Thick Mango Smoothie Bowl (No Banana)

Made without any banana, this thick mango smoothie bowl is pure, tropical mango goodness. Learn how to make it in just 5 minutes with 3 simple ingredients. Vegan, gluten free and soy free.

Why You’ll Love This Smoothie Bowl

• Juicy mango flavour
• Supports gut health
• High in antioxidants

This thick mango smoothie bowl is the ultimate tropical treat! The texture is super thick, perfect for adding your favourite toppings and enjoying with a spoon. It’s creamy and smooth, almost like a sorbet! Most mango smoothie bowls contain frozen banana, but this recipe is a great banana-free version. Perfect for those who dislike banana and mango lovers alike!

Mango is an amazing fruit for smoothie bowls with because it contains a unique antioxidant called mangiferin. Mangiferin helps to lower the oxidative stress load in the body, reduce radical cell damage and lower the risk of chronic diseases. Mango fruit is also anti-inflammatory and encourages a healthy balance of good gut bacteria. This is due to the enzymes and high fibre content found in mangos. Including mangos in your diet on a regular basis is the best way to reap these protective benefits.

Almond butter and coconut milk give this smoothie bowl a creaminess that plain blended mango would not create. It doesn’t take much of these ingredients to transform the consistency! Almond butter adds healthy fat to this mango smoothie bowl. By combining a good source of fat with the frozen mango the smoothie bowl becomes more satiating.

Ingredients Needed

These are the ingredients you will need to make this thick mango smoothie bowl.

Frozen mango: The star ingredient! Creates the thick, cold base of the smoothie bowl. Use frozen mango chunks purchased from a store or freeze your own at home.

Almond butter: Adds a rich creaminess when combined with the frozen ingredients. Unsalted varieties work best in this recipe.

Coconut milk: The liquid that brings all of the other ingredients together to blend smoothly and adds a smooth consistency. Use the type of coconut milk found in cartons as the coconut milk in cans tends to be too thick.

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

Add protein powder

To make this smoothie bowl a high protein treat simply add 1-2 scoops of your favourite vegan protein powder to the blender. Some protein powder flavours that go well with mango are vanilla, chocolate, berry, and of course plain. Other high protein add-ins are hemp seeds, peanut butter, oats, vegan greek yogurt and silken tofu.

Almond butter substitutions

Cashew butter and peanut butter can be used in place of almond butter in this mango smoothie bowl. Peanut butter will have a stronger taste than the other options. A great nut-free option is sunflower seed butter, which creates the same creaminess desired in this 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. Some delicious toppings for this mango smoothie bowl are mango chunks, coconut flakes, strawberries, chia seeds, granola, blueberries, quinoa puffs, cacao nibs and dried mango pieces.

Make it sweeter

Mango tends to be sweet enough on it’s own, but sometimes it’s not. This could be because it was frozen before it was fully ripe. The best way to increase the sweetness of this smoothie bowl is by adding 1-2 tablespoons of agave syrup or date syrup. A whole food option is adding 1-2 pitted medjool dates. If adding protein powder to the recipe then use a sweetened powder!

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 thick mango 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 mango instead of frozen?

To get a thick smoothie bowl that can be scooped with a spoon the fruit must be frozen. Fresh fruit will result in a (delicious) smoothie, not a smoothie bowl. Frozen mango chunks can be found at grocery stores or you can freeze your own! Let mangos ripen fully before cutting into chunks to freeze, otherwise your smoothie bowl won’t be very sweet.

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 thick, but you will have a drinkable smoothie to enjoy later.

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 a scoop or two of 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

Mango Kale Smoothie Bowl

Creamy Coconut Mango Smoothie Bowl

Vanilla Mango Protein Smoothie

Chocolate Mango Smoothie Bowl

Thick Papaya Smoothie Bowl

Save Recipe for Later