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Always captivated by vibrant blue drinks, I created this blue spirulina smoothie that delivers those dreamy poolside vacation vibes as a healthy drink! Made with natural blue spirulina, you can add protein to make it a filling snack or breakfast.
I’ll admit it—I’m obsessed with blue drinks. There’s something about that vibrant color that instantly makes me need to taste it. Now, most blue drinks I’ve seen are blue cocktails like the Blue Hawaii. But the other day, a friend posted a blue smoothie she got at a new shop, and I knew I had to recreate it!
As someone who loves cooking with natural ingredients, I was determined to create a healthy blue smoothie that would satisfy my cravings and deliver actual nutrition. After several test batches in my kitchen, this blue smoothie has become my go-to—I’ve already made it 4 times this week in my new small blender. Even better? My kids think it’s the coolest thing ever!
Ingredients in this spirulina smoothie
Here are the key ingredients in this beautiful blue puree:
- Coconut milk or Greek yogurt base: Either full-fat coconut milk OR Greek yogurt (thinned with a bit of water) provides the perfect creamy texture. Coconut milk makes a more tropical blue smoothie, while Greek yogurt adds extra protein.
- Fresh banana: Using a fresh (not frozen) banana creates ideal smoothness without making the smoothie too thick.
- Frozen pineapple: Provides tropical sweetness and tanginess, while being frozen helps create that perfect smoothie texture.
- Orange juice: Adds brightness and helps the blender process everything smoothly.
- Shredded coconut: Enhances the tropical flavor profile and adds interesting texture.
- Blue spirulina powder: Just ¾-1 teaspoon transforms this into a vibrant spirulina smoothie without affecting the taste.
- Protein powder: For a more filling smoothie, add a scoop of vanilla protein powder.
- Extra ice: Adjust the thickness of your spirulina smoothie by adding more or less ice.
What is blue spirulina?
The key ingredient that transforms this from an ordinary smoothie to a stunning smoothie is blue spirulina. Now, the spirulina you typically find in stores is green (I learned this when my husband Alex accidentally bought the wrong kind!). What’s the difference? Both come from algae, but they’re quite different in smoothie applications:
- Blue spirulina (phycocyanin) is an extract with a mild taste, making it perfect for blue smoothies where you want vibrant color without an overpowering flavor. The stunning blue hue comes from the phycocyanin pigment that’s extracted and concentrated.
- Green spirulina is the whole algae with a stronger, more “pond-like” flavor that can overpower smoothies. While incredibly nutritious, it’s not ideal when you’re going for tropical flavors and that perfect blue color.
We bought this pack of blue spirulina—remember you only use a teaspoon or so at a time, so it should last quite a while!
Blending the perfect blue smoothie
The order of ingredients matters for the best consistency and vibrant color:
- Start with liquids: Add the coconut milk (or Greek yogurt mixture) and orange juice to the blender first.
- Add soft ingredients: Next add the fresh banana, shredded coconut, and blue spirulina.
- Add frozen ingredients: Add about 1 cup of the frozen pineapple (reserving ¼ cup for later) and blend until smooth.
- Finish with ice and remaining pineapple: Add the ice cubes and remaining ¼ cup pineapple, then blend again until completely smooth.
Blender recommendation: Here’s the small Beast blender I used! I’ve used it for a bunch of smoothies now and it works great. Make sure to use small batches and not go over the fill line.
A few variations
Once you’ve mastered the basic tropical spirulina smoothie, try these variations:
- Protein: Add a scoop of vanilla protein powder and an extra ice cube or two for a more filling breakfast option.
- Blueberries: Add ¼ cup frozen blueberries along with the pineapple. The blueberries add antioxidants and a subtle berry flavor without changing the beautiful blue color.
- Smoothie bowl: Make a smoothie bowl and top with gorgeous toppings: additional shredded coconut, sliced banana, pineapple chunks, and a sprinkle of chia seeds.
Dietary notes
This spirulina smoothie recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Frequently asked questions
Not at all! Unlike green spirulina, blue spirulina has a very mild, barely noticeable taste that’s completely masked by the tropical flavors in this spirulina smoothie.
The taste remains delicious when made ahead, but the vibrant blue color is most impressive when freshly made. If you prep ahead, store in an airtight container and eat within 24 hours.
This natural spirulina smoothie is perfect for children. The tropical flavor is kid-friendly, and they’ll love the fun blue color.
Yes, but you’ll likely need to add a bit more liquid to achieve the right consistency. Fresh banana blends more easily with the other ingredients.
This recipe proves that spirulina smoothies can be both nutritious and beautiful! I hope this blue creation brings a little sunshine to your day, whether you’re sipping it poolside or at your desk dreaming of your next beach vacation. If you try this spirulina smoothie recipe, I’d love to see your creation! Tag me on social media with your photos.
Blue Spirulina Smoothie
This blue spirulina smoothie delivers those dreamy poolside vacation vibes as a healthy drink! Made with natural blue spirulina, you can add protein to make it a filling snack or breakfast.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 large smoothie or 2 small 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Blended
- Cuisine: Smoothie
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- ¼ cup full fat canned coconut milk OR ¼ cup Greek yogurt plus 2 tablespoons water
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 1 ripe banana (not frozen)
- 1 ¼ cups frozen pineapple
- 2 tablespoons shredded coconut (unsweetened)
- 3/4 to 1 teaspoon blue spirulina (see Notes)
- 3 ice cubes
- Optional: 1 scoop protein powder + 3 ice cubes
Instructions
- Blend everything except for the ice and ¼ cup of the pineapple, stopping and stirring as necessary. Blend again with ice and the final ¼ cup pineapple. If you’d like the smoothie thicker, you can add more ice. Stores up to 1 day refrigerated.
Notes
We bought this package of blue spirulina—remember you only use small amounts at a time, so the package should last quite a while! Make sure to buy blue spirulina; regular spirulina is green. If you can’t find it, you can always add a few drops of food coloring for the same effect.
I made this smoothie in a small Beast blender and it worked great! If you’re making it in a larger blender you may need to add more liquid or stop and stir a few times to get it to blend.
Yum!!!! We made ours with greek yogurt and water, and it was fantastic. I ended up making a triple batch because my kids just INHALED it. I’m going to make it again with added vanilla protein powder tonight!
This is awesome! A new favorite!