I have been drinking so many green smoothies. I do have some travel coming up and with busy (typically indulgent) holiday times on the horizon, I’m taking a “fuel” approach to my meals these days. The simplification has been surprisingly relaxing, not gonna lie, but variety is a challenge. I keep leaning on the typical vegan smoothies, but also the same roasted veg/salad/whole grain bowl combos day after day.
I picked up an excellent smoothie tip from my friend a little while ago: instead of using non-dairy milk as your liquid, you can just scoop in some hemp hearts and add water to the blend. You’re basically making fresh hemp milk AND your smoothie at the same time. No soaking necessary. So smart! You can also just make hemp milk ahead of time in a big batch with my Maple Cinnamon Hemp Milk recipe.
Hemp hearts are one of my favourite everyday superfoods. Compared to some of the other weird and wonderful fruits/powders/herbs/seeds, hemp is quite affordable and (where I live) totally accessible. I added hemp to pretty much everything when I first went 100% plant-based because I didn’t have a great handle on cooking yet and was looking for a mega nutrient boost. I still add hemp to everything though haha.
I hope that you’ll try this super fresh green smoothie combo!
Winter Glow Green Smoothie with Hemp & Ginger
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped greens (I like a 50/50 mix of baby spinach and kale)
- small handful fresh mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons hemp hearts
- 1 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch of sea salt
- ½ teaspoon MCT oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 ripe pear, cored and chopped
- 1 cup water
Equipment
Notes
- I think a pinch of ground cardamom would be so delicious in this smoothie.
- I peeled my pear to get that ultra green shade (always doing it for the photo haha), but normally I’d leave it.
- I like using a mix of mild and strong greens for a green smoothie like this one. If your taste buds are hardy enough for all kale though, definitely go for it ;)
- The pear should be quite ripe for the right level of sweetness.
- This smoothie ends up being room temperature, which I like in this colder climate.
Instructions
- In an upright blender, combine the greens, mint, hemp hearts, ginger, cinnamon, salt, MCT oil, lemon juice, pear, and water. Blend the mixture on high until completely smooth. Enjoy the winter glow green smoothie immediately, with an extra sprinkle of hemp hearts on top if you like.
*This post was created in partnership with Manitoba Harvest. All opinions/endorsements are my own. Thanks for supporting!
I put them in smoothies with some flaxseed!
I enjoy them on top of yogurt, mixed with fresh fruit.
I love using hemp hearts in homemade granola bars and as a topper on pretty much everything from yogurt to soup :)
I use Manitoba Hemp Hearts in all my stir fry recipes! Yum!
I always add them to my smoothies and usually granola too
I love mixing them into a smoothie after it’s belended – it adds a nice texture that I enjoy. I also love throwing a small handful on salads.
I love them in smoothies or, like you, to be kind of “cheesy” like in a pesto that’s awesome stirred into quinoa or as a pizza sauce/topper!
I have always wanted to try hemp hearts, as I love hemp milk, but I haven’t tried them yet as they are pretty pricey at my grocery store. Thanks for the giveaway!
I wish I had some exotic or original use of hemp hearts, but they are great in my overnight oats. :)
I love hemp! I add it to my daily vegie/salad bowl. Hemp is especially good sprinkled over warm cooked egg white.
I love mixing them in melted chocolate and dunking a banana in the mixture for a “healthy” dessert.
I like to add hemp seeds to my salads.
My favourite way to use Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts is in my morning smoothie for a great nutritional boost and I also enjoy them sprinkled on yogurt and salad. I love that I can purchase a large bag of these wonderful little seeds in Costco, so much more affordable
I never tried hemp hearts before, but you’ve convinced me I need to try them! I especially like the idea of using them in a vegan “parmesan.”
I add 1T of Manitoba Heep Seeds to my overnight oats. Love the “nutty” flavour.
Linda
In our home, we use hemp hearts, those delicious nutty nuggets of nutrients, to sprinkle on just about anything! Our favourite way to use them (and why we keep them in the cupboard) is for your mocha hemp fuel which we keep a batch of in the fridge :)
I haven’t used Manitoba Hemp Hearts yet. This recipe is my inspiration to start. I am trying more alternate protein souces in an effort to eat less meat. (I like it, but it doesn’t like me). Laura, your writing is so pleasing and your recipes make shifting to a healthier, plant based diet more achievable and less daunting for this beginner! I read some of the other commenters uses for Manitoba Hemp Hearts and think I will try them too. This sounds like a handy, delicious and versatile ingredient to add to my expanding pantry!
