Açaí has been renowned for it’s super antioxidant properties, rich in vitamins, good fats, and high protein content. Not only that, it’s also extremely delicious… We’ve all heard about the Amazonian superfruit berry, in smoothies, chocolates, and other super delicious healthy treats.
Yet, at the heart of it all, what brought this wonderful flavour out into the rest of the world, was the Açaí Bowl. These original bowls were discovered in the heart of the Amazon and have since spread like wildfire throughout the world. Lots of different places, locations, and cafes wind up putting their own spin on it, but today we’re going to go over the real raw way of creating an Açaí bowl at home, with a flavour just like you would find in the Amazon.
Here are some tips and tricks to creating the perfect bowl at home!
Two Packs per Serve
When preparing a proper Açaí bowl, using two frozen smoothie packs per serve will yield a hearty and satisfying meal or snack. You can purchase sweetened or unsweetened packs depending on your preference or sugar sensitivity. Both taste great, and you can sweeten the pure packs yourself by using honey or stevia.
Don’t Go Bananas
I’ve noticed a lot of independent cafes using up to three bananas per bowl! (whoa) This is something that takes away from the taste of the Açaí berry. Then it turns into a smoothie bowl, which is still very delicious, but completely different from the original. Using a little bit of water and purely smoothie packs allows the flavour profile to really shine. If you really like the creaminess of the banana, use only half for blending. The best way to enjoy banana with your bowl is sliced up as a topping.
No Nut Mylk
Another common mistake that I see a lot is adding nut mylk or rice mylk to help the blending process… Resist the urge to do this! Your bowl will come out creamy and soupy, which is what we want to avoid (unless you are making a smoothie). The consistency should be like soft serve sorbet, and the vibrant colour of the Açaí should shine, deep and purple. If your blender doesn’t pulverise as well as some others out there on the market, you can add a little bit of grape juice or water (or better yet, Açaí juice!) This is what the official Sambazon Cafes in the US and Asia do, and it keeps your bowl vibrant and pure.
Invest in a Great Blender
If your blender just isn’t cutting it (no pun intended!), then it may be time to get yourself a new one. With raw foods and healthy self-preparation at home getting more and more popular, now is the time to treat yourself and invest in a great blender! The Vitamix is an all-time fav for us, and for those who are okay with spending the extra cash and going the extra mile, there is also the Thermomix, which cooks as well!
Creating Your Masterpiece
With all of these great ideas in mind, start with your base of thick frozen goodness, and get creative with your toppings! Classic Açaí bowls are served with granola and sliced banana. Here are some ideas for other great toppings:
- shredded coconut
- raw cacao nibs
- chia seeds
- chopped nuts
- fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, etc)
- sliced tropical fruits (kiwi, mango, papaya, pineapple, etc)
- dried goji berries, dried cranberries
- sliced fresh figs
- pomegranate seeds
- sunflower seeds
- anything else that is a healthy whole food topping, here is where you can get creative!
Send us photos of your beautiful creations! Email om@feelingjoy.org
Or find us on Instagram @feelingjoy and use these hashtags with your upload! #feelingjoy #acaibowls #sambazon
xx
-Ashley
Feeling Joy.org 