Tropical Arugula Smoothie Recipe

This mango banana arugula smoothie is bursting with tropical flavor and superfood nutrients! A deliciously healthy smoothie you can whip up with only 6 ingredients, no added sugar or sweetener needed. I’ll show you how to make a green smoothie with arugula, banana, mango, coconut water, and coconut shreds. Or, swap the banana for avocado to make this an ultra-green smoothie recipe!

Check out my Green Make-Ahead Smoothies tutorial to learn how to meal prep smoothies like this ahead of time!

Fruit and vegetable smoothies give us a great opportunity to sneak all kinds of different, nutritious foods into our diet that we might not eat otherwise. Spinach and kale are popular choices for leafy green smoothie recipes, but they’re not the only options. This recipe features a unique leafy green that most of us don’t eat as often: arugula.

It’s rare to see arugula in green smoothies because of its peppery flavor. But that flavor mellows and disappears when it’s paired with sweet, fragrant, tropical flavors like banana, mango, coconut, and lime. Blended all together, this healthy arugula smoothie recipe turns out deliciously fruity and refreshing, with a thick and creamy texture from the frozen fruit. If you’re looking for a yummy yet nutritious change of pace, give this easy smoothie a try!

Can you put arugula in a smoothie?

Adding arugula to smoothies is easy! Except, unlike other leafy greens, arugula has a uniquely sharp, peppery taste. It’s great for salads, but it’s important to balance that potent flavor with plenty of sweet fruits when making smoothie recipes with arugula. The creamy banana, juicy mango, and coconut water in this recipe make this arugula green smoothie taste more like a pina colada! In my opinion, you really can’t even taste the arugula, but you still get to sip up all of its nutritious benefits.

Mango Banana Arugula Smoothie Benefits

Arugula is a great source of vitamins K, A, C, and folate—making it a nutrient-rich food that supports bone health, the immune system, and the health of our cells and DNA. Its unique peppery flavor comes from phytochemicals called isothiocyanates, which also have anti-inflammatory and even anti-cancer benefits! 

Thanks to the banana and mango, this healthy smoothie is also loaded with dietary fiber for digestive health. And, it offers more than 100% of your daily recommended vitamin C per serving. Plus, both banana and mango are good sources of vitamin A—for healthy eyes, skin, and hair—as well as vitamin B6—for immune system and brain health.

Finally, coconut water and coconut shreds both add antioxidants and micronutrients to this arugula banana smoothie. In particular, the coconut shreds add 12g of healthy fats, most of which are MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides). MCTs are a unique type of fat that can be used immediately for energy, and the body is less likely to store it as fat. Making this simple veggie smoothie a perfect morning pick-me-up!

Is arugula as healthy as spinach in a smoothie?

Arugula is an excellent substitute for spinach in a smoothie, and the two are quite similar nutritionally. Both offer folate as well as vitamins K, A, and C—although spinach is notably higher in all of these nutrients. Arugula offers slightly more calcium and vitamin B5, which is involved in energy production and making blood cells. All in all, both spinach and arugula are highly nutritious greens—but it’s much less common to see arugula in a smoothie, so it’s a great way to add some healthy variety to our diets!

Arugula Smoothie Ingredients & Substitutions

• Coconut Water. Flavorful, hydrating, and with anti-inflammatory benefits—coconut water is a nutritious source of natural sweetness that melds perfectly in this energizing arugula smoothie recipe. If you want to substitute, you could use regular water, coconut milk, or the milk of your choice instead.
• Arugula. This refreshing leafy green adds unique flavor and nutrients to this nutritious smoothie! Of course, you can easily swap out the arugula to make this a spinach or kale smoothie instead.
• Frozen Banana. A go-to smoothie ingredient for natural sweetness and creaminess. Or, replace the banana with half an avocado to make this an ultra-green smoothie, with even more healthy fats and fiber! I did this in my spinach cucumber smoothie recipe, and the avocado was a great, mild substitute for banana—adding a buttery, creamy texture without added sweetness or sugar.
• Lime. A bit of lime zest and juice helps to highlight all the sweet, tropical flavors in this easy arugula smoothie. If you don’t have lime, you can use orange or lemon instead, or omit the citrus altogether.
• Frozen Mango. I love the juicy sweetness of mango—sometimes I’ll even skip the arugula and make an all-fruit mango banana smoothie instead! If preferred, you can substitute for mango with pineapple, peaches, papaya, cantaloupe, kiwi, or additional banana.
• Coconut Shreds. A flavorful source of natural sweetness, energizing fats, and fiber, in this veggie smoothie! You can omit the coconut if preferred, or substitute with 1-2 Tbsp of chia seeds or ground flax.

Watch how to make an arugula smoothie with banana & pineapple in my Green Veggie Smoothie Recipes video!