Have you seen the stunning smoothie bowls taking over the internet lately? They come in a kaleidoscope of colors, are nutrient dense, and easy to make at home! We'll share our favorite recipe and some cool substitutions to step up your smoothie bowl game.
What You'll Need
- blender
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen pitaya cubes
- ½ cup fresh or frozen berries
- ½ a frozen banana, peeled
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk (or other dairy-free milk alternatives)
- ½ cup frozen chopped spinach or fresh spinach
- 1/3 cup granola (our favorite is Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grain Granola)
- 1 tbsp maca powder
- handful of fresh blueberries
- 2 tsp edible flower petals (optional)
Instructions
Step #1: It's All About That Base
In blender, combine pitaya, berries, banana, milk, and spinach. Blend until smooth. Add more milk if it's too thick, and more pitaya or berries if too thin.
Pro tip: smoothie bowls melt quickly, so if yours seems too thick, it will likely be okay in a minute or two.
Step #2: Bowled Over
Carefully scoop/pour the smoothie into a bowl. Mix once more with spoon, and smooth the top.
Step #3: T is for Toppings
For prettiest breakfast bowl, arrange toppings in lines or rows. You can also just sprinkle around as needed. Add the granola, maca powder, blueberries, and edible flowers in your preferred manner. Enjoy immediately, after snapping a photo for the 'gram of course.
Substitutions
If pitaya is difficult to source in your neck of the woods, feel free to use frozen acai instead. It's readily available at Trader Joe's and offers the same smooth and creamy base. And, it's pre-portioned in smoothie packets for extra convenience. Frozen mangoes are a great addition to any smoothie bowl too if you're getting bored of berries. They pair especially well with the pitaya for a more tropical smoothie vibe. On another note, a small frozen zucchini provides an extra nutritional boost when used instead of a banana. Also, while we prefer almond milk in our recipe, any type of milk would work, depending on what's in your kitchen. Another option is to use kale instead of spinach, but we like spinach's mild flavor profile over kale's more robust taste.
Additional Toppings
The easiest way to change up your bowls is with a toppings update. There are an endless variety of fun and functional toppings to add to any smoothie bowl. Some common ones, besides those used above, are dried goji berries, hemp hearts, and chia seeds. Freeze-dried berries or fresh berries can be used too, plus pomegranate seeds for a juicy crunch. Powdered moringa or spirulina are other healthy additions. Pepitas, muesli, coconut flakes, and flaxseed are just a few more that can be sprinkled on top as well. You can mix and match and play with flavors and textures until you find your perfect fit! Breakfast will never be boring again.