This naturally sweet fruity green smoothie with blood orange juice is the perfect healthy treat for winter days.
It would not be the start of a new year without a flurry of promotion around wellness, fresh starts, and healthy habits, right? Thankfully, I preach the good works of smoothies all the time to I don't feel like I'm adding to the noise. At least, not in a performative way. The latest hit in my lineup of liquid nutrition is a fruit smoothie for winter months. We're in the middle of blood orange season and I encourage you to squeeze to the very last drop. Aside from being gorgeous, blood oranges just hit different than the regular oranges we enjoy year round. Which makes sense, because citrus absolutely flourishes in the wintertime. Let's get into the juicy details.
If you like starting the day with a healthy morning citrus smoothie, try these, too!
When Can I Find Blood Oranges in Season?
I think everybody is interested in getting more vitamin C right about now and I am in that camp, too. Supplements are nice but I prefer to go straight to the source when I can. I add OJ to my smoothies all the time and this blood orange green smoothie is a super seasonal treat. You can only find fresh blood oranges to make this immune boosting smoothie for a few weeks at the beginning of each year. In the United States, blood orange season typically lasts from the very end of December to April, depending on where you live. And, like with most fresh produce, blood oranges are at their peak earlier in the season. So get on this recipe while you can! I use blood oranges in everything from fizzy cocktails to salads and salad dressing at this time of year.
So, what does a blood orange taste like? Blood oranges are a pleasantly sweet surprise compared to regular navel oranges, rivaled only by Cara Cara oranges (which I love, too--especially in sangria!) Despite the name, blood oranges do not taste like blood. They have a subtle sweetness and are less tangy and sour than other oranges. Depending on the variety, you'll taste hints of grapefruit, raspberry or cherry.
What You'll Need for this Recipe
the ingredient list for this green smoothie with winter fruit is is short and simple--just six things plus any extras you might like with your smoothies, such as protein powder or collagen peptides.
- Blood Orange
- Ginger
- Mango Chunks
- Mixed Super Greens
- Orange Juice
- Strawberry
Making smoothies for winter months is no different than any other time of year save that you might not want your drink to be quite so icy. I have sensitive teeth (blame adult braces) and am like this even in the summer. So there's no ice in this recipe. If you prefer more of a frosty vibe, feel free to toss in some ice.
As far as tools, the list is short and simple, too. Grab your blender, of course. You'll also need a cutting board and a sharp knife to prep the produce. If you are blending a smoothie to take to work (or anywhere), I love a sustainable tumbler or this bottle. And for drinking smoothies at home, I prefer a highball glass and reusable straw.
Easy Smoothie How-to Video
Tips for Making this Smoothie
- What are the benefits of blood orange in smoothies? Citrus should play a starring role in your winter smoothie recipes because of the abundance of vitamin C. They're also full of antioxidants, anthocyanin, and fiber, which is why we use the whole orange and not just the juice in this recipe.
- What fruits mix well with blood oranges? Since blood orange is a type of citrus, less acidic fruits work well with it. Strawberries, mangoes, peaches, and melons are all perfect. I'm considering freezing some blood orange goodness to use in my favorite summer fruit smoothie.
- Do I need a fancy blender to make good smoothies? Contrary to popular belief, you can use a regular old blender to make great smoothies. I have been rocking with my $30 blender for years now and it works wonderfully! I do recommend layering your ingredients for easy blending. I add the greens first, followed by fleshy fruits, and anything hardy like ginger or turmeric on top.
- Do I need to prep smoothie ingredients before adding to blender? Aside from peeling the orange and mango, you don't need to do much else to the ingredients in this smoothie, even when using an old blender. Strawberry hulls (the green leafy parts), and the thin skin of fresh ginger are both edible. I just drop mine right in.
You are now all set for drinking delicious smoothies in the wintertime, boo. If you make and enjoy this recipe, please leave a five-star review in the comment section below. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this citrus smoothie for wintertime immunity over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Blood Orange Smoothie Recipe
Blood Orange Strawberry Mango Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 handful mixed super greens
- 1 blood orange peeled
- 1 ½ cup strawberries about 7 strawberries
- 1 cup mango chunks
- 1 ½ knob ginger
- ½ cup orange juice
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender.
- Pulse until ingredients are liquified and uniform.
- Enjoy immediately.
Jen says
This smoothie was super delicious and refreshing. The combination of blood oranges, strawberries and mangoes was spot on. I'll definitely make this again.
Jessica says
I love blood oranges and always buy so many when they're in season. This smoothie might be my new favorite way to enjoy them. The combination of fruits is so delicious and I really appreciate that you can't taste the greens at all. So good!
Kaluhi says
It is currently Mango season in Kenya and you can bet your last dime that this smoothie is on rotation in my home!! I enjoyed this so much and my favorite note is the warmth of the ginger. Thanks for this perfect recipe!
Lilly says
I love a good smoothie and this one is phenomenal! I love the addition of mixed greens and a bit of ginger in the smoothie. Now that it's citrus season, I'll be making this smoothie regularly!
Robin says
This is one of my favorite smoothie recipes yet, particularly because it contains a whopping 8 grams of fiber and it tastes great.
Kate says
I love blood orange and was so happy when I came across this recipe. It tasted so refreshing and delicious!
Britney Brown says
This was so yummy, I had it for breakfast. It kept me full until lunch and gave me a nice boost of energy too!
Marcus Avery says
Finally, I found someone who creates smoothie recipes for people like me with ice-sensitive teeth. I enjoyed drinking this refreshing smoothie. I can't wait to make this again!
Dee Moore says
This smoothie was so delicious and very easy to make and it had every ingredient in my fridge. I will definitely be making more to get ride of the blood oranges.
Marta says
I knew I would like this blood orange with strawberry and mango smoothie because it contains most of my go to smoothie ingredients. The way you've combined them (and the measurements of each) is what caused me to LOVE it. The addition of ginger was so genius.