This vivid blue spirulina smoothie bowl with tropical fruit is a refreshing and nutrient dense breakfast to beat the summer heat!
Instagram loves smoothie bowls lately.
They come in a variety of beautiful colors and you can get super creative with the toppings so they are perfect for those Insta pics.
But I mean what’s not to love about a super nutritious smoothie that you can eat with a spoon?
Smoothie bowls are just a more fun and filling version of something that’s already great.
This particular smoothie bowl gets it vibrant aqua color from the superfood algae spirulina!
Related: Blue Spirulina Mermaid Lemonade
Wait did I just say I put an algae in my smoothie?
Before you change recipes let me explain what spirulina tastes like!
What Does Spirulina Taste like?
Spirulina has a slightly fishy taste and smell but this is easily covered up in a smoothie.
But blue spirulina is just an extract of a certain blue-green protein pigment called ‘phycocyanin’ from the spirulina algae.
I only have experience using Blue Majik spirulina from E3 Live, so I can’t speak for all blue spirulina powders, but this one has no taste.
The flavor of this blue spirulina is complete neutral, no fishy taste whatsoever!
How do you thicken a smoothie bowl?
There’s a few key differences to making a smoothie vs. a smoothie bowl that you will want to keep in mind.
Here’s a couple tips to help you get that perfectly thick and creamy smoothie bowl every time:
- Use as little liquid as needed to get the blending started. About 1/4 cup
- Only use frozen fruits
- Add bananas or avocado for a creamier texture
- Use a high speed blender like a Vitamix
My Vitamix blender is the real secret to the perfect smoothie bowl.
There’s a couple of reasons that you always see smoothie bowls made in a Vitamix.
First of all, they are so powerful that you are able to blend everything together while using just a tiny amount of liquid.
But Vitamix blenders also come with a tamper which basically allows you to stir and push things towards the blades without stopping the blender.
If you love smoothie bowls as much as I do, you should really consider getting a Vitamix blender.
I recommend this Vitamix as the best bang for your buck.
You can also check this list of the best Vitamix blenders to find one that perfectly suits your lifestyle and needs!
How To Make a
Blue Smoothie Bowl
Wash and dry all fresh produce. Peel bananas and cube mango.
Freeze the spinach, bananas, and mango. Using only frozen ingredients will help keep the smoothie bowl thick and creamy.
Add the frozen fruit, and spinach to a high speed blender and blend on high.
Add enough coconut milk to get blending started, if you add too much liquid the smoothie bowl will be too thin.
Once the blending has started and things are starting to combine, add in spirulina powder and any other superfood boosts of your choice.
Once the smoothie is thick and creamy, pour into a bowl and top with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Customize your smoothie bowl
Whether you’re having a matcha smoothie bowl, a tropical acai bowl, or this blue spirulina bowl, smoothie bowls are all about the customization.
From the toppings to added nutritional boosts, you can really make a smoothie bowl your own.
Here’s a few of my favorite customizations:
Toppings
- Granola
- Fresh Fruit
- Chia Seeds
- Shredded Coconut
Want to take your health to the next level? Blend in some additional superfoods depending on the health benefits you are looking for!
SuperFood Boosts
- Maca
- Reishi Mushrooms
- Matcha
- Baobab
Or try these other 17 best superfoods for smoothies!
Smoothies are the perfect way to sneak in some extra protein into your diet. Blend these protein rich foods right into your smoothie bowl.
Protein Boosts
- Almond Butter
- Hemp Seed
- Oats
- Plant-Based Protein Powder
I like to add protein powder to my smoothies to really boost my protein intake and to make them more filling.
My protein of choice is a plant-based blend from Gainful.
Gainful creates personalized protein blends based on your needs whether that is to lose weight, gain muscle, etc.
Nutrition is a very personal science, what works for one person may not work for you and protein is no exception to this rule.
That’s why I love Gainful’s tailor made protein blends.
Take your free protein quiz to determine what proteins are best suited for you!
Is Blue Spirulina Good For You?
Remember that phycocyanin I was talking about earlier?
It turns out this blue pigment protein found in spirulina is more than just a beautiful natural food dye.
Blue Spirulina Benefits
Spirulina itself is one of the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet and boasts an impressive protein content.
But spirulina also has some other health benefits that come primarily from the blue pigment phycocyanin.
Here’s a look at what phycocyanin (blue spirulina) can do for our bodies!
- Healthy Inflammation Responses: Phycocyanin has been shown to inhibit the over-production of inflammatory signal molecules, resulting in reduced inflammation and a healthier inflammatory response. [1]
- Anti-Oxidative Protection: Studies found that phycocyanin could be used to protect against oxidative stress and cellular damage. [2] Oxidative stress is involved in age related diseases like cardiovascular disease, neurodegenarative diseases, and certain cancers. [3]
- Anti-Diabetic Function: Phycocyanin has shown very promising results for its ability to lower blood sugar levels and enhance insulin sensitivity, even outperforming diabetes drugs like Metformin in mice. [4] It was also shown to significantly reduce blood sugar levels in a study of people with type 2 diabetes, although more human studies need to be done. [5]
Yup, this blue spirulina stuff is pretty impressive.
So next time someone questions you for putting algae in your smoothie, just send them to this recipe!
Want more superfood smoothies?
Looking for more healthy and delicious smoothies? You might also like these:
Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl
- Author: Kailey
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 bowl 1x
Description
A vivid blue spirulina smoothie bowl with tropical fruit makes for a refreshing and nutrient dense breakfast to beat the summer heat!
Ingredients
Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl
- 2 Bananas, frozen
- 1 1/2 cups Mango, cubed and frozen
- 1 cup Spinach
- 1/4 cup Coconut Milk, as needed to get blending started
- 1 tsp Blue Spirulina (I use this brand)
Toppings (optional)
- Kiwi, sliced
- Mango, cubed
- Shredded Coconut
- Chia Seeds
Superfood Boosts (optional)
- 1 tsp Maca Powder
- 1 tbsp Matcha Powder
Instructions
- Wash and dry fresh produce. Peel bananas and cube mango. Freeze the spinach, bananas, and mango.
- Add the frozen fruit and spinach to a high speed blender and blend on high. Add enough coconut milk to get blending started, if you add too much the smoothie bowl will be too thin.
- Once blending has started, add in spirulina powder and any other superfood boosts of your choice. Once combined, pour into a bowl and top with your favorite toppings.
- Enjoy!
- Category: smoothie
Keywords: blue spirulina smoothie bowl, blue smoothie bowl, blue spirulina smoothie
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