OUR FAVORITE ACAI BOWL RECIPE
The acai fruit is a nutritional powerhouse.
Acai fruits are rich in antioxidants (more than cranberries or blueberries) and contain fiber and healthy fats. Acai is high in a particular antioxidant known as anthocyanin. Anthocyanin has been observed to lower oxidative stress, inflammation, and improve brain health. Additionally, anthocyanins also have been found to fight against cancer. The berries are also naturally sugar-free, which may also aid in cancer-fighting, or at least cancer-inhibiting, properties of the berries.
The berry itself resembles a dark purple grape and hails from Central and South America.
What’s So Great About Acai Bowls?
Acai itself tastes like an earthy berry (think blackberry or mulberries) with an undertone of cocoa. That’s why with the right add-ins, an Acai bowl not only packs a nutritional punch, it also tastes fantastic and is perfect for summer.
Obviously, the full nutritional acai bowl benefits depend on the acai bowl recipe you choose. Nutritional values will differ depending on what you top your homemade acai bowl with. That’s the benefit of making your own bowl—you know exactly what and how much you are eating.
Making your own acai bowl is as simple as blending just a few ingredients together and adding your favorite complementary toppings.
Creating the ideal consistency is key. Too much liquid and you’re going to be drinking your bowl.
Here are a few quick tips:
- Buy Acai From Reputable, Quality Sources
Acai supplements are not well regulated. Sambazon is a great brand that has sustainable harvesting. They make a pure, unsweetened acai puree that can be found in the frozen food section of most stores like Walmart, Target and Trader Joe’s. - Buy Unsweetened Versions
Acai is naturally low in sugar. So, don’t waste that health benefit by purchasing varieties that add that sugar back in during processing. - Freeze Ingredients
This means you’ll have to do a little preparation ahead of time for the best version of your acai bowl. Everything needs to be frozen before it's blended. Acai packets are purchased frozen. Other berries are easy to purchase frozen as well. You want this bowl to be thick, so the more frozen your ingredients are, the better.
Our Favorite Acai Bowl
Ingredients
- 1/3 banana cut and frozen
- ½ c frozen berries
- 1 frozen packet of acai berry puree break it into pieces before putting it in the blender
- ¼ to ¾ c vanilla almond milk (add this little by little as you blend)
- 1 scoop of OrganicLand Vanilla Whey Protein or OrganicLand Vanilla Plant-Based Protein
- 1 tbsp coconut flakes
Instructions
- Combine frozen banana, frozen berries, acai berry puree pieces, cold almond milk, and protein in a high-powered blender.
- Secure the lid and blend. You may need to pause and scrape the sides down a time or two and to add more almond milk.
- Pour the mixture into bowls.
- Top with raw honey and coconut flakes.
- Serve Immediately
Notes on Toppings
Here are some of our favorite toppings:
- Freshly sliced fruit – pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, mango, peaches, kiwi, blackberries
- Chia Seeds
- Granola (with no added sugar)
- Cacao nibs
- Hemp seeds
- Flax Seeds
- Almond slivers
- Bee pollen granules
- Chopped pecans or walnuts
Bon appétit!