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The Ninja Ultima Blender {Review} + Green Monster Smoothie and Sweet Red Pepper Spread Recipes

in Recipes, Smoothies, Snacks

You may remember from my Healthy Living Summit 2013 review posts that one of the awesome sponsors of the conference was Ninja Kitchen.  And when I referred to them as awesome, I wasn’t messing around.  Ninja has a brand new blender that just hit the stores recently, and they offered to send me my very own to try out at home.  Would I like to review this product?!?  Um, yes please!!  I swear, from the moment that I knew my blender had been shipped, I was dreaming of all sorts of yummy smoothies, nut butters, soups, and treats that I could make.  The possibilities seemed endless.  And, my friends, I am here to tell you that they really are.  Get excited about this one!

ninja blenderIsn’t she a beauty?  The Ninja Ultima Blender Kitchen System includes the blender system, two single serve cups, two sip and seal lids, and a recipe booklet.

The Ninja Ultima Blender is said to be comparable to a Vitamix blender.  If you know anything about the Vitamix, you know that they are a pretty powerful (and expensive!) system.  At first, I was a bit skeptical as to whether or not the Ninja Ultima would live up to the performance of the Vitamix, but when I read about the specs of this system and tried it out for myself, I was convinced.

The Ninja Ultima Blender:

  • is the only blender with Dual Stage Blending,
  • has a 2.5 Peak Horsepower Motor/24,000 RPM (the same as a Vitamix),
  • has Total Crushing and High Speed Cyclonic Blades,
  • has PRO Variable Speed,
  • and replaces the following appliances: hand mixer, food processor, ice cream maker, juicer, stick blender, ice crusher, meat grinder, soup maker, nut butter maker, cheese grater, grain mill, milk press, food mill, and so much more.

So, how does the blender perform and what have I made with it?  Let’s take a look!

The first thing that I made with my blender was a Green Monster Smoothie.  This was my first time making a “green” smoothie and I was a little nervous, but mostly excited!  The results?:

ninja blender 2Isn’t she pretty?  Okay, so many it doesn’t look that tasty, but trust me when I say that it was absolutely delicious!  Here is what my smoothie included:

Green Monster Smoothie

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
2 TB chocolate or vanilla Vega One vegan protein powder (the only kind I will use!)
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen sliced peaches or half a frozen banana
3 cups fresh spinach

All I did was combine all of the ingredients into the blender, pressed the “pulse” button a few times, and then set the blender on speed “5” for approximately 25 to 30 seconds.

This smoothie was seriously SO good!  You could not taste the spinach at all, as the sweetness of the fruit and the flavor of the Vega One really stood out.  I got in protein, veggies, and fruit all at the same time with this smoothie.  This smoothie was also incredibly smooth, thanks to the Ninja Ultima.  Most regular blenders would never be able to emulsify the ingredients in the way that the Ninja did, but it was thick, creamy, and downright delicious.

The next thing that I wanted to tackle with the Ninja Ultima Blender was their Sweet Red Pepper Spread.  I tried this at the Healthy Living Summit and loved it, so I knew that I had to make it at home.

ninja blender 4

I threw the following ingredients into the Ninja (recipe courtesy of Ninja Kitchen):

1 15 0z can garbanzo beans, drained
4 oz of jarred roasted red peppers, drained
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 TB balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Using the top blade in the blender, I turned the Ultima on to speed “3” and increased it up to “8” for about 45 seconds total.  I scraped the sides of the blender once halfway through and this was the result:

ninja blender 3

Yuuuummmyy!!

ninja blender 5

I dipped all sorts of yummy vegetables into this and also spread it on my veggie wraps throughout the week.  Oh, and this one is co-worker approved, too! 😉

And finally, as seen in last Friday’s post, I made Robyn’s split pea soup.  Robyn’s recipe directions include blending a third of the soup mixture in order to thicken it up.  I used the Ninja Ultimate for this step and it worked beautifully.

friday favorite split pea soup

Yum, yum!

So far I have tackled smoothies, dips, and soups in the Ninja Ultima.  I cannot wait to keep trying new things in my new favorite kitchen appliance.  I expect to make a lot more smoothies and soups, and I absolutely cannot wait to try making salsa, nut butters, and milk shakes.  I am certainly starting to think that the possibilities are endless!

