When the sun is out, beat the heat with Brazilian acai bowl and never look at ice cream anymore.
Last updated: April 4, 2022
Recipes around the World: Brazilian Acai Bowl
I have a few favorite dishes, and Brazilian acai bowl is one of them. Often called “superfood”, the acai bowls are the best treat in the hot weather. I don’t really crave any acai bowls in winter, but summer in California is definitely asks for at least one a day.
When I first discovered this dish, small healthy food stalls in Los Angeles became my favorite places to spend mornings and sometimes evenings. But as much as I loved my Brazilian acai bowls, I quickly had to cut back on this obsession. Let’s admit, this healthy breakfast or snack option is a bit pricey.
Things changed when I found frozen acai packets in frozen section of my local grocery store. It was my second biggest discovery after this Brazilian dish itself. Now nothing could stop me from making the acai bowls at home.
I’ve experimented a lot with this dish, and came up with this simple recipe. You need just a few ingredients and a bit of creativity with your toppings to make your own Brazilian acai bowl at home.
What is Acai?
Commonly called acai berries, acai (pronounced ah-sah-EE) is a grape-like fruit native to the rainforest of South America. It grows on acai palm trees usually near riverbanks. Although similar in appearance to blueberries, the acai berries are 80% seed with thin skin. They have very short shelf life. This explains why you can find the fresh acai berries primarily in the places where they grow. The rest of the world gets frozen acai pure.
The acai berries are nutrient dense and rich in antioxidants. In fact, they have an Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity score of 15405, which is 3 times more than blueberries.
Brazilian Acai Bowl Recipe
Serves 2 people
Ingredients
- 2 packs frozen acai
- 1-2 bananas
- 1 cup of frozen fruits or berries (It’s optional. I prefer to add extra flavor to my Brazilian acai bowl. If you use other frozen fruits, limit yourself to 1 fresh banana. If you don’t have any frozen berries, freeze a few bananas and use them instead.)
- Splash water or juice
Toppings
You can use some or all of these recommendations. Moreover, you can add your favorite toppings. The quantity is depend on your taste and preferences.
- Fresh fruits of your choice: thinly slices or chopped strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or banana.
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
- Handful granola
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- 1 tablespoon coconut flakes
Preparation
- Blend the frozen acai, banana, frozen fruits, and water or juice until smooth. Pour into bowls.
- Top your Brazilian acai bowl with the granola, fresh fruits, and coconut flakes. Drizzle the honey and almond butter over the top.
If you want to experiment with more dishes from around the world, check out these recipes.
