Jugo Verde (Mexican Green Juice)
Jugo Verde (Mexican Green Juice) – This simple and refreshing jugos verdes recipe is light on the hips and BIG on flavor! It gets its beautiful green color from cactus (nopal), cucumber and parsley – and also includes fresh pineapple for a touch of tropical sweetness.
What is Jugo Verde
I love to travel south or the border. One of the greatest joys of waking up in Mexico is sipping a frothy glass of “Jugo Verde” AKA Green Juice first thing in the morning. In fact, Jugos Verdes, translated from Spanish as Green Juice, might be the thing I miss most from our trips to Mexico.
Fortunately it is easy to make a fresh and tasty juice any time you want… No actual juicer needed! This traditional Mexican green juice recipe is a simple blend of fruit and vegetables with a clean tropical flavor. Really you can make it with any combination of fruits and vegetables. However, the key ingredients in the variety we had in the Mayan Riviera are cactus, parsley and pineapple.
Why We Love This Mexican Green Juice Recipe
It’s so quick and easy make authentic Jugo Verdes at home! You can use a juicer if you have one. Yet I just pureed my green juice right in the blender. Then choose whether you want to drink it it thick and frothy like a green smoothie, or strain it to remove the pulp.
Bonus: The ingredients in this fresh-made juice are all full of key vitamins and minerals that help with your energy levels and immune system, so you can feel energized throughout the day to take on your busy life.
The combination of fresh ingredients is so vibrant and festive, if I close my eyes, I can almost imagine myself right back in Mexico!
Ingredients You Need
- Orange juice – with or without pulp
- Pineapple chunks – freshly peeled and chopped
- Nopal cactus paddle – see note below for substitutions
- Cucumber – I leave the peel on, but you can peel the skin if you prefer
- Packed parsley – washed with stems trimmed
Ingredient Note: If you can’t find cactus paddles in the produce department of your grocery store, substitute a large celery stalk. The flavor will be different, but celery does provide the same “fresh and clean” quality as cactus.
How to Make Jugo Verde
- Set out a bender and add in all the ingredients to the blender jar. Also add in a pinch of salt.
- Cover and turn on the blender. Puree until the contents are smooth.
- Once the juice is blended and its frothy, you can either filter out the pulp or drink it as is!
That’s it. Super simple and very delicious!
Expert Recipe Tips
- Fresh produce – You want to use fresh fruit, and not frozen or canned. This is essential to get the right flavor, burst of nutrients, and light juice-y consistency.
- Strain the juice – After blending I suggest pouring the mixture through a mesh sieve to strain out the pulp. Then all you have is a clean drinkable juice with no little chunky bits.
- Use the pulp – Don’t throw away that pulp you strain out! You can use it to make all kinds of other recipes like a savory or sweet quick bread loaf, or freeze in an ice cube tray and use in frozen blended smoothies.
- Don’t make ahead – Technically the jugo verde will keep well for several days in the fridge. But IMO it tastes best fresh from the blender!
Recipe Variations
There are several ways to tweak this Mexican green juice recipe to fit your tastes!
- Fruit – Swap pineapple for fresh chunks of peeled and chopped mango, papaya, or guava.
- Nopal – If nopales aren’t available you can substitute with celery. This will change the flavor, but the juice will still taste delicious and refreshing!
- Herbs – Use your choice of parsley or more vibrant cilantro. Either are flavorful and packed with nutrients!
- Smoothie – Make this a thick frozen jugos verdes smoothie by blending in frozen pineapple chunks instead of fresh, or use other pieces of frozen fruit. You can also simply blend in ice until the Mexican green smoothie reaches your desired consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
When I make green juice I blend the whole piece of cactus. This is how I was taught to make it in Mexico.
I do like it freshly blended, but you can make green juice up to 5 days in advance. Store it in an airtight container to the refrigerator. Then stir well before serving.
Looking for More Green-Powered Recipes? Be Sure to Try:
- Detox Celery Juice Recipe
- Basil Beet Juice Recipe
- Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad)
- Panda Express Super Greens Copycat Recipe
- Lean Green Chicken Soup Recipe
- Mean Green Buddha Bowl Recipe
- Healthy Baked Zucchini Chips
- Green Risotto Recipe
Get the Full (Printable!) Jugos Verdes Recipe Below. Enjoy!
Jugo Verde (Mexican Green Juice)
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1 1/2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
- 1/2 Nopal cactus paddle chopped (or substitute 1 celery stalk)
- 1 large cucumber with peel, cut into chunks
- 1/4 cup packed parsley or cilantro
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in the blender, including a pinch of salt.
- Place the lid firmly over the top, and puree until smooth.
- Once green and frothy, serve as-is or pour through a sieve to remove the pulp.
This is delicious and taste and smells just like the green juice from Mexico trip!! 🤍🤍🤍 I used celery instead of cactus and it was still perfect! Thanks for the recipe!!!
This is so fresh and delicious! I have made it every summer since you first published it. I can’t believe I hadn’t reviewed it yet! I guess I more interested in making and drinking it than writing about it. I am making it this afternoon for my husband’s reward for working in the attic! Best green smoothie ever and something you can feel good about putting in your body!
perfect! like im back in Mexico
what can i substitute for the pineapple? allergic and also nobody likes the taste in my family
fresh strawberries? high season now
Hi Eva,
In order to keep the green juice green, I would stick with more OJ, white grape juice, or even apple juice. :)
You could also use a stalk of aloe vera in place of the cactus. Just be sure to cut the thorns off.
Great tip, Cherylynn!
I love the hint of citrus, pineapple and orange, in this juice it was delicious, so refreshing and yummy.
Absolutely delicious! I’ve made one of these for breakfast ever day this week!
Me encanta jugo verde por desayuno en Mexico. Que rico.
Does one need to peel the cactus? Or put it in whole?
Hi Lomagirl! I used it whole.
Have you tried putting spirulina (algae) as one of the ingredients? I know, it’s kinda disgusting knowing that there are algae in your green juice or smoothie. I was hesitant back then when someone recommended me that recipe but when she said its health benefits content, I forced myself to do so. And I feel a big difference in my body. However, if you don’t like the idea of green smoothie with spirulina, you may take the capsule form. I have read a review on how safe this capsule. Click here: Spirulina Review
This is o my kind of green juice!!! *Slurp!!*
I just got back from Mexico, where I had “Cactus Juice” every morning. I swiped the recipe (took a picture of the ingredients with my phone) so I can start enjoying this.
Now, to find cactus paddles…..