Brazilian Açaí Bowl
Oi Gente!
This Brazilian açaí bowl recipe is the one I grew up with. It tastes delicious, is nutrient rich and comes together in less than 5 minutes! Top your homemade açaí bowl with your favorite fruits and cereal of choice for a powerful tropical breakfast.
What is Açaí?
Açaí (pronounced ah-sigh-eee) is a tart tropical fruit common in the Amazonian region, popular all over Brazil and now the world!
Generally speaking, in northern Brazil people use açaí to make savory dishes, while in the south it’s consumed sweet, primarily in açaí bowls.
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Açaí na tijela, as we call açaí bowls in Portuguese, has always been super popular in Rio. My favorite way to enjoy them was in a beach kiosk looking at the ocean after soaking up the sun all day. It’s such a perfect icy cold treat.
Other than at the beach, you can also find them in juice/smoothie joints, gym cafeterias, at a mall’s food court. Seriously, everywhere! Lucky for everyone, nowadays it’s almost just as easy to find places that sell açaí bowls, or açaí smoothies all over the US and other parts of the world. At least in big metropolitan areas.
And it’s also super easy to make your own homemade açaí bowl – all you need is a blender and açaí.
How to make Açaí Bowl
Nowadays, it’s fairly easy to make your own homemade Brazilian açaí bowl since you can find açaí puree in the freezer isle of most grocery stores and online.
Açaí by itself is pretty tart, so traditionally, in Brazil we mix it with guaraná syrup, and depending on how much you add, you can turn your healthy bowls into super sweet (I’m personally not complaining!) sugar bombs.
The puree itself can be sweetened, sometimes already blended with some guaraná extract, or sometimes with guaraná + sugar. But you can also find unsweetened açaí puree.
You can use whichever you prefer to make a bowl.
I tend to like my Brazilian açaí bowls to be more on the sweet side. So, in this recipe I use a packet that’s already blended with guaraná extract, and I add a little extra sugar too. But adding sugar is entirely optional. Instead, you can sweeten it with honey, agave, or not at all! Up to you!
I add sugar to mine, because it makes the flavor a lot similar to the açaí bowls I had growing up that were absolutely loaded with guaraná syrup. But, this is a treat I definitely don’t have everyday.
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To make a bowl, all you need to do is blend the açaí puree with water and your sweetener of choice, if any. Then add your favorite fruits and granola e pronto! Your açaí na tijela is all done.
This is my absolute favorite Brazilian açaí bowl recipe. Just açaí + guaraná blend, sweetened with a little sugar, topped with nothing else but banana and vanilla granola. It’s the life!
I hope you enjoy it.
Bom Apetite!
Brazilian Açaí Bowl FAQ:
Where to buy açaí puree to make homemade açaí bowls?
In California, açaí puree as well as powder can be easily found in most grocery stores, primarily Whole Foods and Sprouts, or online at Amazon. I also always find frozen açaí at Costco!
Is Açaí healthy?
I mean… Açaí by itself, similar to other berries, really is healthy and a fantastic fruit loaded with health benefits. They’re nutrient dense, full of antioxidants, healthy fats, fiber, boosts immunity.
Some açaí bowls, however, aren’t considered healthy, because of their high sugar/guaraná syrup content. So, it’s super important to keep an eye out for the ingredient list from the puree you’re buying, as some of them have A LOT of sugar already added.
I tend to like my açaí bowl on the sweet side, and I feel no guilt – I just enjoy it in moderation.
Check out other Brazilian breakfast recipes!
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Brazilian Açaí Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 packets of frozen Açaí Berry + Guaraná puree I use Sambazon Original Blend
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 Tbsp sugar
Toppings
- 1 Banana
- 1/2 cup french vanilla granola
Instructions
- In a cup, combine the sugar with the water, and mix until sugar is dissolved
- Add the 2 frozen packets of açaí to a blender, then add the water/sugar mixture
- Blend well, about a minute, then scoop the açaí into a bowl
- Top it with sliced bananas, and granola
I’m always looking for a good breakfast option and this Acai sounds amazing!
Yes, it’s a great option! I’m not a morning person at all, so the fact this is quick helps… A LOT! hahaha
I always see these bowls and you have inspired me to make one with your recipe!
Awesome!! You won’t regret it 🙂 Let me know how it turns out! Beijos xx
I had an acai bowl for the first time in Hawaii earlier this year and fell in love! Can’t wait to make my own with your recipe.
Yessss – That’s awesome! Let me know how it turns out xx
Yess!!! I’ve been looking for healthy recipes. This will be perfect for breakfast!
It will!!!!! So glad you liked the idea 🙂
This Acai bowl looks and sounds so good! I love that you’ve only used 3-ingredients!
Yes – simplicity it’s where its at!! xx
Oh my, thanks! This is very helpful, I have tasted Acai Bowl in Rio when I was there for the world cup 2014. It took me a minute to even remember the name of the fruit, I never tasted something like this in my life. I loved it! I can’t wait until I fix me some.