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    Home » Recipes » Drinks

    Published: Jan 5, 2023 by Petranka · This post may contain affiliate links.

    First Watch Kale Tonic Recipe (5 minutes)

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    A collage of photos of kale juice with text overlay "First Watch Kale Tonic Recipe".

    This First Watch kale tonic recipe features kale, apples, cucumbers, and lemon juice. Ready in just 5 minutes, this drink is tangy, refreshing, and packed with vitamins and antioxidants!

    Two glassed filled with First Watch kale tonic recipe and ice cubes.

    If you are a fan of First Watch restaurant, you know that this kale juice recipe is one of their most popular menu items.

    It's tangy and refreshing and can be a great part of your daily diet, especially if you're a lover of green smoothies.

    This healthy green juice recipe is made with just 4 ingredients and is ready in 5 minutes. It's easy to make and customizable, meaning you can add your favorite fruits or vegetable to make it your own!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make First Watch Kale Tonic Recipe
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQ
    • Substitutions
    • Helpful Equipment
    • Health Benefits
    • Storage
    • Similar Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Food safety

    Ingredients

    Gathered ingredients for making our kale tonic recipe with text overlay on each ingredient.
    • Kale: I use curly kale, but you can also use dinosaur kale or lacinato kale.
    • Fuji apple or a green apple: Since kale can be bitter, we're adding sweetness to the juice by using apples!
    • Cucumber: You can use any cucumber you like including English cucumbers or mini cucumbers. Just make sure they're sweet and juicy.
    • Lemon juice: For adding a little bit of tanginess to contrast the bitter taste of the kale. You can also use lime juice.
    • Water: For blending everything.

    See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

    How to Make First Watch Kale Tonic Recipe

    1. To a high-speed blender, add water first, then add the kale, apple, cucumber, and lemon juice.

    2. Blend on high for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the mixture is completely smooth, with no chunks.
    Ingredients for kale juice in a blender jar.
    A mixture of blended fruits and vegetables in a blender jar.

    3. Over a large bowl, strain the juice through a fine mesh. Use a spoon or a spatula to press the pulp to release all of the juice.

    4. Serve immediately with ice cubes and/or sparkling water, or refrigerate for up to 2 days.

    Straining kale juice through a fine mesh into a white plastic bowl.
    First watch kale tonic recipe in a white bowl.

    Expert Tips

    • Use a fine mesh to strain the juice. The last thing you want is to have pulp or chunks of vegetables in your juice. Make sure to use a super fine mesh or a nut milk bag.
    • Add more apples to make it sweeter. If you're new to drinking green juices, you may want to make it a bit sweeter to start. This first watch kale tonic recipe tastes a bit bitter, so feel free to add more apples or cucumbers.
    • Don't be afraid to switch things up! I look at this recipe more as a base to which I sometimes add different things like ginger, celery stalk, carrots, and even parsley.

    FAQ

    What does kale tonic taste like?

    This kale juice is earthy, tangy, and a bit sweet, with grassy undertones. Depending on how much kale you add, it can be a bit bitter, so definitely adjust it to your own taste!

    How much sugar is in a kale tonic from First Watch?

    This recipe has 15g of sugar per serving.

    Can you freeze it?

    Yes, you can transfer it to a mason jar or an airtight container and freeze it for up to 3 months!

    Can I drink this as a smoothie?

    Yes and no. I think the texture is off-putting, but if smoothies are your jam, why not?

    Pouring kale tonic into a large cup from a glass bottle.

    Substitutions

    • Apples: I am using Fuji apples because they're sweet, but you can use any apples you like including Golden Delicious, Granny Smith Apples, and green apples.
    • Kale: If you don't have kale on hand, or if you don't like the taste of it, you can use spinach or other leafy greens like swiss chard.
    • Water: You can use coconut water or orange juice.
    • Cucumber: You can use celery or another green vegetable of your choice.

    Helpful Equipment

    I think that investing in a high-quality blender is key if you're looking to eat healthier. Not only you can use it for smoothies, but you can also blend green soups, homemade hummus, and banana pancakes, AND you can even use it to make your own vegan cream cheese with it!

    For this First Watch kale tonic recipe, you'll need a high-speed blender like Vitamix, as well as a fine mesh strainer.

    If you don't have a blender on hand, you can use a powerful juicer and dilute the juice with some water.

    Health Benefits

    Kale is a well-known superfood that helps support a healthy immune system. Even if your goal is not weight loss, it can be a great addition to a healthy diet.

    This kale tonic juice recipe is high in antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamins E and K.

    First Watch kale tonic recipe in glass cups served with ice.

    Storage

    If you don't drink the juice right away, store it in a mason jar in the fridge for 2-3 days.

    Similar Recipes

    • 3 Easy Avocado Smoothie Recipes
    • Detox Island Green Smoothie (Tropical Smoothie Cafe Copycat)
    • Watermelon Mango Smoothie (with a secret ingredient!)
    • Carrot Banana Smoothie (5 Minutes!)

    📖 Recipe

    Two glassed filled with First Watch kale tonic recipe and ice cubes.

    First Watch Kale Tonic Recipe

    This First Watch kale tonic recipe features kale, apples, cucumbers, and lemon juice. Ready in just 5 minutes, this drink is tangy, refreshing, and packed with vitamins and antioxidants!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 2 3 cups
    Author: Petranka
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 oz. curly kale, stems removed (measured without stems)
    • 1 medium Fuji apple, chopped
    • ½ medium cucumber, chopped
    • Juice from ½ lemon or more to taste
    • 1 ½ - 2 cups filtered water

    Instructions

    Blender

    • To a high-speed blender, add water first, then add the kale, apple, cucumber, and lemon juice.
    • Blend on high for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the mixture is completely smooth, with no chunks.
    • Over a large bowl, strain the juice through a fine mesh. Use a spoon or a spatula to press the pulp to release all of the juice.
    • Serve immediately with ice cubes and/or sparkling water, or refrigerate for up to 2 days.

    Juicer

    • Using a high-quality juicer, juice all of the ingredients. Dilute the tonic with 1-2 cups of water, depending on how strong you want it to be. Serve!

    Notes

    • Use a fine mesh to strain the juice. The last thing you want is to have pulp or chunks of vegetables in your juice. Make sure to use a super fine mesh or a nut milk bag.
    • Add more apples to make it sweeter. If you're new to drinking green juices, you may want to make it a bit sweeter to start. This first watch kale tonic recipe tastes a bit bitter, so feel free to add more apples or cucumbers.
    • Don't be afraid to switch things up! I look at this recipe more as a base to which I sometimes add different things like ginger, celery stalk, carrots, and even parsley.
     
    Storage
    • Fridge: If you don't drink the juice right away, store it in a mason jar in the fridge for 2-3 days.
    • Freezer: Transfer it to a mason jar or an airtight container and freeze it for up to 3 months!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 80kcal | Carbohydrates: 24.19g | Protein: 2.56g | Fat: 0.68g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 468mg | Fiber: 0.7g | Sugar: 15.33g | Vitamin A: 204IU | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 0.98mg

    Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with third-party calculations without including the optional ingredients.

    Tried this recipe?Leave me a rating and a comment telling me how it went. Or tag me at @sunglowkichen and hashtag #sunglowkitchen on Instagram!

    Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with a high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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    Sunglow Kitchen is a food blog about delicious vegan and vegetarian recipes. We share easy-to-make and budget-friendly meal ideas that anyone can make at home! Cooking is a BIG passion of mine and I am excited to show you how simple it can be! More about me...

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