How to Make the Perfect Smoothie Bowl
Arguably the perfect protein-packed breakfast choice in summer, here’s everything you need to know for perfecting your smoothie bowl recipes.
Ok, sure, we know Huel is the best breakfast choice. Hands. Down. But what if one morning you fancy something different? Well, you can’t go far wrong with a smoothie bowl (especially one topped up with some Huel Complete Protein).
It has all the nutritious ease of a smoothie but you can sit down and enjoy a big bowl of it like oatmeal. Plus, in the summer months, when that epic portion of steaming porridge just doesn’t mix well with the heat, the chilled smoothie bowl fits just right.
Here are some tips for perfecting your smoothie bowl creations, from picking the base, all the way down to the toppings. Plus, we’ve got a handy video for our own Huelified very berry smoothie bowl if you prefer to follow along.
Top tips for perfecting your smoothie bowl recipes
All about that base
The best smoothie bowls start with the right base. What’s a smoothie bowl base though? Well, it’s what’s going to give your smoothie bowl that thick and creamy texture. Greek yogurt is a go-to, as are frozen bananas.
Cut down on food waste by using up any bananas that are on the turn, slice them into chunks, put them into a sealed container, and freeze them. Then you can take them out whenever you need, and have a chilled smoothie bowl ready to go. Remember to cut the bananas up. This will make them a lot easier to blend.
Silken tofu is also a great way to thicken your smoothie bowl and gives it a silky texture while boosting the protein content.
Use frozen fruits
Following on from this frozen banana hack, we’d recommend using other frozen fruit (like berries) for those hot summer days. They not only add thickness but also makes your smoothie bowl colder and more refreshing. Plus, using frozen fruit eliminates the need for ice, which can dilute the flavors.
Add any frozen fruit to the blender first so they are close to the blade and will blend quickly and easily.
Sweeten the deal
Consider the taste profile of your smoothie bowl and aim for a balance of sweetness and acidity. Sweeten with fruits like bananas, mangoes, or dates, and add a splash of acidity with berries or citrus fruits.
Easy on the syrups though. Try a little first, and then add your maple, agave, coconut, or date syrup at the end, if you need it.
Green’s the word
Packed full of antioxidants and nutrients, we’re all aware of how good for us leafy greens are. Smoothie bowls are a great way of sneaking them into your diet. Plus adding a handful of spinach, kale, or other leafy greens will give your bowl a vibrant color.
Don’t throw your liquid in all at once
A splash of your favorite plant-based milk will help blend your smoothie bowl to the desired consistency. But don’t throw it all in at once. There is nothing worse than removing your blender lid and looking down at a watery mess.
It’s hard to go back from this point. You can try adding more frozen fruit to thicken it up, but this will mean you end up with a lot more smoothie bowl to eat.
Drop just enough liquid to allow the blending process to start, and if it looks too thick add a drop more until you have the consistency you want.
Think about color
The temptation when making a smoothie bowl is to throw all your favorite ingredients and not think about what it’s going to look like after it’s all blended up.
Mixing complementary colors like red and green will end up giving you a wishy-washy brown-looking color. Not good for the ‘gram. Even if it might taste nice, don’t mix berries with greens then if you’re concerned about how your smoothie bowl will look.
Top it off
Get creative with toppings. Add a variety of textures and flavors with toppings like fresh fruits, granola, nuts, seeds, shredded coconut, cacao nibs, or dried fruit. If you’re worried about your granola going wet and soft, add items like nuts first and then your granola pieces on top so they stay crunchy.
Huel + your smoothie bowl = a match made in heaven
Packed with fruits and vegetables, smoothie bowls are by definition full of nutrients (just like Huel).
If you’re using bananas, you’ll never have any problem getting enough carbohydrates into a smoothie bowl, while nut butter, avocado, and seeds like hemp, flax, pumpkin, sunflower, and chia will make sure there are some much-needed healthy fats in there too.
However, protein can often be one thing missing from a smoothie bowl. A scoop of Huel Complete Protein then will make sure you’re the vital macro in your first meal of the day. Huel Complete Protein Vanilla mixes especially well, with a flavor profile that compliments a whole range of ingredients.
How to make a Huel very berry smoothie bowl
Ingredients
- Handful of ice
- 200g frozen mixed berries
- 75ml unsweetened oat/almond milk
- 1 scoop Huel Complete Protein Banana (but you can use any flavor you like)
Toppings (optional)
- Fresh berries
- 25g granola / mixed seeds and nuts
Method
- Put the oat milk, frozen berries and protein powder in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Add a splash more milk if needed. Remember it needs to be thick. Blend, shake, blend, then shake, until it's done.
- Spoon the smoothie into a bowl and top with the fresh fruit, granola and mixed nuts and seeds.
