Açaí bowls were the heart of our old Park Slope menu, and they are still the easiest healthy breakfast we know: frozen açaí blended thick, then piled with fruit and crunch. Here are all of our recipes, plus the technique and toppings that make them work.
The recipes
- Classic Açaí Bowl: banana and coconut water. Start here.
- Berry Blast: mixed berries and a quick berry purée.
- Tropical: mango, pineapple, coconut and passion fruit.
- Peanut Butter Banana (The Elvis): the most filling one.
- Strawberry Nutella: a dessert-style treat.
What is açaí?
Açaí is a small, dark purple berry from a palm that grows in the Amazon. It spoils within a day of picking, so outside Brazil it is sold as frozen purée, usually in 100 g packs. Look for unsweetened packs: the sweetened ones add a surprising amount of sugar before you have added any toppings.
How to get a thick base
The difference between an açaí bowl and an açaí smoothie is almost all liquid. Use frozen fruit, add the smallest splash of liquid that lets the blender turn, and blend on low with the tamper. Every recipe here follows the same pattern: two packs of açaí, about half a cup of frozen fruit, and 60 to 80 ml of liquid.
Toppings that work
Everyday
- Granola
- Toasted peanuts
- Coconut flakes
- Chia seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sesame seeds
For a treat
- Nutella drizzle
- Passion fruit purée
- Berry purée
- Honey
- Chocolate shavings
- Almond butter
- Fresh strawberries, blueberries or banana
Aim for one crunchy topping, one or two fresh fruits and at most one sweet finish. That keeps the bowl balanced and lets the açaí taste like açaí.
Are açaí bowls healthy?
The base is: unsweetened açaí is low in sugar and comes with fiber and antioxidants. What changes the picture is portion size and toppings. We cover how to keep a bowl light in Are Açaí Bowls Good for Weight Loss?