Have you heard about Açaí bowls?
They’re the new foodie trend.
Looking at it from a stranger’s perspective there seems nothing to be excited about. It looks like an ordinary bowl of blended fruits or a frozen berry smoothie–that you strangely eat with a spoon.
But it’s more than a bowl of blended fruit…
And it’s more than a frozen berry smoothie…
It’s açaí.
For those of you unfamiliar with the açaí berry, they are born from the açai palm tree in the Amazon, harvested organically and sustainably into a liquid that is fueled with rich antioxidants that help free the body of reactive radicals (atoms) that may damage cells, acclaiming the berry as a “super-fruit”. Açaí berries look very much like a blueberry, both in color and in size, however, they are quite different in that only the skin of the açai is edible.
I learned about açai bowls from one of my dear cousins who became an açai lover and informed me that I needed to try it and that I would absolutely love it! But I didn’t even know where to locate one back home.
Well, it wasn’t until I was visiting West Palm Beach, Florida about two weeks ago, that I fell madly in love with Açaí bowls. It was 9:30 a.m. and our plane had just landed and I couldn’t keep my stomach from barking at me informing me that it was time to fill it up with some nutrients. I wanted to try something different from my usual breakfast choices, so I googled a random cafe around the area. Once there, I eyed the menu and I really think my eyes lit up when I saw the açaí bowl option.
I ordered it. I tasted it. I loved it. I’m obsessed with it.
It’s sweet, creamy, rich, with a hint of chocolate because of the almond butter.
I knew nothing about açaí bowls or how they were made except that the base came from a frozen packet–whatever that meant.
I quickly learned that already prepared açai bowls are usually jam-packed with sugar, so I decided to create my own açai bowl.
Once back home, not really knowing where I could get the Açaí frozen packets from, I took a trip to my local grocery store and there, amidst the other frozen fruits, was Açaí.
I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to get home so quickly to cook something up (except when I got my Kitchen Aid mixer–that was a glorious day) as I was this particular time. Once home, I looked at the back of the packet for the preparation instructions and noticed that it was as easy as making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I also noticed that the packet came with a “Pure Bowl” açaí recipe.
I looked at the recipe…but something was missing. So I took out my lab tools and began to experiment.
After pulling out a few ingredients from the cooler and the pantry, this recipe was born.
What makes this particular recipe different from other açai bowl recipes is that it introduces a sneaky ingredient: spinach. That’s right–I added spinach to this recipe to add some extra vitamins and minerals and also because it’s a sneaky way to get your picky-eaters to eat their greens. I also added a frozen berry blend to boost the antioxidant properties and Vitamin C.
Whether for breakfast, lunch, midday snack, or dinner, açai will become a family favorite!
I hope you enjoy it berry much! (Pun intended)
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients:
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 tsp honey (optional)
1 açai packet, frozen
1 cup spinach/kale
1 banana
1/2 cup berry blend (e.g. strawberries, blueberries, cherries), frozen
1/8 cup granola or oats
Suggested Toppings:
1-2 tbsp almond butter
1/4 cup oats, uncooked
Almonds, sliced
Chia seeds
Coconut shreds
Wheat Germ flakes
Cocoa powder
Kiwi, sliced
Strawberries, slides
Banana, sliced
Blueberries
Raspeberries
Goji Berries, dried
Instructions:
◦Place all ingredients except for the granola in a blender and blend until fully thickened. Consistency should not be liquid but instead thick, like a sorbet. Once thickened, transfer to a bowl and incorporate the granola, mix until well combined. Take the almond butter and spread evenly atop the mixture. Top off with the fruits, sprinkle some chia seeds and coconut shreds or any other suggested toppings. If the mixture begins to liquefy, place in the freezer for 5-10 minutes or until thickened, not frozen.
Calories:
The calorie intake depends mainly on the toppings that you put on and the type of nut butter used, but without the nut butter the açaí bowl is approximately 220.
