I was on a vacation in Las Vegas when I got a hankerin’ for a protein shake. I found a restaurant that had different kinds of protein shakes on the menu as well as smoothie bowls. I had never tried a smoothie bowl. I was curious so I ordered the one with acai. I loved it! When I got home from my trip, I went on a hunt for acai. I didn’t know how pronounce acai. Me trying to pronounce acai was comical. Ah-ki, ah-cay, ay-shay, ay-shy, ah-see-ay…finally I looked it up on YouTube. It’s prounounced ah-sigh-ee. It’s amazing what you can find on YouTube. Now I don’t feel embarrassed asking where the ah-sigh-ee can be found when I am at the grocery store. I found frozen packets at Trader Joe’s and have been making my own smoothie bowls ever since.
The Acai-lishous Smoothie Bowl that I make is with frozen banana, frozen berries and plain greek yogurt. Acai and the mixed berries contain antioxidants, fiber and heart-healthy fats, greek yogurt is a good source of protein and bananas contain potassium, magnesium and a darn good in a smoothie! Knowing that the ingredients have health benefits makes me feel like I’m doing something good for myself while eating my Acai-lishous Smoothie Bowl. When I try blending the ingredients, they don’t really blend well at first because they are so cold. I have to stop the blender a number of times and push the ingredients back down against the blades.
Using a little coconut or another kind of milk or coconut water makes blending easier. The trick is to keep the mixture thick enough to have to eat it with a spoon, not drink it through a straw. If too much liquid is used, the smoothie bowl will be more like a smoothie shake. I’ve only ever used 1-2 tablespoons of coconut milk for blending to keep the consistency of the mixture thick.
I don’t add any sugar to my Acai-lishous Smoothie Bowl but I do sometimes add a bit of honey if I want more sweetness. You know those days, when you just need a little extra sweetness to start the morning right.
I also like to make designs out of my toppings so it looks purdy when I eat it. I used some sliced strawberries, granola for crunch and a sprinkle of chia seeds for their slightly nutty flavor. Chia seeds are also a good source of fiber.
Give this Acai-lishous Smoothie Bowl a try one morning and add the toppings that appeal to you. Make a design on top of your smoothie bowl share it with me @acupoffrosting on Instagram and hash tag it #acupofrosting. I’d love to see your creations.
Acai-lishous Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 frozen acai packet
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt
- Milk if needed I used coconut milk
Instructions
- Add acai, banana, mixed berries and yogurt to a blender. Blend until smooth. You will most likely need to stop the blender periodically and scrape down the sides with a spatula. Add 1-3 tablespoons of milk, if needed, to help the ingredients blend together. You want the end result to be thick and not runny so use a light hand when adding milk. You should have to eat this smoothie bowl with a spoon not drink it through a straw.
- Top with fresh fruits, almonds, nuts, granola, shredded coconut, hemp seeds or chia seeds or honey. Enjoy!!