Açaí na tigela, or Brazilian Açaí Bowls as it is more widely known, is a tropical Brazilian fruit blended into a thick smoothie and topped with a variety of fresh fruit. This tropical treat makes a filling and delicious breakfast or snack!
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The first time I had an açaí bowl, I was living in New York City. I had passed by a sign advertising açaí bowls every single day all summer, so finally, I ducked into the little shop to check them out.
In typical midwestern fashion, I ordered an “a-kai” bowl, and, of course, my miserable mispronunciation made the waitress laugh out loud. She kindly gave me a lesson in the true pronunciation of the fruit, which actually sounds more like “ah-sigh-ee.”
An açaí bowl is essentially a fruit smoothie topped with more fresh fruit and whatever other toppings you prefer. Like Agua de Fresca or Jus de Fruit, the fruit combinations are endless and the flavors are amazing! For the purposes of this recipe I’m keeping it super simple.
The most important part is the açaí.
What is Açaí?
Açaí grows on palm trees native to South America. Though most people refer to açaí as a fruit, it should technically be called a “drupe”, because of the pit that is inside.
In South America, açaí is eaten fresh off of the tree in its typical berry form. However, açaí is incredibly difficult to transfer while fresh, so most of the açaí exported from South America comes, instead, in the form of powdered or frozen products.
Recipe Origins
Like Ginger, Açaí has often been used for its medicinal purposes. Açaí berries are full of antioxidants and have been shown to lower cholesterol. The berries were often collected and crushed into juices by indigenous people.
In the 80’s and 90’s the fruit made its way to large cities like Rio de Janeiro, Brazil thanks to martial arts enthusiasts who discovered the health benefits. Eventually it was transported to Hawaii and California and turned into smoothies in trendy smoothie shops.
Today it’s tough to find any smoothie shop that doesn’t have açaí bowls on the menu, but the fruit still comes all the way from Brazil.
During a visit to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I found that Açaí Bowls truly were everywhere! While they are usually served in a bowl shape in the US, they are often served in tall plastic cups in Brazil to allow for layering of the ingredients. That is why my Açaí Bowl is photographed in a cup rather than a bowl.
Why Make This Recipe
- Super Fruit: Açaí berries are considered a super fruit! Plus they are a very fun purple color.
- Simple Recipe: The base of a Brazilian açaí bowl is just a package of açaí and a banana. Two ingredients!
- Taste of Brazil: The flavor of açaí is unique, tropical, and delicious like many of the flavors of Brazil!
Ingredients to Make Brazilian Açaí Bowls
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
Açaí Base
- Frozen Açaí Blend: Search for packets of frozen açaí near the frozen fruit in your grocery store. I got mine from Trader Joe’s, but they also exist in Costco and most other grocery chains.
- Banana: A fresh banana mixed with the frozen packet will give you the perfect consistency!
Toppings
- Granola
- Fresh banana
- Sliced strawberries
- Sweetened condensed milk: This is a very popular addition in Brazil, specifically. In the United States, Açaí Bowls are often a breakfast item, but in Brazil, the addition of sweetened condensed milk can make them a dessert!
- Milk powder, optional: This is known as Leite em Pó in Brazil. This is another popular Brazilian tradition and adds a fun texture to the Açaí Bowls.
Tools
- Blender: I use a bullet blender for a single recipe, but if you are making more than one, a larger blender is a great option.
Making The Recipe Your Own
Brazilian Açaí Bowls are easy to customize to your liking! This is the recipe that I made with my açaí, but there are so many recipe combinations that you can try on your own!
Experiment by mixing your açaí with strawberries or blueberries. Try it topped with cacao nibs, kiwi or a drizzle of nut butter! The possibilities are endless, and I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
How to Make This Recipe
Step One: Blend the banana, acai packet and water together until all is combined but thick.
Step Two: Pour into a bowl and top with your favorite toppings!
Expert Tips
- You may find açaí powder for sale in some places. You can definitely make a smoothie and add the açaí powder. I prefer the flavor of the frozen açaí.
- If you prefer a creamier base, feel free to use almond milk or coconut milk instead of water.
Recipe FAQs
It’s definitely possible for bowls served at smoothie shops to have a lot of sugar. What I love about this recipe is it contains no added sugar. The banana is plenty sweet!
Açaí is difficult to harvest, process and transport and all of these things add to the cost. Most stores also add an upcharge due to the cost of the fresh fruit on top of an açaí bowl. That’s why making one at home is so great–it’s much more affordable!
Did you like making these açaí bowls? If you liked this, make sure to also check out my these other recipes I’ve chosen for you:
If you tried this Brazilian Açaí Bowl Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
Açaí Na Tigela (Brazilian Açaí Bowls)
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
Açaí Base
- 7 oz Frozen Açaí Blend
- 1 large banana
Toppings
- ½ cup granola
- 1 banana
- ½ cup sliced strawberries
- ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk
- 2 Tbsp milk powder, optional
Instructions
- Blend the banana, acai packet and water together until all is combined but thick.
- Pour into a bowl and top with your favorite toppings! You can assemble in two layers if desired.
Notes
- Banana: A fresh banana mixed with the frozen packet will give you the perfect consistency!
- You may find açaí powder for sale in some places. You can definitely make a smoothie and add the açaí powder. I prefer the flavor of the frozen açaí.
- If you prefer a creamier base, feel free to use almond milk or coconut milk instead of water
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