emmakitchen As summertime approaches, I’ve been revisiting one of my favorite warm-weather meals: açaí bowls! Just the name invokes memories of salty air, cute coastal restaurants, and watercolor sunsets over the ocean. However, you don’t need to fly to the tropics to enjoy an açaí bowl. My version can be made at home in 10 minutes, and it’s divine. Plus, you’ll dodge all of the preservatives and added sugars/fats in store-bought bowls! We’ll call it like it is: this is the Perfect Açaí Bowl.
This bowl is a filling choice for any meal of the day and comprised mainly of ingredients you probably have at home already. Plus, it’s crafted to be nutritious without sacrificing fun. We use a lighter hand with dense toppings such as nut butter and granola, so while the taste is there, the focus is mainly on fresh, seasonal fruits. You can’t lose!
I was stunned when I figured out how easy it is to prepare these things at home. With the rest of the world, I’ve watched the trend skyrocket since 2015, and in 2018 I finally got the chance to try an açaí bowl in Costa Rica. See that? 3 years later, and I had to fly five hours to find one. So, it makes sense that most people think açaí bowls are a “vacation-only” kind of thing. I know I did, but it doesn’t have to be that way! This post will tell you how to recreate the magic at home, so let’s get into it: my inspiration for the Perfect Açaí Bowl.
inspiration for the perfect açaí bowl
Though açaí bowls used to be somewhat scarce, I ended up moving to a town with a smoothie shop walking distance from my house. Weird, right? So when I was hit with an açaí bowl craving this week, the shop was the obvious choice. However, I was reluctant. If you know the place you’ll know what I’m talking about: it’s expensive, the bowls are crazy big, and, mainly? I had no idea what was in them.
Sure, I could read the menu and see “açaí bowl with your choice of toppings“. But I didn’t know what the base ingredients were, if any added sugar/chemicals/preservatives were blended in, or what the calorie/nutrition info was for a single bowl. Some places even use ice cream! Though you can’t always be in control of those factors (you gotta live your life!), I thought that this was a time where I could have my cake and do it better.
And, I was right! My Perfect Açaí Bowl is delicious, perfectly customizable, and more sustainable for your everyday. It highlights everything a smoothie bowl should be: cost-effective, nutritious, & all-natural. The shop’s açaí still has a place in my heart, but for now? This bowl’s the go-to for lunch, dinner, and everything in between. Here’s how I created it.
designing the perfect açaí bowl
The way I designed this recipe was touch-and-go. I picked up the açaí pureé packets at Trader Joe’s, blended it with a few other ingredients to add sweetness and create a thick consistency, and topped it with whatever sounded good. And that’s the beauty of this bowl⏤ you can do the exact same thing! This recipe includes champagne mango, fresh dragonfruit, sliced strawberries, quinoa granola, and melted peanut butter, which is, in my opinion, a star combination.
I chose the fruits because they’re refreshing and delicious, the granola to offer a crunchy element, and the peanut butter to add richness to a dish otherwise made of pure fruit. However, if you want something different, go for whatever your heart desires. I’ll even offer up a few ideas in my ingredients & substitutions section.
As far as the smoothie base goes, I worked to avoid added sugars. That’s where most store-bought açaí bowls strike out, because even natural sweeteners like honey pack calories into a supposedly healthy meal. A frozen banana is a perfect substitute. I also throw in 1/4 cup of other frozen fruits (whatever you have on hand; I prefer blueberries) to enhance the sweetness. Then, a bit of almond milk for that velvety consistency, and you’re done. An easy, delicious açaí bowl. I’ll go more in-depth on the ingredients below.
ingredients & substitutions for the perfect açaí bowl
Frozen açaí pureé: The most important element. You’ll want to try to find a brand with frozen packets pre-portioned into 100g servings. As I said earlier, I get mine from Trader Joe’s and I’ve had great results every time, but this brand is similar and can be found at Costco & Target. All you have to do is run the frozen packet under warm water until the edges thaw and empty the pureé into the blender. Try not to stain your kitchen purple!
- Almond Milk/Frozen Blueberries/Peanut Butter: I’ve lumped these three together because they can all be substituted to match your preference. If you want to recreate my “Perfect Açaí Bowl” specifically (you should, it’s good!) make the recipe as listed, but otherwise it’s very versatile. Sub in whatever fruit, non-dairy milk, or nut butter you like. Almond would probably be good.
- Banana: I have tried many different ~banana options~ with these bowls. I’ve frozen it, I’ve baked it (let me explain) and then frozen it, I’ve used a room-temp banana, and I’ve even run downstairs at midnight to put one in the freezer because I had to have a bowl for lunch the next day. The clear winner is the bake-and-freeze method. Why? Baking a banana is pretty much the same as instantly ripening it. This greatly enhances their natural sweetness, which is just what we want for this dish. 350°F for 20 minutes will do just fine. Then, put the banana in the freezer overnight and blend the next day. If you forget, you can use an un-frozen banana, but your smoothie base will be looser unless you balance the extra liquid somehow (keep reading to see what I recommend).
- Granola: Granola!!! This is the one I use (Trader Joe’s Ancient Grains and Nuts Granola) and I absolutely love it for a variety of reasons. Quinoa, buckwheat, chia seeds, and teff make up the “grains”, and it also includes almonds, walnuts, coconut, and pumpkin. The specs are also the best I’ve ever seen on granola, with 3/4cup boasting 8g of sugar, 4g fiber, 5g protein, and 220 calories. And honestly it’s just really good. If you have a Trader Joe’s in your area definitely grab this, but any granola will be tasty! 🙂
- Champagne Mango: For this bowl, I got ahold of a really fun & special ingredient: champagne mango! They’re smaller and sweeter than normal mangoes, and they’ve got undertones of honey & vanilla. Plus, their website is super cute. You can purchase champagne mangoes (aka ataulfo mangoes) at Whole Foods. I loved the tropical taste it lent the bowl, so definitely don’t pass these up!
