Have you heard about acai bowls?
It's basically a thick smoothie served in a bowl and topped with fresh fruit, granola, coconut, or other super foods.
Acai bowls started in Brazil, where the acai berry is grown. Over the last few years, they've migrated north and are now popular in Hawaii and Southern California.
They're colorful and beautiful and therefore have grown widely popular over instagram.
While I don't necessarily love the idea of eating beautiful food just so you can post it to instagram, I do believe in beautiful food.
Growing up, we often had fruit salad with dinner. My sister, ever the artist, would create the most beautifully arranged fruit salads. Yes, it took time, and yes, it didn't make the fruit taste any different, but it made the average weeknight dinner a little more special.
Adam and I gave up sweets for Lent, and as a result, we've been eating a lot more fruit. This acai bowl is delicious as a healthy dessert or for breakfast when topped with granola.
You can find the frozen acai packets at Whole Foods and other specialty grocery stores. Though I loved this acai bowl, I can't say that my grad school grocery budget will allow this to be a regular occurrence. In the future, I'll probably substitute the frozen acai berries with frozen blueberries or blackberries. Either way, it's a fun way to mix up your smoothie game, enjoy pretty food, and get some major vitamins and antioxidants!
Acai Bowl
Ingredients:
1 3.5 ounce frozen acai packet
1/3 cup almond milk
1 date
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 banana
handful frozen berries
Toppings:
sliced banana
frozen berries
chia seeds
shredded coconut
almond butter
Directions:
Add frozen acai packet, almond milk, date, and vanilla extract to food processor. (If you don't have a high-powered food processor, you may need to chop up the acai packet into smaller pieces or let thaw slightly) Pulse until smooth.
Pour into a bowl. Add toppings and enjoy!
Serves 1. Can be easily doubled.
Other topping ideas:
- granola
- peanut butter
- strawberries
- hemp seeds
- flax seeds
- bee pollen (?)
- chocolate chips
- sliced almonds
I just learned of 'acai' bowls, and omg these look so amazing! I love chia seed puddings and have a feeling I'm going to fall in love with these beauties!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of an acai bowl before, but this looks so healthy and scrumptious!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful food is always more fun to eat, I think..and the fact that it goes over so well on IG is just an added bonus! I've heard of acai bowls but have yet to actually have one...you make them look so good!
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