Wednesday, June 11, 2014

The Ultimate Detox Smoothie Bowl

Recipe and text from Gourmande In The Kitchen

 
While beets are probably not the first ingredient you think of for breakfast, given a chance they might just surprise you.  Their sweet earthy taste pairs well with the tartness and acidity of the berries not to mention that the deep garnet root, traditionally valued for its blood and liver cleansing properties, is a good source of folate and betaine.

Chances are you’ve probably heard of açaí (ah-sigh-ee) the berry of an Amazonian palm tree by now.  Native to the rain forests of South America, açaí berries have become quite famously known as a super-food.

The old adage that the more vibrant the colour of a fruit or vegetable the higher its nutritional value certainly holds true with this deep purple berry, rich in both anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids.  And while you can’t find fresh açaí berries the pulp is available in the frozen section of many grocery stores these days.

All blended together with a couple of Brazil nuts for added selenium, chia seeds to keep you full and coconut milk to add creaminess and healthy fat to help you absorb all those vitamins and you have yourself an easy make-ahead breakfast, snack, dessert (or whatever meal you choose) that’s a little sweet, a little tart and utterly refreshing.

This vibrant and detoxifying smoothie bowl is gluten-free, grain-free, vegetarian, vegan, raw and paleo-friendly.

Ingredients

For the bowl:
• 1 large medjool date*, pitted and soaked in warm water until soft (leave out if you would prefer a lower carb version)
• ½ cup/120ml coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon/12g chia seeds
• 1 or 2 brazil nuts
• 1 small raw beet, peeled and finely chopped (or grated if you don’t have a blender)
• ½ cup/75g frozen mixed berries (I like a blend of raspberries and blueberries)
• 100g frozen acai , run under warm water to thaw slightly

For the toppings:
• 1 tablespoon/5g unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1 tablespoon/10g hemps seeds
• Sliced fresh fruit and berries

Instructions

1. Start by soaking the medjool date while you prepare peel and chop/grate the beet.
2. Place the coconut milk , chia seeds brazil nuts and drained soaked date in the blender and blend on high until smooth.
3. Add the chopped or grated beet, frozen mixed berries and slightly thawed acai packet. Blend on high, scraping down sides as necessary until thick and smooth.
4. Serve immediately in shallow bowls with toppings or as a smoothie in a tall glass. Alternatively you can prepare the bowl ahead of time the night before and keep the bowl covered without the topping in the fridge overnight.
 
Content and image sourced from Gourmande In The Kitchen

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