Cucumber Spinach Green Juice (No Juicer, Blender Recipe)
This fresh green juice blends cucumber, spinach, green apple, celery, and lemon into a light, hydrating drink you can make in about 10 minutes with a juicer or a blender. It is naturally sweet from the apple and bright from the lemon, with no added sugar.
Here is the thing about green juice: for years, the ones I tried were either punishingly bitter or basically sugar with a leaf thrown in. This one is my fix for both. The cucumber and apple do the heavy lifting so the greens stay quietly in the background, and I genuinely look forward to it, which from someone who used to wince at the word “kale” is saying something. If green juice has let you down before, start here.
Cucumber, spinach, and apple: what to buy and how to prep
Leave the cucumber unpeeled if it is unwaxed and just scrub it well; the skin juices fine and keeps the drink milder than most greens would on their own. Spinach is the gentlest leaf to start with, so it slips into the background instead of taking over. If you want a stronger green bite, swap in a few leaves of kale. The green apple is what makes the whole thing drinkable, balancing the celery and greens, and the lemon goes in at the end for a clean, bright finish.
No juicer? Blend and strain
- Blend everything with a splash of water, then pour it through a fine sieve or a nut milk bag and press out the juice.
- New to greens? Start with more cucumber and apple, then dial up the spinach batch by batch as your taste adjusts.
- Add the lemon last and serve cold, from chilled produce or over ice. It tastes sharpest and holds its color best right after pouring.
Add ginger, mint, or a second apple
Warm it up: a small piece of fresh ginger gives it a peppery kick.
Make it sweeter: use two apples, or drop in a small handful of green grapes.
Keep it herby: a handful of mint or parsley blended in reads even fresher.
Turn it into a smoothie: skip the straining, keep all the pulp, and blend with a little extra water for a thicker, more filling drink.
Make it a green smoothie (or keep the sugar low)
Skip the straining step and this green juice becomes a green smoothie: blend the same cucumber, spinach, and apple with half a banana or a spoonful of avocado and you get a thicker, more filling glass that works as breakfast. Going the other way, for a lower-sugar version, drop the apple, lean on cucumber and celery, and brighten it with extra lemon and a thumb of ginger — still fresh and green, with far less fruit sugar. Both start from the same five ingredients. For another everyday juice, try my gingery carrot juice.
Drink it fresh, or save it right
Green juice is at its best within a few minutes of making it, but it will hold in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Fill the jar close to the top to limit air, give it a good stir before drinking since it separates naturally, and count on the lemon already in the mix to slow the color from dulling.
Want more greens in your day? Try our green barley grass smoothie, browse recipes with spinach, or see our full collection of green smoothies.
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Cucumber Spinach Green Juice
Equipment
- Juicer (or high-speed blender)
- Fine-mesh strainer or nut milk bag
- Glass jar
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber large
- 2 cups spinach fresh , or kale
- 1 green apple cored
- 2 stalks celery
- ½ lemon juiced
- 1 inch ginger fresh, optional
- ½ cup water only if using a blender
- Ice to serve
Instructions
- Wash all the produce well. Core the apple and roughly chop everything.
- Juicer method: run the cucumber, spinach, apple, celery, and ginger through a juicer, then stir in the lemon juice.
- Blender method: blend everything with ½ cup water until smooth, then strain through a fine sieve or nut milk bag.
- Taste and adjust with more lemon or apple as you like.
- Pour over ice and serve immediately.
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
Green juice is a refreshing way to enjoy more vegetables and fruit, providing nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin C, and potassium. It works best as part of a balanced diet alongside whole vegetables, which also give you fiber.
Yes. Blend the cucumber, spinach, apple, celery, and lemon with about half a cup of water until smooth, then strain through a fine sieve or a nut milk bag for a juice texture.
Spinach is the mildest and easiest to start with, while kale, romaine, and celery add more flavor. Mix a mild green with cucumber and apple for a juice that is easy to enjoy.
Fresh green juice is best the day it is made. Stored in a sealed jar in the fridge, it keeps for up to 24 hours. A squeeze of lemon helps slow browning and keeps the color fresh.
Many people enjoy green juice as part of a daily routine. Keep it balanced by including whole vegetables and fruit too, and if you have any health condition or take medication, check with your doctor first.
Yes. This green juice is made entirely from vegetables, fruit, and lemon, so it is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
Thank you for sharing this recipe
This worked exactly as written, thanks!