Half-Pulp Green Juice

A blender-based alternative to juicing, designed to keep fiber in without sacrificing enjoyment.

Why Half-Pulp?

This recipe came from a process of trial and error. I originally made this with full pulp, because the fiber was the whole motivation behind making the smoothies. But over time, I realized I wasn’t actually enjoying it. It felt heavy, a little gritty, and not like something I wanted to drink first thing in the morning, even though the intention was good. I wanted a quick, reliable way to get a large volume of vegetables in at the start of the day, without turning it into something I dreaded. Eventually, I tried removing half of the pulp, and it made all the difference.

The drink became lighter, smoother, and genuinely enjoyable, while still keeping a good amount of fiber. Over time, I refined the balance and the ingredients until it became something that felt both supportive and delicious. Think of it the same way orange juice is sold by pulp level. The pulp is beneficial. That’s why it’s there. But the amount matters for enjoyment and consistency. Half-pulp turned out to be the sweet spot.

Ingredients

(All measurements are flexible. This is meant to be intuitive.)

2 cups cold water, plus more as needed

1 large cucumber (or 2 small)

1 bunch kale, stems removed

1 green apple, cored

1 bunch celery (about 4–5 stalks)

Juice of 1 lemon (optional: peel removed and whole lemon blended)

Fresh ginger, to taste

A handful of fresh mint

Equipment

Blender

Fine-mesh sieve and/or strainer cheese cloth optional

Spatula or spoon

Bowl or pitcher

Instructions

Blend

Add all ingredients to a blender with 2 cups of water. Blend until very smooth, adding more water as needed to help everything blend easily.

Strain

Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl or pitcher. Use a spatula to press firmly, extracting as much liquid as possible.

Divide the pulp

You’ll be left with green pulp in the sieve. Divide it roughly in half. This is meant to be eyeballed, not exact.

Reincorporate half

Add half of the pulp back into the strained juice. Whisk well, or return everything to the blender and pulse briefly to combine.

Store & enjoy

Pour into glasses, jars, or bottles. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Shake or stir before drinking.

Accessibility & Substitutions

This recipe is intentionally flexible. Use what you have.

Frozen greens are welcome

Frozen kale works beautifully and blends well. No need to thaw.

Swap the greens

If kale isn’t your thing or isn’t available, you can substitute: Spinach (milder and very approachable)

Romaine lettuce (unexpected, but light and refreshing)

Fresh + frozen is fine

Mixing fresh and frozen produce is completely okay.

Water adjustments

More water = lighter, juice-like

Less water = thicker, smoothie-like

Straining is intuitive

You don’t need special equipment or precision. A fine sieve and a spatula are enough.