Strawberry Lemonade Smoothie Bowl
This strawberry lemonade smoothie bowl is fruity, sweet and refreshing with an extra thick consistency—easy to make in just 5 minutes with a handful of simple ingredients. Vegan, gluten free, nut free and soy free.
Why You’ll Love This Smoothie Bowl
- Delicious fruity lemon taste
- Boosts immune system
- High in antioxidants
This strawberry lemonade smoothie bowl is a thick smoothie version of the classic beverage. It sounds sour but actually it’s very sweet with the lemon flavour coming through in a balanced way. Enjoy it as breakfast with granola on top or perhaps as a healthy dessert! It can easily be made high protein by adding a scoop of your favourite protein powder. Use strawberry or vanilla for the best result.
At less than 200 calories per bowl this smoothie bowl is an ideal and healthy snack option if you are trying to lose weight.
The base of this smoothie bowl is made with frozen strawberries and bananas. Strawberries are high in antioxidants and have powerful anti-inflammatory compounds called anthocyanins. Consuming strawberries regularly can help manage inflammatory diseases and lower the risk of chronic diseases. Fruits like strawberries and bananas help to lower the risk of chronic diseases if consumed often.
Lemon can help prevent kidney stones from ever forming in the first place, who knew? Lemons are antioxidant rich and packed with vitamin C, making them great for keeping skin clear and healthy. Adding lemon juice to smoothies is an easy way to strengthen immune system function.
Ingredients Needed
These are the ingredients you will need to make this strawberry lemonade smoothie bowl.
Lemon: Wash thoroughly as this recipe uses both the juice and the peel of the lemon.
Agave syrup: Adds sweetness to balance the tart taste of the lemon. Can be substituted with 2-3 medjool dates.
Frozen strawberries & banana: Creates the thick, creamy base of the smoothie bowl and adds sweetness.
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
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.
Switch base ingredients
If you don’t like bananas then try something else as the base! Mango usually substitutes banana well. If you’re allergic to or simply dislike a suggested ingredient then try to find something with a similar texture that you enjoy the flavour of. There is no wrong way to make a smoothie bowl, and you can always omit any ingredients you don’t have on hand.
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 strawberry lemonade 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
Can I use fresh strawberries instead of frozen?
If fresh strawberries are used the result will be a smoothie instead of a smoothie bowl, which is still delicious! For a thick smoothie bowl make sure to use only frozen fruits. Frozen strawberries can be found at grocery stores or you can freeze and use your own, just make sure they are completely ripe.
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
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Strawberry Lemonade Smoothie Bowl
Equipment
- high power blender
Ingredients
- ½ cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoon agave syrup
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- zest of 1 small lemon
- 3 cup frozen strawberries
- 2 frozen bananas
Toppings Pictured
- lemon slices
- strawberries
- toasted coconut flakes
- chia seeds
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.