My next project?  Trying to convince my parents that they need to buy one of these!  What do you think mom and dad?  Are you sold yet? 😉

{Disclaimer: I was provided with the Ninja Ultima Blender by Ninja Kitchen for my review, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.}

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{ 42 comments… add one }
  • Angela @ Another Bite Please October 28, 2013, 7:26 am
    aren't powerful blenders the best...amazing at what they can do...i wish i had your green monster smoothie right now! Angela @ Another Bite Please recently posted...pulled pork tacos with sweet chili slawMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl October 28, 2013, 8:46 pm
      They are SO awesome. I never knew what I was missing out on until I tried this one.
  • meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles October 28, 2013, 10:23 am
    I never make smoothies but have been considering a new powerful blender for the options it offers. I may check this one out. I can be so lazy when it comes to using appliances lol. meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles recently posted...Who Collects Lip Balm?My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl October 28, 2013, 8:48 pm
      You should definitely check this one out. It is much more affordable than many others.
  • Dana @ Conscious Kitchen Blog October 28, 2013, 10:26 am
    Thanks for sharing this review. I've been contemplating getting a powerful blender, but I also want a food processor. I've been trying to figure out if I need both or if one might do. This review was helpful - still not sure what I'd want to get, but I have more of an understanding of what a blender can do. Dana @ Conscious Kitchen Blog recently posted...Lemon Cajun Kale ChipsMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl October 28, 2013, 8:49 pm
      Yes, I think this could definitely do most of the things that people use food processors for...like making dips, hummus, salsa, nut butters, etc.!
    • Adults November 7, 2013, 12:09 am
      I was wondering if you can control the chopping power/speed so things wouldn't come out mushy like if you were making chunky salsa or if you wanted to have vegetables chopped up like in traditional food processor where you don't want a vegetable smoothie but just chopped up vegetables to throw into another dish?
      • ClnEatingVegGrl November 7, 2013, 8:17 am
        Yes, there are 10 different speeds on the blender!
  • Ang @ Nutty for Life October 28, 2013, 11:14 am
    Lucky you!! Enticing me with the sweet call of the Ninja blender. I actually made hummus for the first time last night, and it turned out kind of dry. My roommate said when she uses a high power blender, hummus turns out better. Weird! I think I need to put a blender like that on my kitchen wishlist. Ang @ Nutty for Life recently posted...My Last HallOUween [MIMM #13]My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl October 28, 2013, 8:50 pm
      The hummus I have made in this was SUPER tasty and wasn't dry at all. You should add this to your Christmas list! ;)
  • Katie @ running4cupcakes October 28, 2013, 11:15 am
    I love love love my blender!! Can't wait to make that dip too - and those bars that they had - so yummy!!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl October 28, 2013, 8:51 pm
      I know, right?? Those bars are one of the next things on my list. They were AWESOME!
  • Kelly @ hidden fruits and veggies October 28, 2013, 11:28 am
    Wow, this puts my two time hand-me-down blender to SHAME!
    • ClnEatingVegGrl October 28, 2013, 8:52 pm
      Haha, I didn't even own a blender before I had this so I am LOVING it!!
  • Davida @The Healthy Maven October 28, 2013, 12:15 pm
    Ah that ninja can do everything!! I'm a vega protein lover too. Davida @The Healthy Maven recently posted...{MIMM} Weekend Recap 10/25-10/27My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl October 28, 2013, 8:52 pm
      It really does seem like it can! I love it! And yes, Vega is deeeelicious!
  • Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes October 28, 2013, 1:29 pm
    I've heard great things about the Ninja!!! I need to get one! Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes recently posted...Wicked Good Halloween DessertsMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl October 28, 2013, 8:54 pm
      I would definitely recommend adding it to your Christmas list! ;)
  • Casey @ Salted Plates October 28, 2013, 5:19 pm
