It’s impossible to ignore the hype over acai (formally written as açaí and pronounced ah-sah-EE, in case you were wondering). Plucked from 60-foot tall trees in Brazil’s Amazon River basin, these purplish, antioxidant-rich stone fruits — healthy-eating neophytes and the less precise among us will call them berries — are the It ingredient in that oh-so-Instagram-worthy superfoodie/vegan staple, the acai bowl. (As with most “super” produce, you can also drink acai as a juice or slather it on your face in the form of anti-aging cream.)
For those somehow unfamiliar, an acai bowl is a one-dish meal that includes a base of puréed acai topped with some combination of the following: diced fruit, nuts, seeds, granola, dark chocolate. Of course, there is room for experimentation — any fresh, natural, texture and nutrient-adding sweet is fair game. On the texture front, the blend resembles ice cream. It’s kind of like eating a guilt-free, extremely filling and slightly less sexy sundae.
But what it lacks in actual dairy cream, the acai bowl makes up for in health benefits and Insta-bragging rights, made more tempting by high production value. Whether they’re dining at home or feeding the health-conscious public, acai bowl enthusiasts tend to treat their creations like fine art. They pay painstaking attention to composition and color, layering and balancing their raw materials. Bright, fresh fruits are fanned into floral patterns (some accented by actual flowers), seeds and nuts sprinkled in precise diagonals. Cradling the final product is some sort of artisanal bowl, be it a repurposed flowerpot or hollowed-out coconut shell. In short, they’re total Insta-bait.
Whether you’re seeking inspiration for your own acai bowl masterpiece (many store-bought versions contain upwards of 60 grams of sugar per bowl, so kids, do try this at home), in the market for new acai bowl recipes (variety is key in maintaining one’s interest in non-fried meals) or simply in the mood for some mouth-watering superfood porn, click through the gallery above for 20 acai bowls that are almost too gorgeous to gorge on.
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Acai Bowls
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Acai Bowls #1
Take it from Netherlands-based home chef Magda: fresh raspberries, chunks of dark chocolate and florets of vegan cream (coconut cream and coconut yogurt whipped together) make for one tasty, visually arresting Sunday breakfast. Add some crunch with a sprinkle of quinoa puffs.
Image: @oatmeal_stories
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Acai Bowls #2
Don't be afraid to add some inedible flourishes to your bowl/flat lay.
Image: @fan_tasty_c
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Acai Bowls #3
And now for a maximalist acai bowl recipe. The base of this bowl is a blend of banana, mango, strawberry, acai and coconut water, the surface topped with strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, passionfruit, goji berries, cacao nibs, chia pudding, shaved coconut and, of course, pansies. For a closer look at vegan home chef Tess Begg's daily meals, follow her food and fitness-centric YouTube channel.
Image: @tessbegg
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Acai Bowls #4
There's something incredibly aesthetically pleasing about linearity. Stripe your acai bowl with blueberries, hemp seeds, coconut, cacao nibs, buckwheat and sliced banana.
Image: @sugarberrry
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Acai Bowls #5
Play with color and texture — note how the pudding is dolloped between the bright, fresh mangos and crunchy "rawnola." (P.S. If you're on the hunt for Insta-perfect, eco-friendly coconut bowls, you'll find them here.)
Image: @wholeveganpantry
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Acai Bowls #6
As far as garnishes go, you can never go wrong with a sprig of mint.
Image: @danniking95
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Acai Bowls #7
Variety is key — try to include shaved, chopped and whole elements in your bowl. (Also, how cute are those kiwi flowers? Learn how to carve them here.)
Image: @exercising_els
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Acai Bowls #8
We're beginning to notice a pattern: most of these acai bowl masters use blended frozen bananas, black and/or blueberries and the meal's stone fruit namesake as a base. The surface is where they get creative. Case in point: Nensi and Slaven Beram of Rainbow in My Kitchen's artful botanical berry bridge. (Nensi and Slaven are partners in life and plant-based dieting.)
Image: @alltheworldisgreen
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Acai Bowls #9
London-based plant-based foodie Elisa likes her acai bowls exxxtra thick. Her trick is to add a steamed and frozen small sweet potato to her banana/acai/blackberry/coconut water mix. Elisa further "indulges" with a square of dark chocolate and tiny drizzle of peanut butter. The results are photogenic AF.
Image: @happyskinkitchen
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Acai Bowls #10
Require more than a meager drizzle of PB? You're not alone.
Image: @feedingmindbodysoul
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Acai Bowls #11
This masterfully composed acai bowl can be found at Aussie brunch spot Tinker Northcote. Anyone up for a road trip?
Image: @wherewillweeat
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Acai Bowls #12
No need to stress yourself out. After all, it is just an acai bowl. A ridged surface and sprinkling of shaved coconut add texture to less elaborate compositions.
Image: @urbanfarmcy
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Acai Bowls #13
Pro tip: blending a banana, a frozen mango and a handful of frozen raspberries and blueberries with acai powder and coconut water gives you a hot pink base to work with.
Image: @berry_sunrise
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Acai Bowls #14
If you want to get extra fancy, add some chia seeds, hemp seeds, bee pollen and spirulina to the mix.
Image: @judyclee38
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Acai Bowls #15
Coming up with different ways of serving your acai pudding makes it feel a little less monotonous. A clear container affords new, multi-layered food styling possibilities.
Image: @sugarberrry
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Acai Bowls #16
At the end of the day, it's the quality and freshness of your ingredients that'll really get those mouths watering. Pick fruits that are visibly juicy.
Image: @wellofnourishment
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Acai Bowls #17
Chocolate makes everything, including acai bowls, better. For proof: Blend two frozen bananas and one cup of frozen blueberries with two tablespoons of cocoa powder and two teaspoons of acai powder. Top the mixture with strawberries, cacao nibs, coconut flakes and bee pollen. Snap a photo. Dig in.
Image: @natalyahardan
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Acai Bowls #18
The star ingredient in this acai bowl recipe is none other than...cauliflower. We hope this doesn't deter you.
For this recipe, you'll need:
1 cup of frozen cauliflower
1/2 cup of frozen blueberries
1 banana
1 cup of oat milk
2 teaspoons of acai powderBlend; crown with cranberries, blueberries and quinoa puffs; enjoy.
Image: @plantastybites
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Acai Bowls #19
Haven't you heard? Lavender is trending.
To make two portions, you'll need:
1 cup frozen cauliflower
1 cup frozen zucchini
1 ripe banana
1 cup blackberries
1 teaspoon of acai powder
2 tablespoons of flax seeds
4 tablespoons of hemp hearts
1 cup of waterBlend; top with kiwi slices, coconut shavings and blackberries; enjoy.
Image: @nutriholist
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Acai Bowls #20
...And now we're craving chocolate-dipped figs.
Image: @wildblend
