work.
Matcha Green Tea Powder ~ this is the key ingredient for the bright green color. If you don’t use it, you can still manage a green hue with the leafy greens and avocado, but it won’t be as vibrant.
Matcha is a variety of green tea made from whole tea leaves. It’s has more antioxidants and more caffeine than traditional green tea.
Even though it contains quite a bit of caffeine, it actually had a milder effect and a longer “buzz” than coffee because of the high amounts of L-theanine, an amino acid that causes relaxation and helps fight stress. [source]
This could help improve your mood and concentration. I guarantee you the fast food shake can not do that!
Mint ~ Of course, you can’t have a minty smoothie without mint. You could add some fresh mint leaves if you like, but since I don’t generally have those on hand, I find it easier to use a drop of mint extract. A bit of pure vanilla extract helps to balance out the flavors.
How to make the recipe
Please scroll down to the recipe card for exact ingredient measurements and instructions.
A blender is all you need to make this easy recipe.
Place all ingredients into the blender and purée into smooth. If the smoothie seems too thick, add a bit more plant milk. If you like it a bit sweeter, add another tablespoon of pure maple syrup.
FAQs
A Shamrock Shake is a mint flavored green milkshake. It was made famous by McDonald’s restaurants and is on the menu around St. Patrick’s Day.
The dairy-based shake is made from vanilla soft-serve ice cream, flavored with mint, and topped with whipped cream and a cherry.
Side note: this shake was originally flavored with lemon/lime sherbet, but now is mint flavored.
If the McDonald’s Shamrock Shake is your jam, slurping down one per year isn’t likely to hurt you if you normally eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. But with all of the toxic, non-nutritional ingredients in there, why even bother?
My version of a Shamrock Shake, this healthy dairy-free Mint Matcha Smoothie, is a delicious option for all of your St. Patrick Day cravings.
It’s creamy, mildly minty with hints of vanilla, and just sweet enough.
A good quality matcha powder should be bright green and will taste grassy, creamy and smooth. The best ones come from Japan. They can be a bit expensive, but a little goes a long way. Here is a good article about what to consider when buying matcha.
More vegan St. Patrick’s Day recipes
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you tried it, please use the star rating system in the recipe card and leave a comment with your feedback. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For even more easy family recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook!
Mint Matcha Smoothie Recipe
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- ½ avocado
- 1-2 teaspoon matcha green tea powder
- 1 cup light coconut milk plus more to thin, if needed
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 cup baby kale or spinach
- 1-2 tablespoons pure maple syrup optional
- handful of ice cubes
- dairy-free whipped topping optional, for topping
- dairy-free chocolate chips optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Purée all ingredients in a high speed blender until smooth. Add additional milk, if needed, to thin.
- Pour into a glass and garnish with dairy free whipped topping and chocolate chips, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are calculated using online calculators and are estimates only. Please verify using your own data.
Haley
Delish! I used regular milk because that’s what I had, and skipped the toppings and the maple syrup. I added a bit more peppermint extract and it really does taste just like a mint shake! You can’t even taste the spinach!
Jenn Sebestyen
Wonderful! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Haley! Thank you for your feedback.
Kathy
What’s a good substitute for the banana that won’t throw off the flavour too much? I’m allergic to banana.
Jenn Sebestyen
You can use a few dates for sweetness. For thick and creamy texture, you can add some raw oats…about 1/4 cups…or cashew butter would be nice. Let me know if you try it and what you choose.