The Ultimate Açai Bowl
January, 2016 — Everything You Need To Know About Açai Bowls & Some Recipes
By: Breakfast Criminals
A traditional dish eaten on the beaches of brazil, açaí bowls are gaining popularity worldwide, and for a good reason! A delicious way to start your day with clean energy and one of my all-time favorite breakfasts, an açaí bowl is super easy to make.
The best part is that you can make it completely your own – depending on what you have available. Here is a little more about açaí, some of my favourite ingredients and toppings, and top recipes for you to try!
What is açai?
The açaí (ah-sigh-EE) berry is a grape-like fruit harvested from açaí palm trees, native to the rainforests of South America. Normally, you can find açaí in the form of frozen smoothie packs or freeze dried powder.
What is an açai bowl?
Açaí smoothie bowls – simply açaí blended with fruits and berries, and topped with banana, granola, coconut and other goodies, is one of my all-time favorite breakfasts to make.
I tried my first açaí bowl in Hawaii, where it’s also now big part of the food culture, favored by surfers, since it provides clean energy and a feeling of satisfied lightness (you’ll know what I mean when you try it!)
What are the health benefits of açai?
Açaí is an amazing source of antioxidants, fiber, heart healthy-fats, and minerals. It’s also low on sugar – just make sure you grab the unsweetened version. You can find açaí at health food stores and online, and my favorite brand by far is Sambazon -their açaí products are organic and non-GMO, and promote fair trade and sustainability.
How do you make an açai bowl?
Now let’s get to the fun part. The cool thing about an açaí bowl is that you can make it completely your own. While I do have my staples of açaí bowl ingredients (banana, berries, coconut water, raw cacao to blend, and granola, coconut chips, almond butter, goji berries and blueberries to top the bowl), I do like to experiment and increase anti-inflammatory benefits by adding greens and superfoods such as maca, lucuma, mesquite and baobab. Adding avocado for satisfying creaminess will make your bowl… açaí-mazing!
Join us for the a yoga retreat in March, 2016 with Green Stone Journeys and enjoy these delicious delights with us! A six-night retreat with yoga and mediation in the mornings, days filled with island adventures and activities and evening workshops with dance and movement. Listed as one of the ’11 best wellness retreats in the world right now’ by Well and Good @wellandgoodnyc come and join us for an experience that you can take home with you!
If you can’t join us this time around, explore the world of açai at home. Here are a few of my favorite açaí recipes – feel free to follow the instructions, and add your own twist for more fun!
