It is not a vacation to 30a without a stop at our favorite juice bar – Raw & Juicy in Alys Beach, Florida. Since we’re only able to visit once or twice a year (if we’re lucky), we’ve created this Raw & Juicy Piña Verde Juice Copycat Recipe to get us through the off season.
FOOD & RECIPES
Raw & Juicy Piña Verde Copycat Recipe
March 6, 2024
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Raw & Juicy Piña Verde Copycat Recipe
Last year we spent a long weekend at Camp Creek Inn in Watersound, Florida. It’s an amazing boutique hotel just a mile and a half off of 30a. Now if you’re not from the South, you might be wondering what is 30a? County Highway 30a (or simply 30a as most know it) is a scenic road of upscale beach communities along the emerald coast in Florida. Each community has its own signature style, but they all share one commonality – the luxurious Gulf beaches with soft white sand and sparkling blue-green water.
The most popular spots along 30a include Grayton Beach, Watercolor, Seaside, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach. When looking for a place to stay, there’s also Seagrove Beach, Watersound, Seacrest, and Inlet Beach. If you like to get around on foot, Watercolor and Seaside are close neighboring communities and Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach are close enough to walk to (but it is a bit longer of a walk in the summer heat).
Now that you have a general idea of the 30a area, let’s get back to it. While vacationing at Camp Creek Inn, we visited Raw & Juicy for breakfast before hitting the beach. Raw & Juicy is a very popular breakfast and brunch spot that emphasizes clean, fresh, and sustainable ingredients. One big draw is their diverse menu options that include vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and nut-free items so everyone can find something that they will enjoy. A farm-to-table dinner is also available by reservation only, called Supper Club, and features an ever-changing weekly menu.
Raw & Juicy has two locations along 30a. The first is the Alys Beach location – 147 La Garza Lane, Alys Beach, Florida 32461 and the second location is in Grayton Beach – 85 Defuniak Street, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459.
The breakfast menu at Raw & Juicy features a variety of egg dishes including a veggie omelet and a breakfast sandwich, a Costa Rican style breakfast with brown rice and black beans, and a gluten free waffle. They also offer a selection of different types of toast (such as avocado – our favorite) and smoothie bowls. After 10am, the menu expands to include a selection of savory bowls, sandwiches, soups, and salads.
Along with food, guests can select a variety of specialty coffees, organic tea, organic smoothies, organic juices, or juice shots. The juices are not made-to-order, but instead can be found in the cold case. This is a great grab-and-go option if you want to try Raw & Juicy, but don’t have time to sit and eat.
On our visit, we sat at one of the outdoor tables and ordered food, smoothies, and juice. We all enjoyed our food which consisted of the egg & cheese breakfast sandwich, gluten-free waffle, and avocado toast. We also tried the pink panther organic smoothie which includes strawberry, banana, and apple juice, as well as a bottle of their amazing Piña Verde juice.
This was our first time trying the Raw & Juicy Piña Verde juice and I knew from the first sip that I was going to need a copycat recipe for home. The Pina Verde juice includes celery, cilantro, kale, pineapple, apple, and lime. The pineapple and apple add a nice sweetness, while the celery and cilantro give it a little punch. It is the perfect refresher for a beach day and currently my favorite juice that they offer.
Filled with vitamins and nutrients, Raw & Juicy Piña Verde Juice Copycat Recipe includes:
Celery – vitamin K, potassium, folate, and calcium
Cilantro – vitamins A, C, and K
Kale – vitamins A and C, potassium, fiber, folate, and calcium
Pineapple – vitamin C and manganese
Apple – vitamin C and fiber
Lime – vitamin C
*Nutritional information gathered from webmd.com.
Ingredients:
• 4 celery stalks, lightly chopped
• Handful of cilantro
• 3 – 4 ounces of kale, peeled from stalk and rough chopped
• 1 cup pineapple, chopped
• 1 apple, chopped
• 1 lime, peeled and quartered
Directions:
1. When juicing, it is easier on your machine if you prep some of the ingredients prior to sending it through the juicer. The celery, pineapple, and apple should be chopped into chunks. The kale should be taken off the stalk and chopped roughly. And the lime should be peeled (you can easily do this with your knife) and chopped.
2. Place each ingredient into your juicer and press down lightly to release the juice into the container. It does not matter which order you put the ingredients, but I prefer to alternate with items that are harder on the juicer (like the celery and kale) with items that are easier on the juicer (like the pineapple and lime).
3. Strain the juice. There shouldn’t be a lot of pulp in the juice, but I like to include this step to make sure it is the smoothest juice possible.
*You may notice when juicing that the juice comes out frothy. The speed of the juicer mixed with oxygen can cause this to happen. While it doesn’t bother us, straining the juice, stirring the juice, or allowing the juice to rest can eliminate some of the foam. Enjoy!
For our recipe, we’ve tried to stay as true as possible to the original juice. However, with juicing it is easy to make changes to suit your individual tastes.
How can I make the juice sweeter?
With the addition of both pineapple and an apple, this is a relatively sweet juice on its own, but if you would like it even sweeter, I would add an additional ½ cup of pineapple.
How can I make the juice less sweet?
If you are not a fan of sweeter juices but would like the flavors to stay similar to the original recipe, you can cut the pineapple and apple amounts in half and add an additional 2 celery stalks.
Can I substitute spinach for kale?
Absolutely. Spinach and kale both have an incredible amount of vitamins and minerals making either a healthy addition. We find spinach to be a little milder and have used both in the recipe with great success.
Do I have to use cilantro in the Raw & Juice Piña Verde copycat recipe?
No. While cilantro is a big flavor booster in this recipe, we understand that it is not for everyone. We’ve made it both ways, with cilantro and without cilantro, and it is just as delicious without.
How long will the Piña Verde juice last?
The best time to drink your Pina Verde juice is immediately after making it, but it will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 24 hours. If the coloring looks off, give it a stir or a shake and it will be ready to go again.
Do I need an electric juicer to make the Raw & Juice Piña Verde copycat recipe?
Yes. An electric juicer is required to make this recipe. Due to the addition of celery and kale, it is recommended to use a high-powered juicer. The Breville the Juice Fountain plus Centrifugal Juicer, Ninja NeverClog Cold Press Juicer, and Hamilton Beach Juicer Machine would be able to create this copycat recipe with ease.
Raw & Juicy Piña Verde Juice Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 celery stalks, lightly chopped
- 1 handful of cilantro
- 3-4 oz kale, peeled from stalk and rough chopped
- 1 cup pineapple, chopped
- 1 apple, chopped
- 1 lime, peeled and quartered
Instructions
-
Place each ingredient into your juicer and press down lightly to release the juice into the container. It does not matter which order you put the ingredients, but I prefer to alternate with items that are harder on the juicer (like the celery and kale) with items that are easier on the juicer (like the pineapple and lime).
-
Strain the juice. There shouldn’t be a lot of pulp in the juice, but I like to include this step to make sure it is the smoothest juice possible.
-
Enjoy!
Notes
Looking for more delicious recipes to try? You might like the following:
● Easy Chicken Chili Recipe
