How to Build the Perfect Smoothie Bowl
If you go to Pinterest and type in ‘smoothie bowl’ I dare you not to drool at the results. I mean a smoothie looks nice but some of the stuff people do with smoothie bowls is amazing. They actually look too pretty to eat! However, behind all that artistic food arranging, there is a bit of method to making the perfect smoothie bowl – let’s take a look at it.
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Start with the fruit or vegetables
The first place to start is with the meat (I know!) of the smoothie – fruit and vegetables. After all, pretty as they look, the whole point of a smoothie is to get those nutrients into ourselves that we might otherwise be missing out on. Not every smoothie needs to have veggies in them, but the fruit is definitely at the heart of the majority.
Don’t forget you can use fresh fruit but also frozen fruit and even vegetables in your smoothies. Sometimes frozen berries are a great solution to mixing up a recipe rather than having to buy separate containers of the different fruits to make mixed berries – and they last longer!
Some of the most popular options for fruit for the perfect smoothie bowl recipe include:
- Banana (or frozen banana)
- Berries such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries (fresh or frozen)
- Melons including watermelon
- Mango (or frozen mango)
- Papaya
- Apple
- Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons or limes
Add something to thicken it
The next stage is to look at thickening it. This is the key to the perfect smoothie bowl because you want to eat it with a spoon, not drink it with a straw. One of the most popular ideas is to create a breakfast smoothie bowl that you eat in place of a bowl of cereal or porridge. So thickening the mix is important to get the right consistency.
There are lots of options. One of the simple ones is to use a nice yoghurt – plain or flavoured – that has a thicker consistency to help make the mix thicker. Nut butters are also a popular option, such as peanut or almond butter. When people make an acai bowl recipe, they use acai powder which is freeze-dried and then added to the mix – this also helps thicken it. You could also use a protein powder or tofu if you like.
Pick the perfect liquid
Now while we are aiming for a thicker consistency than a smoothie drink with a smoothie bowl recipe, you do still need to have some liquid in there. The reason is simple – no matter how powerful, your blender won’t make the smoothie without a bit of liquid in there.
The very simplest option is water, especially if you are using lots of flavours already. This adds the liquid you need to make the smoothie but doesn’t impact your taste. Other options are various milks including soy, almond milk, or coconut milk (or just plain old fashion full-fat milk if you are like me!) Add it gently so you don’t end up with too thin a consistency for the bowl.
Toppings for the perfect smoothie bowl
Perhaps the key part of the smoothie bowl (apart from its consistency) is the toppings – that’s certainly what makes them look so very pretty. You can top them with anything you like and sliced fruit is always a good option. Here are five others that are worth adding.
Granola
Granola can be used on the top of a berry bowl or other smoothie bowl, as well as in a layered system if you like. You can buy store-bought granola but keep an eye on the calories and added sugar in them because sometimes they can be high. DIY granola is also pretty simple with things like rolled oats, nuts, seeds, and even some dried fruit that complements what is in your smoothie bowl.
Different seeds
Chia seeds get a lot of mentions in smoothies in general because they are a superfood that has loads of goodness in them. They contain manganese, phosphorus, protein, and iron, as well as that crucial dietary fibre. They are high in calories so a sprinkling on top often does the job.
Other favourite toppings include hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds.
Shredded coconut
I’ve got to admit, I don’t like coconut, but my mum loves it. Shredded coconut is very good for you as well as being low in calories and carbohydrates. It adds that sweetness to a dish, and you can also use it as a contrast to the colour of the mix. So if you are making a blueberry smoothie bowl, for example, the white of a bit of coconut looks great on top.
Goji berries
Goji berries are funny little berries that you mostly only see in dried packs, but this makes them a good smoothie bowl topping. They come from China and are brilliant for things like high cholesterol and high blood pressure as well as for people with diabetes. Sprinkle a few on the top of the mix when it is in the serving bowl.
Raw cacao nibs
Raw cacao chips and nibs are the raw forms of chocolate without any additives or extra sugar added. So you get the flavour of chocolate (although they are a little more bitter) and all of those extra goodies without the sugar. If you want a dessert smoothie bowl, these can be a brilliant option for a topping.
Drizzle on extras
Adding a bit of food on top of a smoothie bowl is one of my favorite parts. This could be any of your favorite nut butters, like almond butter or cashews, which I use as my fat source.
If you want to make it more of a dessert, you can make it with a little maple syrup or chocolate.
Have fun with your smoothie bowl!
The great thing about making the perfect smoothie bowl is that you can add in what you want and top it how you like. You can hide greens such as kale and spinach in with the fruit for added goodness or use them to get a whole load of fruit into your breakfast. They are also great for kids because they look pretty and tasty, and you can let them top their own.
Have you tried smoothie bowls? What was your favourite recipe? And what were your tastiest toppings? Share in the comments below!
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