This thick and satisfying maqui berry smoothie bowl is loaded with inflammation-fighting antioxidants and offers the perfect combo of macronutrients without a ton of sugar.
The first of which is wild maqui powder, an antioxidant-rich powder made from wild maqui berries. Maqui berries grow naturally in Chile, have a deep purple hue and a sweet, but tart taste that’s similar to that of blackberries. These little berries are abundant in a specific class of powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins, which protect against free radicals and help tame inflammation in the body. The antioxidant value of maqui berries has been found to be almost 3 to 4 times more than that of acai berries making it one of the most antioxidant-dense foods in the world.
Maqui Berry Smoothie
Knowing this about maqui berries, I think we’ll be hearing lots more about them in the near future. Don’t be surprised if you see a maqui berry smoothie bowl on the menu at your local juice/smoothie shop next time you stop in.
As I’m sure you’ve noticed, most smoothies are loaded with high-sugar fruit. This fruit makes the smoothie taste sweet and delicious but also tends to raise our blood sugar levels and cause a crash later in the day.
Oftentimes I see these huge smoothie bowls on Instagram that are full of sugary fruits and piled high with toppings. Although they’re beautiful it’s not really promoting healthy portions. Literally, I’ve seen whole protein bars chopped and put on top of a smoothie. Riddle me this — are people really eating these crazy bowls? No one really knows.
Luckily the two fruits we’re using in this maqui berry smoothie bowl don’t have a ton of sugar so that won’t happen here. As for the toppings, we’re using banana slices, a couple fresh berries, a maca superfood granola, unsweetened shredded coconut, goji berries, cacao nibs and a drizzle of nut butter. Of course you can add whatever toppings you have on hand. Just be mindful as you add them.
As for the texture… I like my smoothie bowls like rap guys like their ladies — thick! 😉 Seriously though, one of my biggest pet peeves at juice shops is liquid-y smoothie bowls. If I wanted a thin smoothie, I would have ordered a regular smoothie with a straw. Smoothie bowls should be THICK.
Since we’re not using a ton of frozen fruit for this bowl, the frozen cauliflower rice is what gives this smoothie bowl a thick texture and adds all that good fiber. Of course, the maqui berry powder and blueberries help with this too!
This recipe, which we loaded into one bowl for photos, typically serves two. You can make the full batch and save one portion for later, share with a friend (notice the two spoons) or simply halve the recipe if you only need one portion. I’ve done that several times and the smoothie still turns out perfectly.
I’ve made this smoothie bowl four times since coming up with the recipe a couple weeks ago so it’s definitely going to be a summer staple over here. I simply can’t get over how satisfying it is. I can literally have this smoothie bowl for breakfast and I won’t start to feel hungry for at least 3-4 hours. The combo of protein, healthy fat and fiber gives it major staying power!
How To Make Maqui Berry Smoothie
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 cup frozen cauliflower
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 Tablespoon coconut butter (almond butter works too)
- 2 scoops vanilla protein powder
- 2 Tablespoons wild maqui berry powder
- toppings of choice: goji berries, superfood maca granola, cacao nibs, unsweetened shredded coconut, chia seeds and fresh fruit
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add ingredients into a high powered blender in the order listed and blend until smooth and creamy. Add more almond milk if you want the texture to be thinner. Serve in a bowl with your favorite toppings.
