Masking the bitters out of a lettuce smoothie

Seems like the only greens of any quality right now is lettuce. That is, if you’re getting your greens from the local grocer. In the herb garden, mint and fennel are stretching tall with the full force of spring behind them. The fennel, when it’s young like this can’t be beat. And the mint, that is a wonderful addition to just about anything. Unfortunately, even though I love these two herbs, they don’t mix all that well with lettuce.

Lettuce is a little bitter. The closer you get to the core, the stronger the bitters. I’ve been looking for something that will tame that taste, but the old tricks didn’t seem to work. Normally, if you get a bitter green, you add in lemon; sometimes lime. Yet when you do that with a lettuce smoothie you just get the full taste of bitter and the tart lemon or lime.

Yesterday, in the process of ‘throwing in the kitchen sink’, I think I found a working mix. A palatable lettuce smoothie that you’ll really want to drink. I think the secret is pineapple. It cuts through the bitterness and lets all the flavors shine through.

So, what did I make?

Ingredients
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 oranges pealed (seedless)
  • 1 inch pineapple pealed and cored
  • 4 small dates (or 2 large dates)
  • 2 bananas
  • 1 probiotic
  • And, of course, 1 head crisp green organic leaf lettuce
  • (Optional: 1 heaping scoop Reliv classic and one heaping tablespoon SunWarrior ORMUS supergreens)

Place the water in the blender first. Add dates, probiotic, pineapple, oranges and get it all to spin. Next add lettuce a big handful at a time and get it to turn. Eventually, after the lettuce is all added and ground up so that it turns, you’ll add the banana and then flip it on high to really break everything down.

After it’s run until smooth, taste it. Is it too bitter? Is it too sweet? I’m guessing that you’ll find it’s just right.

Volume, about seven cups

As you can see, this recipe makes about 7 cups. If you want to make a little less, cut out a banana, an orange and include a little less pineapple.

At this point, if you have any super-food powders that you want to add, do it. The ORMUS greens take the beautiful light green color and turn it into a dark leaf green earthy tasting mix. The Reliv gives it a little more fullness.

The end result is something that you’ll actually enjoy drinking! Lettuce is good and it can taste that way if you whip this up.

Breakfast!

Doesn’t breakfast look great?  Lol…

2 thoughts on “Masking the bitters out of a lettuce smoothie

  1. Hey that sounds great! And I’m gonna try it!!! but do remember that we need the taste of ‘bitter’ counter balance the taste of sweet! In fact when your craving sweets – eat bitters instead, lettuce being the most common one, and it will alievate the urge to eat sweets. Thanks again for the recipe!

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