Celery Smoothie

Green smoothie with celery stalks, apple and cucumber — bitter-fresh, without fibers.

5 minEasySmoothieVeganVegetarianGluten-FreeLactose-Free

Celery stalks have a firm reputation as a difficult ingredient: a standard blender pulls strings, a juicer throws the fibers away. In the Vitamix neither happens — the high-performance motor fully breaks down the firm celery stalks, and the result is a creamy, fiber-free smoothie with the plant's typical bitter, slightly salty character. Apple and cucumber bring freshness and a natural sweetness balance without covering up the celery flavor.

This smoothie is especially suited for anyone who values celery as a vegetable and wants to rediscover it in a glass. The fibers stay fully intact — unlike juicing, where the pulp ends up in the collection container. If you want a less bitter start, you can increase the amount of banana a little or add a handful of spinach.

Celery is an allergen that must be labeled — if you have a celery intolerance, you should not make this smoothie.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Wash the celery stalks thoroughly under running water and cut them coarsely into pieces. Cut the apple coarsely into pieces — do not peel, remove the core to taste. Wash the cucumber and cut it into coarse pieces, again without peeling. Peel the banana.

  2. 2

    Add the water to the Vitamix container first. Then add the banana, cucumber and apple pieces. Place the celery pieces on top last — they are the hardest ingredient and are caught best this way by the forming vortex. Secure the lid.

  3. 3

    Start on the lowest setting and increase quickly to the highest setting. Blend for 45 to 60 seconds, until the smoothie is completely smooth and fiber-free. If needed, use the tamper to guide pieces toward the blades — celery can jam up at first. If you use an Ascent model, you can use the Smoothies program: it stops automatically at the right texture.

  4. 4

    Pour the finished smoothie straight into glasses. Optionally season with a splash of fresh lemon juice — this brightens the flavor and balances the bitter celery note. Drink right away; green smoothies taste best fresh.

Chef's Note

Celery is hard and fibrous — that is no problem for the Vitamix, but it makes one layering rule important: the celery pieces go in last, on top of the container, so that they are caught by the liquid and the softer ingredients below when blending starts. This way the vortex forms cleanly, without the blades getting blocked.

Do not peel the apple — the skin contains valuable nutrients and the Vitamix breaks it down fully. Remove the core to taste (the Vitamix grinds the seeds along with everything else; they add a slightly bitter note that suits this smoothie anyway).

If you want the bitter celery character a bit milder, you can slightly increase the share of banana or add a splash of lemon juice. More ginger adds heat and spice — then the smoothie shifts toward a wellness drink profile, but stays without health claims.

You will also find this smoothie in our overview of green smoothies — there we show how spinach, kale and corn salad work in the Vitamix.

Nutrition per 100 ml

Energy 32 kcal132 kJ
Fat 0.2 g
Carbohydrates 7.1 g
of which sugars 5.1 g
Protein 0.5 g

Values per EU FIC Regulation (1169/2011). Values are averages and may vary depending on ingredients and preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Vitamix not pull celery strings?
Celery stalks have a pronounced fiber structure that weaker standard blenders cannot fully break down — the result is then annoying strings in the smoothie. The Vitamix high-performance motor turns at a high enough speed to fully break open the cell walls of the celery fibers. The result is a creamy, fiber-free texture — no pulp, no strings. The right layering is important: place the celery on top so it is caught last by the liquid that is already in motion.
Do I have to peel the apple?
No. The apple skin stays in fully with the Vitamix — and it does not need to be removed. The Vitamix breaks down the skin completely, without hard pieces remaining in the smoothie. If you want to remove the core, you can do that — the Vitamix also breaks down the seeds completely. Apple seeds contain amygdalin, which can release hydrogen cyanide in very small amounts; the quantity from one or two seeds is harmless for healthy adults. In terms of flavor, the seeds add a slightly bitter, almond-like note — with an already bitter celery smoothie that can fit.
How can the celery flavor be made milder?
Celery has a distinct, bitter-salty flavor of its own that is not easy for everyone from the start. The most effective adjustments: first, reduce the amount of celery — 100 g instead of 120 g for 2 servings is a good start. Second, slightly increase the share of banana — ripe banana balances the bitter character particularly well. Third, more lemon juice or lime juice — acidity brings out the fresh cucumber and apple share and lets the celery recede into the background. If you want to try out celery at all first, you can start with 1–2 stalks and increase the amount step by step.
Celery is an allergen — do I need to be aware of anything?
Yes. Celery (celery stalks as well as celeriac) is among the 14 food allergens that must be labeled under the EU Food Information Regulation. If you have a celery intolerance or allergy, you should not make this smoothie. Celery allergies can trigger reactions even in processed form — that is, blended. When in doubt, check with a doctor.
Which Vitamix container is suitable for this smoothie?
For 2 servings the 1.4 L container is the first choice — it fits the Explorian E310, E510 and all Ascent models. The narrow shape keeps the ingredients close to the blades, which improves the breakdown performance especially with hard pieces like celery. For 4 servings we recommend the 2.0 L Low-Profile container, which is used with the E520 and the Pro 750. With the E520 and all Ascent models the Smoothies program can be used — it stops automatically at the right consistency.
Can I also freeze or prepare the celery smoothie in advance?
Green smoothies can be kept in the fridge for one to two days — simply store them in a sealed glass or bottle and shake briefly before drinking, as the ingredients separate slightly. Freezing is possible: pour the smoothie into freezer bags or ice cube trays and freeze. Once thawed it loses some texture but stays drinkable. It is best to make it fresh and drink it right away — then the texture is at its creamiest.

Knowledge
Grüne Smoothies selber machen: im Vitamix cremig, 5 Rezepte

Make Your Own Green Smoothies: Creamy in the Vitamix, 5 Recipes