    Did you blend the smoothie in the single serve cup? I have some kale I have got to use up and I am thinking of giving it a try in smoothies Casey @ Salted Plates recently posted...Brew Day Picnic at the Spring GardensMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl October 28, 2013, 8:56 pm
      I didn't blend it in the smoothie cup mostly because I add a TON of spinach to mine so I didn't think it would all fit :(.
  • Jan @ Sprouts n Squats October 28, 2013, 5:22 pm
    I so want to buy a good blender or a Thermomix but it is not cheap to get a good one which is why I’ve put it off. Love this dip idea it looks so yummy! Goodluck convincing your parents to get one! ;)
    • ClnEatingVegGrl October 28, 2013, 8:57 pm
      You're right, most are not cheap...but this one is pretty economical compared to some. You should definitely look into it....or add it to your Christmas list! ;)
  • Elyse @ Lizzie Fit October 29, 2013, 8:27 am
    Yay thanks for this review! I've been looking at the Ninja for a while now but wasn't sure if I should just wait and save for a Vita-mix or what (so expensive!) I am surprised at the dip; my blender can barely do a frozen banana. And I am also glad to hear the smoothie came out super creamy. I hate it when they're pulpy :S I might consider the Ninja as my next purchase :) Elyse @ Lizzie Fit recently posted...Witchcraft for the Common ColdMy Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl October 29, 2013, 1:53 pm
      It blends the frozen bananas SO easily!! You should definitely look into this blender as it is much more affordable than the Vitamix!
  • Danica @ It's Progression October 31, 2013, 6:45 am
    I get to review a Ninja Utlima soon too and I cannot wait for it to arrive on my doorstep!! Danica @ It's Progression recently posted...Bean & Butternut Squash Chili {recipe}My Profile
    • ClnEatingVegGrl October 31, 2013, 7:16 am
      You will LOVE it!! Enjoy!! :)
  • Anna Powell December 13, 2016, 11:59 am
    Curious if you have tried a Vitamix also. Ninja definitely is trying to have the Ultima compete with Vitamix
    • ClnEatingVegGrl January 16, 2017, 9:59 am
      More than three years since I have written this post and I DO have a Vitamix! I LOVE it and wouldn't trade it for anything. BUT I still think the Ninja Ultima is a great options if the Vitamix isn't in one's price range.
  • Donna February 2, 2018, 11:52 pm
    Thanks for the nice green smoothie recipe. That's really looking so good and I love how easy it is! Are Ninja ultima still available online?
    • ClnEatingVegGrl February 4, 2018, 8:50 pm
      It looks like they are!
  • MD Saidul Hossen August 2, 2021, 9:16 am
    The top blenders for every budget, including affordable blenders under 100 and Vitamix and KitchenAid blenders that are great for smoothies, ice, soups and everything else
  • Jobaet Hossain October 19, 2021, 5:56 am
    The Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot blenders is great for most uses.
  • max December 22, 2021, 7:41 am
    Foodi Power blender & Processor System can tackle a smoothie bowl with ease, but it also features a unique dough blade attachment that allows you to make cookie dough, brownie batter, or pizza dough.
  • bestelectripro March 15, 2022, 8:23 am
    Look very awesome! this is best blender for smoothies and better than restaurant frozen. bestelectripro recently posted...Electric frying panMy Profile
  • virse May 17, 2022, 1:14 am
    Look very awesome! the best blender incredibly creamy smoothies and better-than-restaurant frozen margaritas
  • Elizabeth September 28, 2022, 2:25 am
    I have a question regarding this blender. My concern is, does this blender have the capabilities of crushing ice though! I love Ninja Ultima Blender, my previous blender doesn’t support ice that’s why i want to buy a new one so i was thinking whether i should buy this one or should i switch!
  • Elizabeth September 28, 2022, 2:29 am
    Ninja Ultima Blender is indeed a nice blender but i am not sure it can crush ice or not because i would love to have a blender that can crush ice into fine texture. Please suggest me!
  • Rapisa December 9, 2022, 10:56 pm
    this is greet post but but i need smeg bif 01 50 blender do you have
  • Rapisa December 9, 2022, 11:15 pm
    TIS IS GREED POST BUT I NEED SMEG BIP 01 05 BLENDER DO YOU HAVE
  • Reyer1956 December 10, 2022, 11:35 am
    Green Monster Smoothie is looking great. But can I make it without spinach? Or add anything else? Reyer1956 recently posted...DIY Bathroom VanityMy Profile

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