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Classic Banzai Bowls

It’s SOOO FRESH.

classic banzai bowls \\ immaEatThat

Every single time I eat something fried (i.e. sweet potatoes fries or tortilla chips or that crunchayyy topping that comes on sushi), I say, “I NEED something fresh?!” And then Andrew rolls his eyes because he gets annoyed when I say that because I say it a lot.

But sometimes you just need something fresh. According to my favorite Italian (aka my future brother-in-law), it’s a very Italian thing to finish a meal with fruit. So I think this is just me trying to be more cultured and whatnot.

classic banzai bowl \\ immaEatThat

So this here is like the freshest thing.

It’s filled with fruit and then topped with more fruit.  So fresh.  And while I used milk in the recipe, I imagine that if you used coconut water instead this would come out fresher-er. 

I haven’t had coconut water in a while.  I can only handle the Zico chocolate kind.  What are your coconut water thoughts?  I bet I would like it if I was drinking it out of an actual coconut while on a beach in Hawaii while posing for a picture to post to instagram…all the while making life look overly fabulous.  Such is social media.

classic banzai bowls \\ immaEatThat

A couple weekends ago I went crazy over banzai bowls in a can’t stop won’t stop type of way.  I think it may have had something to do with the fact that I hadn’t had granola in a while.  It is so delicious.  How can something be that delicious?

classic banzai bowls \\ immaEatThat

Now the smoothie part of these banzai bowls aren’t quite as acai-colored as your typical banzai bowl.  I blame that on the fact that my grocery store only sold acai juice mixed with blueberry and apple juice…so that led to a lighter colored smoothie.  Either way it’s so fresh that you’re gonna love it. 

And acai has a high level on antioxidants (you know, one of the health promoting components in other dark colored fruits/veggies/legumes like blueberries, pomegranates, red kidney beans, artichokes and…umm, dark chocolate).

So if you want to had a few dark chocolate shavings to the top of this…that is fine. 

classic banzai bowls-4

If your thoughts are something like, “this is just a smoothie with toppings…I’m so over it.” 

You are right, it is just a smoothie with toppings.  AND I LOVE IT!!!!(!)

And now I have every intention of making eighty variations of it.  But we needed to get this more classic version out of the way before we get crazy. 

classic banzai bowls \\ immaEatThat

Classic Banzai Bowl

The most refreshing breakfast or lunch idea.

Yield: serves 2

Prep Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

Ingredients:

Smoothie

1 large frozen banana

2/3 cup milk (or more to get everything blending)

2/3 cup 100% acai juice, frozen in ice cube trays (I used a acai-blueberry-apple juice, just make sure it has no added sugar)

1/2 cup frozen strawberries

1/4 cup ice cubes

Toppings

1/2 cup granola (I used Nature's Path)

1/2 a banana, sliced

1/2 cup blackberries

1/4 cup shredded coconut, unsweetened

1 tablespoon honey, drizzled over top

Directions:

In a blender combine all smoothie ingredients until smooth.  Divide between two bowls and evenly divide the toppings between the bowls.  DIG IN.

classic banzai bowls-10

 

12 comments

  1. I’m getting psyched for smoothie season… I just need it to not snow on friday :/ The only ice is need is smoothie ice! PS if you look at the frozen fruit section in Whole Foods they have acai packets that I love to use.

  2. I make something similar for breakfast in the morning during the summer and it is sooooo good!  Acai bowls are addicting!

  3. Drooooooling!! I once bought a coconut to drink out of while I was in Hawaii because I thought it looked so cool, yeah I had one sip and gagged because I hated it so much hahah. I’m still not a fan of coconut water, but I try.

  4. i say that quite often too..esp after a vacation i want nothing but big thing of greens and fruits. this looks wonderful and so refreshing! 

  5. Smoothies are 1000 x better with ALL the toppings!

  6. I do the same thing needing freshness with my greasy food! I think it’s a natural thing so we shouldn’t feel too weird. ;)

    I might have missed it..but why is it called a bonsai bowl??

    • Amanda! I have no idea why they’re called banzai bowls lol. But I ate at this restaurant called Banzai Bowls and this was all they served and I’ve heard other people calling acai smoothies topped with toppings “bonzai bowl”…so I think it’s a thing haha

  7. YUM! So fresh and summery.. I am making this as soon as my magic bullet is replaced.. yes, I broke it.. or maybe it stopped working. It stopped working. We will go with that.

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