Want to learn how to make the ultimate acai bowl that’s way healthier - if not tastier - than the one from your local acai joint?
We love our acai bowls at GMB, but not so much the sneaky sugar bomb that often comes with them - so we like to make our own when we can.
From pre-made acai sorbets to sugar-sweetened frozen acai sachets – not to mention all that fructose-loaded apple juice – the acai from your go-to juice bar or café might have more sugar than it does antioxidants. Yep, acai bowls are popping up on more and more café menus; often more to be on-trend than to actually provide health benefit.
If you want your acai to be lower in sugar and actually good for you, why not make your own at home? Save on moolah and sugar with my D.I.Y acai bowl recipe below, which you can tailor to your own taste ☺
@nutraorganics
Recipe: The Ultimate Acai Bowl
For an antioxidant and vitamin hit, use a quality acai powder like Nutra Organics Acai Berry Blend.
Base:
1 very ripe banana – peeled, sliced and frozen
½ a Cup frozen strawberries or raspberries
1 tablespoon Nutra Organics Acai Berry Blend powder
40-60ml (2-3 tablespoons) almond or coconut milk
Optional add-ins: (choose at least one…or all three!)
1 tablespoon natural peanut butter (or almond butter)
1 teaspoon cacao or cocoa powder
½ a scoop of your favourite protein powder (chocolate or vanilla flavour work well)
1 tablespoon chia seeds (for extra thickness)
Toppings:
- Something for crunch-factor: Your favourite wholefood muesli or granola (I never skip this one!), coconut chips, cacao nibs or chopped almonds
- Something for extra creaminess, satiating fats and to bring everything together: try coconut yoghurt, a few cheeky squares of raw chocolate, or my favourite – more peanut butter!
- Sliced fruit to make it look pretty and for added texture and nutrients: banana, apple, blueberries or strawberries all work well - kiwi and passionfruit also work a treat
Method:
- Add base ingredients and your choice of add-ins to a strong blender (I use a Nutri Bullet), with just enough milk to get things moving so it stays super thick
- Blend briefly until smooth; make sure not to over-blend, as this will result in a watery mixture, and you want this to be thick enough to eat with a spoon!
- Pour into a bowl, add toppings and devour – perhaps under the covers while reading the paper…
Tastes like a bowl of ice cream for breakfast, but one you can feel good about!
@nutraoganics
Out and about and want a healthy acai fix?
A health food café or cold-pressed juice bar is likely to be your best bet for a quality purple bowl. If you’re not sure, simply ask which acai they use and hopefully they’ll be kind enough to show you the ingredients list (which they most likely will, if they’ve got nothing to hide!).
What's your favourite acai combination? Please share with us in the comments section below!