Mango Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl
This mango blue spirulina smoothie bowl is a beautiful breakfast with powerful antioxidant benefits—only 4 ingredients and a few minutes to make. Vegan, gluten free, nut free and soy free.
Why You’ll Love This Smoothie Bowl
- Tropical fruity flavour
- High in antioxidants
- Extra thick texture
This mango blue spirulina smoothie bowl is a super healthy and easy breakfast or snack option. It has a delicious, tropical taste and thick consistency perfect for eating with a spoon. Only 4 simple ingredients are needed to make this bowl!
Blue spirulina powder is what gives this smoothie bowl the beautiful shade of blue. Spirulina is a type of nutrient rich blue-green algae. Eating spirulina powder helps maintain a strong immune system and provides many essential vitamins and minerals. Be sure to use a high quality spirulina powder as very inexpensive powders are more likely to have a strong algae taste.
The base of this smoothie is made with frozen banana and mango chunks. Mango is a powerful healing fruit to include in smoothies because it contains a unique antioxidant called mangiferin. Mangiferin is only found in mango fruits and protects cells from free radical damage. Mango also contains other antioxidants like lutein, polyphenols and beta-carotene.
Ingredients Needed
These are the ingredients you will need to make this mango blue spirulina smoothie bowl.
Blue spirulina powder: The star ingredient! Use a high quality blue spirulina powder to avoid any algae taste in the smoothie bowl.
Frozen mango & banana: Creates the cold, thick base of the smoothie bowl. Make sure the fruit is ripe when frozen for a sweet tasting result.
Coconut milk: The liquid that brings all of the other ingredients together to blend smoothly and adds a creamy consistency.
For ingredient amounts and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Benefits
High fibre
Easily get more fibre in your every day diet! In addition to being generally healthy, getting enough fibre can be extremely helpful for weight loss as it helps keep you feeling full for longer, without adding calories. Fibre also helps improve our gut health.
Nutrient dense
Vegan smoothie bowls are a great way to get more nutrient rich foods in each day. By blending them into a single meal, it’s super quick, easy and fun! Choose ingredients like dark leafy greens, berries, nuts, seeds and fruits to make your smoothie bowls nutrient rich.
Quick and easy
It’s incredibly fast to make a yummy smoothie bowl. Gather your ingredients and toss them in the blending container, blend, and you’re already done! Rinse the blender container. It doesn’t get much more simple than that. Smoothie bowls rarely take more than 5 minutes to make. This makes them a great option if you find yourself short on time for a healthy meal.
Variations
Use green spirulina instead of blue
If you don’t mind your smoothie bowl being green instead of blue you can use regular spirulina powder! Just like the blue powder, make sure to use a high quality green spirulina powder to prevent any algae flavour.
Try an alternative plant milk
This recipe uses coconut milk but you can try using any plant based milk you prefer. Some alternatives include soy, almond or cashew! You can also make your own plant milk from scratch.
Adjust the consistency
If you prefer a thicker consistency you can try the recipe using a bit less liquid than what is suggested. If you want a thinner consistency, try adding a bit of extra liquid to the recipe.
Experiment with toppings
Finding the perfect combination of toppings is one of the best things about smoothie bowls. The right toppings will add wonderful texture and flavour to your already delicious smoothie base. Keep things interesting and try new toppings often!
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to blender.
- Start blending at low speed for 5-10 seconds. Increase to high speed and blend for 1-2 minutes. Use the blender tamper to push ingredients down towards the blades.
- Scoop into a bowl and add desired toppings. Serve your mango blue spirulina smoothie bowl immediately!
Prep & Blending
Add ingredients in the correct order
Always add liquid ingredients to your blender first. Then add powders, nut butters, nuts and seeds. Then add fresh greens and fresh fruit. Finally add your solid ingredients like frozen fruit. If using a small blender container with a twist on lid, reverse the order so that when you turn the container over to blend the frozen ingredients are farthest away from the blades.
Use a tamper
Push ingredients down towards the blades while blending using the tamper that comes with your blender. This helps to avoid thick smoothie bowls from getting stuck, so you don’t have to stop blending and scrape down the sides of the container.
Avoid over blending
Try to blend your smoothie bowl for less than a couple of minutes. If blended for too long, even thick smoothie bowls will become thin. This is because the heat generated by the blades and motor of the blender heat up your ingredients while they are being blended.
Use a high power blender
For smoothie bowls that have a perfectly smooth and creamy texture use a high powered blender such as a Vitamix. A Vitamix can break down any ingredients to much finer particles than standard blenders, and more nutrients are released. A high speed blender also reduces the time you need to blend your recipe, which helps keep it nice and cold.
Chill your bowl
By placing your bowl in the freezer for a few moments you can help your smoothie bowl stay cool for longer. This way it won’t start melting instantly while you are eating it. This is especially helpful if you’re in a hot climate. Pop it into the freezer while you are prepping and blending, then take it out when it’s time to pour your finished smoothie bowl!
FAQ’s
Does this blue smoothie bowl taste like algae?
No. Don’t worry, this smoothie bowl does not have any ocean taste despite the colour as long as a high quality spirulina powder is used. Very cheap blue spirulina powders may have a stronger taste. This smoothie bowl has a pleasant, sweet and mild tropical fruit flavour and pairs well with many different toppings.
Can I lose weight with smoothie bowls?
Smoothie bowls are an excellent weight loss food! This is because they are generally healthier and higher in fibre and nutrients. Due to high water content, the large volume of a smoothie bowl helps your stomach to feel satiated. And the fibre keeps you feeling full for longer, without feeling weighed down or tired.
Can smoothie bowls be refrigerated?
Smoothie bowls are best enjoyed immediately after blending, while they are freshest. However you can refrigerate most smoothie bowls for 1-2 days in an airtight container such as a jar. Be aware the consistency will not be as thick as a fresh smoothie bowl.
Can I make smoothie bowls without a high speed blender?
Yes, you can still make smoothie bowls with a regular blender. It might take more patience depending on the recipe, but it can work. Turn off the blender to scrape down the sides of the container, and secure the lid before continuing to blend. Repeat as needed. Alternatively you can add a small amount of additional liquid to the recipe, which should help.
How can I increase the protein?
If you wish for your smoothie bowl to have a higher protein content, you can simply add (more) protein powder to the recipe. Plain unsweetened plant based protein will work in any smoothie bowl. Alternatively you can try adding hemp seeds or even silken tofu.
Related
Thick Green Mango Smoothie Bowl
Thick Mango Smoothie Bowl (No Banana)
Mango Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl
Equipment
- high power blender
Ingredients
- ½ cup coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon blue spirulina powder
- 4 cup frozen mango
- 2 frozen bananas
Toppings Pictured
- mango chunks
- banana slices
- goji berries
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to blender.
- Start blending at low speed for 5-10 seconds. Increase to high speed and blend for 1-2 minutes. Use the blender tamper to push ingredients down towards the blades.
- Scoop into a bowl and add desired toppings. Serve immediately.