Lately, creamy hemp dressing has been my jam for salads of all types, hot and cold, leafy and starchy, so this couldn’t have come at a better time. I could sure use an extra supply to stock back up!
I grew up in Manitoba! Haven’t tried these yet, but I was just reading about using hemp hearts instead of protein powder in smoothies! Need to try!!
I use hemp hearts for everything, from smoothies to salads to granola. I think my favorite way is sprinkled on top of a banana with peanut butter :)
Oh my! Just one favorite way to use hemp?? Perhaps in my homemade vegan pesto!! So many fabulous ways to use hemp hearts..
I love hemp hearts sprinkled on my morning oatmeal.
Hemp hearts is one of my favorite toppings for oatmeal – can’t wait to try them in a smoothie and beyond!
I love to use them as a topper for nicecream!
I love using hemp hearts in my smoothies and sprinkled on top of salads.
I’m so glad this recipe is for a room temperature smoothie! It’s been hard to get my greens in these days because a breakfast of warm oatmeal has been a lot more appealing than a freezing cold green smoothie.
I love pineapple and spinach smoothies with hemp seeds.
I love adding hemp seeds to my smoothies for the added creaminess they add. I feel like they texturally add a lot to any smoothie with the added protein it’s a win win win. Thanks for your delicious recipes and for sharing your knowledge. Best to you now and through out the Season.
I love hemp hearts sprinkled on pretty much anything!! I always add them to my homemade granola for a nutrient boost!
Hemp hearts are yummy and so versatile!
Love hemp hearts in so many things! My fave is on my morning oatmeal, especially at this time of year. Thanks for the smoothie recipe!
I love the nutty flavor of hemp. I sprinkle it on roasted carrots.
I typically sprinkle them on salads or into smoothies. :-)
Love using hemp in place of the non dairy milks in my smoothies!!
My favorite way to use hemp hearts is to sprinkle it on my pasta… When im too lazy to cook and i want to convince myself that its healthy. It also tastes great!
I love using them in salad dressings to help emulsify and make them creamy.
I normally use hemp hearts in my smoothies or sprinkle it on top of my salads… But I love the pesto idea and will have to try that out!
Thank you for reaffirming what I know to be true. Hemp is my ultimate protein source as a vegan. I love them in and on everything. Favorite way to eat, a handful popped into my mouth. They are so delicious all on their own!
Looks like a great recipe! I love using hemp hearts in granola and to top acai bowls with.
I love having hemp seeds in my overnight oats every day. It adds creaminess and lots of nutrients!
I love the idea of using hemp in pesto! I really love using hemp hearts to make a creamy caesar salad dressing. They blend so nicely and really work well with the tanginess of lemon of ACV.
My favorite ways to use hemp hearts are sprinkled on acai bowls and also on wheat toast smeared with almond butter drizzled with honey!
I love sprinkling hemp hearts on half of a baked Japanese sweet potato: a nutrient and protein boost to my mid-afternoon, preworkout meal! Delicious!
I like to use hemp hearts in lieu of protein powder in my smoothies. Protein powder seems sketchy to me but I love that hemp hearts are a “pure ingredient.
I like to sprinkle hemp hearts over salad greens and a simple vinaigrette. I makes the best quick salad. My kids also like hemp hearts on their plain yogurt!
I love putting hemp seeds on my oatmeal!
I like to add a spoonful of hemp hearts to the top of my morning oatmeal. Yum!
I love putting hemp hearts in my smoothies, on my oatmeal and in muffins. They are my absolute favorite!!
I like making cashew milk and adding hemp seeds tog it. Adds a nice nutrition boost and earthiness
I have been using hemp hearts in my smoothies. I’ve not explored using them in anything further so was very excited to see this post. I am definitely going to try making some pesto using hemp hearts. Also can’t wait to try this smoothie, for some reason I always end up including a banana in my smoothie for thickness and sweetness but then the banana flavor always seems to overpower any of the other flavors.
What a great post! We like to simply add them to oatmeal though lately I have been making energy bites in my food processor with dates and nut butter and a little honey, and then stirring in hemp hearts and puffed brown rice and forming the mixture into balls! I’ve got a bunch of these stashed in the freezer as well! The recipe is from Aimee Bourque’s Brown Eggs and Jam Jars.