Trends come and go, but good food is forever. The acai bowl is one particular dish that may have suddenly risen in popularity thanks to the superfood craze of recent years, but it has proven a worthy addition to anyone’s short list of standby recipes. Little more than a smoothie thick enough to eat with a spoon, something about that small variation in texture gives this treat real staying power. Though skeptical at first, the attraction became immediately clear after I ordered up my first bowlful of sweet, tropical fruit puree while attempting to beat the heat in Honolulu.

Beginning with a basic formula, expect to get a silky-smooth blend of frozen acai, bananas, apple juice, and ice, topped off by fresh cut fruits and granola. Honey often comes standard when ordering out, easily omitted upon request. Besides, the whole mixture is already so sweet, it’s hard to imagine that the sticky topping would really be a beneficial addition.

The real beauty of this cool, creamy, and yet simultaneously crunchy formula is that it’s infinitely adaptable. No matter what fruits, liquids, or toppings you pick, you’re only minutes away from a frozen delight, even before pulling out the blender. At a time when temperatures are only rising and the last thing you want to do is labor over a hot stove or waste a glorious day indoors, few snacks are better suited to summer fun.

Acai bowls strike me as a “choose your own adventure” sort of recipe, where there are no hard and fast rules, except to follow your intuition. Add more or less liquid until you’re happy with the texture, mix up the flavors, and go wild with the trimmings. In fact, though it may be sacrilege to some, I fully endorse omitting the acai for a considerably less pricey option.

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Yield: Makes 1 – 2 Servings

Basic Acai Bowl Blueprint

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Acai bowls strike me as a “choose your own adventure” sort of recipe, where there are no hard and fast rules, except to follow your intuition. Add more or less liquid until you’re happy with the texture, mix up the flavors, and go wild with the trimmings. In fact, though it may be sacrilege to some, I fully endorse omitting the acai for a considerably less pricey option.

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

Basic Acai Bowl Blueprint

• 1 Frozen Banana OR 2/3 Cup Frozen Diced Mango or Papaya or Pineapple OR 3/4 Cup Sliced Frozen Peaches, Apricots, or Plums
• 2 (3.5-Ounce) Packets Frozen Acai Puree OR 1/2 Cup Frozen, Seedless Raspberry, Blackberry or Blueberry Puree (or 1 Cup Frozen Berries- If you don’t mind seeds)
• 1/2 Cup Ice
• 1/2 – 3/4 Cup Apple Juice or Orange Juice or Coconut Water or Non-Dairy Milk

Optional Nutrition Boosters:

• Kale or Spinach, Ground Flaxseed, Protein Powder

Crunchy Stuff:

• Granola, Cereal, Hemp Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Cacao Nibs, Sliced Almonds, Toasted Coconut Flakes

Fruity Stuff:

• Sliced Bananas, Sliced Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Jam or Preserves, Goji Berries, Dried or Freeze-Dried Fruits

Sweet Stuff:

• Chocolate Chips, Candied Nuts, Sprinkles, Mochi Bits, Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans, Vegan Marshmallows

Instructions

As you can imagine, once you know what an acai bowl consists of, the procedure is pretty much self-explanatory. Toss all the ingredients for the bowl itself into your blender and puree until smooth, being careful not to run the machine for too long to prevent the mixture from warming up. Top with crunchy additions, fruit, and more decadent options as desired. Don’t be afraid to look beyond these basic ideas- The different blends are endless!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 139Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 569mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 3gSugar: 77gProtein: 5g