I had the pleasure of working under an amazing Superfood Chef in Hollywood last year who opened my eyes to the world of superfoods. Superfoods are nutrient rich foods packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. Incorporating these into your diet is said to help prevent some disease and aid in overall health. My favorite of these is the acai berry, a powerful antioxidant from South America. The Acai Bowl became well known in Brazil around the 1980s and has made its way to America, popping up in restaurants and smoothie shops alike. This bowl is simple to make and comprised of only a few easy ingredients. The base of every acai bowl I make is one Sambazon Acai Frozen Smoothie packet (this is the brand I've fallen in love with, but the local Whole Foods stores carry other brands as well), banana, and coconut milk. The key to getting the ice-cream like texture is in freezing your banana ahead of time, at least 2 hours before making the bowl. I like to keep a freezer bag of banana in my freezer at all times, as it's perfect for making bowls and fake ice cream. To freeze it, you will want to find ripe bananas and a freezer bag. Peel each banana and break it into chunks before placing in the freezer. Using canned coconut milk will yield a creamier and richer taste; however, it tends to be wasteful if you don't make multiple servings, as you can't easily reseal the can. I have since been using Coconut Milk Beverage and the taste is still great! This recipe calls for frozen pineapple chunks, but you can substitute with any fruit of your liking. The key is to ensure the fruit is frozen in order to achieve the right consistency. Feel free to get creative and artsy with the toppings. I hope you enjoy this nutrient packed bowl as much as I do! Superfood Packed Acai Bowl RecipeIngredients: 1 Sambazon Acai Frozen Smoothie Packet (Information on where to buy at: http://www.sambazon.com/products/#aa-berry-superfruit-pack-original-blend - I am able to find mine at Whole Foods) 1 Banana (frozen) 1/2 cup Frozen Pineapple Chunks 1/4 cup Coconut Milk Desired Toppings Directions: 1. At least 2 hours prior freeze your banana by peeling, breaking into chunks, placing them in a freezer bag and setting in the freezer to harden. You will want to ensure you have a ripe banana (as the riper it is, the sweeter it will be. 2. In a high powered blender or food processor (please note that you will be breaking down a lot of frozen items, so you want to ensure you have a blender that can handle it) add the banana, acai smoothie packet (broken into chunks), coconut milk, and frozen pineapple chunks. 3. Blend until a creamy, ice cream-like texture is achieved. You may need to occasionally open up your blender and push the mixture down to ensure it all blends properly. 4. Spoon into a bowl and top with desired toppings. Serve immediately. (Suggested Toppings include: Chia seeds, hemp seeds, granola, fressh fruit, cacao nibs, goji berries, coconut flakes, nuts, agave syrup, etc.) Download a printable PDF of the recipe below.
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