- Other Tips & Tricks: There are a few alterations you can make if you want aspects of your bowl to be a little different. For a thicker bowl, add less almond milk and more frozen blueberries. Another trick I really like for when my açaí base turns out thin is to blend a few tablespoons of nonfat Greek yogurt into the base. The yogurt thickens things up, but also adds a decadent, creamy taste, similar to ice cream. It’s a deviation from that classic, icy smoothie-bowl taste, but in the best way. Here are some other things you can add to change the flavor of your bowl, as well as alternate topping recommendations.
- Xanthan Gum: A 1/4 tsp of this, blended into the base, will create an extra-fluffy texture. However, be careful not to use too much because it has an aftertaste.
- Cocoa Powder: For a chocolatey take on an açaí bowl, throw in a tablespoon of cocoa powder. Not only is pure cocoa powder full of antioxidants and health benefits, but it will make your end product taste like a chocolate-covered berry. Yum!
- Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are great. If you have them on hand, throw some on top of your bowl for an extra punch of protein & fiber.
- Coconut: This is one thing that smoothie shops do that I actually love. Toasted coconut flakes go perfectly with all the flavors in a smoothie bowl.
- Fruit: No-brainer, but some other options: raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, pineapple, clementine, sliced apple, banana, pear, kiwi, lychee, passionfruit, watermelon… If you can, I definitely recommend using all organic to eliminate pesticides, but any fruit will taste good!
- Chocolate: Sprinkle a few chocolate chips on top of your bowl for a more decadent experience.
- Spreads: My spread of choice in an açaí bowl is obviously peanut butter, but a few other great choices would be no-sugar-added preserves, jam, yogurt, lemon curd, and even Nutella!
That is all I’ve got for the ingredients & techniques in the Perfect Açaí Bowl. Now, the process of prepping it.
process for the perfect açaí bowl
prep
The first step to a bountiful açaí bowl is prep. Plug your blender in, wash & slice the fruit, measure out the dry toppings, and take the frozen elements out of the freezer. Next, run the açaí pureé under warm water until it becomes slushy and the sides pull apart from the packet. You can also break it apart with your fingers so that it’s more manageable in the blender.
blend ☘︎
I swear, this Perfect Açaí Bowl is too easy. Add the frozen blueberries, frozen banana, almond milk, & açaí to the blender (I use a NutriBullet). If you choose to supplement your bowl with Greek yogurt or any other inclusions, now’s the time for that, too. Blend the ingredients until they’re smooth, creamy, and ultra-fluffy. Ensure that there are no chunks!
style
After the smoothie base is blended, things get fun: it’s time to top! Scoop your dreamy, luscious base into the bowl (I just got these wood ones a few days ago, aren’t they cute?!) and pile it sky-high with strawberries, dragonfruit, mango, granola, & peanut butter. Make sure to melt the PB, because it stretches it farther & allows you to use less!
And just like that, you too can enjoy a Perfect Açaí Bowl from the comfort of your couch. Check out the recipe now & let the tropical vibes roll in! 😉
recipe for the perfect açaí bowl
Perfect Açaí Bowl
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
smoothie base
- 1 packet unsweetened açaí puree 100g, frozen
- 1 small banana 75g, frozen
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1/4 cup frozen fruit of choice I use blueberries
toppings
- 2 tbsp granola !
- 2 tsp peanut butter or preferred nut butter
- 2 large strawberries diced
- 1/2 dragonfruit
- 1/2 mango
Instructions
toppings
- Begin to prep your toppings by slicing the strawberries, pitting and dicing the mango, and cutting chunks of dragonfruit (I use a melon baller). Measure out the granola and set aside.
base
- Run the açaí packet under warm water for 10 seconds, breaking it apart with your fingers as it thaws. Add it to the bowl of the blender along with the frozen banana, almond milk, and frozen fruit.
- Blend until smooth and creamy. Do not overmix! The ingredients must stay cold in order to deliver a thick, voluminous base. If it seems runny, add a few spoonfuls of plain Greek yogurt.
put it together
- Place the peanut butter in the microwave and heat in 30-second intervals until fully melted. Then, scoop the açaí base into a shallow bowl. Top with the fruits, granola, and melted peanut butter. Enjoy!
Notes
- Recipe from www.SoCosmopoliteen.com
- Switch up the toppings! You can use any in-season fruits; some other favorites include raspberries, blueberries, & pineapple. Shredded coconut, chia seeds, or Nutella would also be good.
fín
I hope you enjoy this Perfect Açaí Bowl recipe! I’m actually thrilled to post it today because it represents everything I strive to pass along in a blog post: exciting, fun foods, but made simple. The idea that I could help make inaccessible dishes (like bright-purple smoothie bowls) more attainable for home-chefs just makes my heart warm, so things like this are always my favorite to write. If you make this, you’ll have to let me know!
As always, I seriously hope you love this post, and I hope to keep in touch as we spring into spring. If you’re still feeling the snowy slump, check out my winter posts here. Want more summery content? Be sure to follow my Instagram so you never miss a new post!
See you when I see you,
