Summers are around the corner, and we’re already feeling the heat. If you’re looking for delicious and healthy ways to keep you cool, we have some smoothie bowl recipes for you to try at home. By Anushka Goel
Smoothies are a great way to begin the day on a healthy note. Made with fresh (or frozen) fruit, berries and vegetables, these pack a nutrient punch and are a flavour bomb that will keep you coming back for more. And smoothie bowls only make it better — ice cold, super creamy and textural bowls of blended goodness that will instantly wake you up for that morning meeting or call!
What you need to make the perfect summer smoothie bowl
A good smoothie bowl should contain key ingredients — frozen fruit and veggies, healthy fats, nuts, and delicious toppings. You can also keep yoghurt to amp up the creaminess of these bowls or simply use bananas or milk for a creamier texture. These bowls are naturally sweet due to the presence of fruits and/or coconut water and milk, but should you need some extra sweetness, opt for agave, maple syrup, honey, or stevia over refined sugar. A sprinkle of brown sugar can work, too.
Apart from these, you will need some equipment, such as a good, functioning blender, bowls, spoons and scrapers to get the last bit of your concoction out of the blender.
8 summer smoothie bowl recipes
Vegan breakfast smoothie bowl
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Turning a smoothie bowl vegan is not that tough since they mostly contain fruit, nuts and vegetables. Swap your regular yoghurt or milk for plant-based options, and add in a spoonful of nut butters for the creaminess, and any smoothie can be turned vegan!
For this smoothie bowl, blend a cup of frozen berries – whatever you have on hand – with one ripe frozen banana, one teaspoon chia seeds, and about a quarter cup of nut milk depending upon what you like – we suggest coconut for the tropical flavour – or about the same quantity of nut yoghurt for a creamier texture. Top with your favourite toasted nuts, granola, fresh fruit and some nut butter and enjoy!
Strawberries ‘n’ cream bowl
Who doesn’t love strawberries? The delicious fruit, topped with whipped cream and chocolate, is a decadent, indulgent way to get some vitamins and minerals into your diet. And the only thing better than this is a yummy strawberries ‘n’ cream smoothie bowl.
Blend a cup of frozen strawberries and a ripe banana with a cup of milk of your choice. Add a few drops of vanilla essence, or up the protein quotient of this treat with a scoop of vanilla protein powder. Top with chia seeds, chocolate granola or muesli and fresh strawberries, and enjoy!
Mango and pineapple bowl
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Summers call for tropical flavours, and there’s no better way to add flavour to the season than a tropical smoothie bowl! Blend a cup of frozen mangoes, a few frozen pineapple slices, two Medjool dates (for some sweetness), and half a cup of tender coconut water. Top with a sprinkle of chia seeds, sliced banana and some coconut flakes for added flavour and texture.
Peanut butter and banana smoothie bowl
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There’s nothing to not like about a good quality peanut butter on a slice of bread (or straight up from the jar, because why not!). If you love the nut butter as much as we do, this cooling bowl, while slightly heavier on the flavour profile, will be a welcome relief on days you just want an indulgent treat.
Blend together a cup of milk (use almond milk to make it vegan), 2 tablespoons peanut butter, half a banana, a spoon of cocoa powder and a spoonful of honey or maple syrup. Empty into your favourite bowl, top with the remaining banana, crunchy granola, cocoa nibs, nuts and mixed seeds.
Summer fruits smoothie bowl
Packed with antioxidants, berries such as raspberries, blueberries and blackberries are superfoods and should be included in your diet if you can get them easily. And summer fruits such as watermelons and oranges are great to add some hydration and vitamin c to your meals, helping you get clearer skin, healthier hair, and more.
This recipe, by Danilicious Dishes, celebrates summer fruits, turning them into a healthy, delicious smoothie bowl that’s great to beat the summer heat and makes for a filling breakfast as well. Blend half a cup of frozen watermelon, one frozen ripe banana, a teaspoon each of vanilla essence, honey, and ginger, some orange juice (if you like), half a cup of mixed frozen berries (raspberries and blueberries are ideal). Add some milk slowly until you get the desired texture. Add toppings of your choice and enjoy this fruity, spicy blend!
Banana bread smoothie bowl
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During the lockdown, we’re sure you also jumped onto the bandwagon and baked loaves upon loaves of banana bread. And now that you’ve mastered this tea-time snack, bring it to your breakfast in the form of a smoothie bowl!
To make this smoothie, blend two ripes, frozen bananas, a cup of milk (almond or coconut lend it a delicious flavour), 1/2 cup instant oats for the smooth, thick texture, some vanilla and two tablespoons of cocoa powder. Blend and top with your favourite banana bread toppings – chocolate chips, nuts, banana, coconut, honey, cinnamon and even some actual banana bread.
Green berry smoothie
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Green, leafy kale is a great source of fibre and adds tonnes of nutrition to your meals. Combined with avocadoes, the creamy, delicious smoothie offers a flavourful treat to beat the summer heat, while the berries add a sweet, tart flavour!
Blend together a quarter of an avocado, a cup of frozen berries, a small bunch of spinach and a handful of kale with two bananas and a cup of milk or yoghurt (or you can replace this with some coconut water for added hydration and a tropical twist). Top with coconut flakes, granola, mixed seeds and sliced berries, drizzle some honey for extra sweetness and enjoy!
These basic recipes are great starting points for you to begin your smoothie bowl journey. Have fun along the way, mixing flavour profiles and adding new, unique ingredients to the mix, and enjoy!
Hero and Featured Image: Courtesy of Tina Witherspoon/Unsplash
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