This article was co-authored by Linda McNally. Linda Ingaldson McNally is a Personal Chef & Nutritionist and the Co-Founder of Sage Home Chef based in Portland, Oregon. Linda and her team specialize in personalized meal preparation and create seasonal menus to accommodate various dietary restrictions. She has extensive knowledge in nutrition relating to women's health, mindful eating, and therapeutic diets. Sage Home Chef won the AI Business Excellence Awards for Oregon's Best Healthy Cuisine Personal Chef Services and Best of Portland Personal Chef Services in 2022. Linda has a degree in Journalism, Social Justice, and Family Studies from the University of St. Thomas and earned an MS in Nutrition from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland.
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Want a smoothie, but thicker? Put a twist on the famous smoothie and make it into a smoothie bowl perfect for breakfast, or a simple nutritious snack. Smoothie bowls are different from a typically smoothie in that they use less liquid to achieve a thicker texture, and are usually topped with unique garnishes! They are just as easy and simple to make as a smoothie.
Ingredients
Each of the ingredients lists makes one serving.
- 1 Banana
- ½ cup blueberries
- ½ cup strawberries
- ¼ cup almond milk
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- 2 tbsp hazelnut spread
- 1 tbsp cocoa
- 1 ½ banana, frozen
- ¼ cup almond milk
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp cinnamon (optional)
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Steps
Making a Basic Fruit Smoothie Bowl
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1Prepare your blender. If you don’t have blender, feel free to substitute tools such as an immersion blender or a food processor.
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2Prepare your fruit. Frozen fruit will typically give your smoothie bowl a thicker texture. If using fresh fruit, you may need to add in some ice to achieve the proper "smoothie bowl" consistency. You may also substitute any of the fruit in the recipes. Here are some options of fruit that you make like to try:
- Cherries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Pineapple
- Melon
- Mango
- Pomegranate
- To achieve a thicker and creamier consistency, you can add avocado. It will make your smoothie bowl richer.
- You can also change the amount of fruit in the recipe if you feel that it requires more for taste or texture.
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3Add the liquid. Smoothie bowls do not require as much liquid as a smoothie. Begin by adding a tablespoon when blending the fruit, and add more until you reach your desired consistency. There are several options to what type of liquid can be used. Try the following:
- Dairy-free milks: soy, almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, etc.
- Water
- Fruit juice
- Yogurt, either natural or flavored
- Tea
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4Add flavoring. Putting in extra flavorings is a great way to be more creative and add more flavor into your smoothie bowl. Here are some options:
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Mint
- Allspice
- Cocoa
- Nut butter, such as peanut or almond.
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5Add some greens. This is a great way to add more nutritional value into your smoothie bowl. It is very easy to mask the flavor, so you - or your kids - won’t even know it’s there! Some popular options are:
- Spinach
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Cucumber
- Cilantro
- Dark, leafy greens have more nutrients than light-colored ones. Using 2-3 kinds of dark, leafy greens provides you with nutrients, such as vitamins A and C, folate, calcium, and fiber.
- The best dark leafy greens for smoothies are spinach, kale, and collard greens. They are milder in taste and will compliment your smoothie flavors better.
- You can add a little lemon or orange juice to it as vitamin C allows for better absorption of plant iron found in dark, leafy greens.
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6Add sweetener. If you prefer a sweeter smoothie, bowl then feel free to add some sweetener to balance the flavor. Try adding dates, honey, or agave for a healthy sweetener.
- If you're adding dates to your smoothie bowl, soak the dates in hot water for a couple of minutes before blending to make it easier to blend.
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7Blend. Once you have added all of your ingredients, secure the blender's lid and begin blending on a low speed. Slowly begin increasing to the highest speed on the blender. Blend for 10-30 seconds or until smooth.
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8Plate. Now that we have completed the base, grab a bowl and plate your smoothie.
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9Garnish. Now it’s time to add your favorite toppings! In fact, one of the main parts in creating a smoothie bowl is the garnish. Try some of these options:
- Sliced fruit
- Chia seeds
- Oats
- Granola
- Chocolate chips
- Crushed nuts (such as almonds, cashews, or walnuts)
- Coconut flakes
- Pumpkin seeds
Making a Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie Bowl
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1Put all the ingredients in a blender. Gather all the ingredients listed above and put them in the blender.
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2Blend. Secure the lid of the blender and start by blending on a low speed. Slowly increase the speed of the blender, and blend it for about 10-30 seconds, or until smooth.
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3Plate. Take a bowl and pour your smoothie into it.
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4Garnish your smoothie bowl. Try garnishing your meal with any of the options below.
- Sliced fruit
- Chia seeds
- Oats
- Granola
- Chocolate chips
- Crushed nuts (such as almonds, cashews, or walnuts)
- Coconut flakes
- Pumpkin seeds
Warnings
- If using a food processor to make smoothie bowl, add less liquid.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Always make sure to have the cap on blender. You don't want to have your smoothie bowl spray everywhere!⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You'll Need
- Blender (or any tool used to blend)
- Measuring spoon
- Liquid measuring cup
- Measuring cup
About This Article
To make a smoothie bowl, start by adding your chosen fruits, like raspberries, blueberries, or cherries, to a blender. Then, pour in 1 tablespoon of liquid, such as fruit juice or water. For extra flavor, try adding vanilla extract, cinnamon, dates, or honey. You can also add spinach or kale for an extra boost of nutrients. Finally, blend your ingredients for 30 seconds, or until they're smooth. For tips on how to make a chocolate hazelnut smoothie bowl, keep reading!
