Strawberry Smoothie Bowl without Banana
Beat the summer heat with a luscious strawberry smoothie bowl without banana. Strawberry season may have passed for many but frozen strawberries are a cost-effective, convenient, and tasty way to enjoy strawberries picked at the peak of ripeness year-round. This delicious smoothie bowl recipe is dairy free, gluten free, and high protein.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
There are several reasons why you should make a strawberry smoothie bowl.
- Smoothie Bowls are Easy and Quick to Prepare: Enjoy this as a quick and healthy breakfast, snack, or dessert! Yes, dessert, I love to whip up one of these when I am craving ice cream.
- This recipe is customizable and versatile: You can use this recipe as a base for many other smoothie bowl variations. If it’s peak blueberry season, use this recipe to create a Berry Smoothie bowl!
- This Recipe is Beautiful: Smoothie bowls are visually appealing. From the vibrant colors of the smoothies to the colors and textures in the assortment of toppings, smoothie bowls are a treat for the eyes.
What is a Smoothie Bowl
Smoothie Bowls are thick cold smoothie bases usually comprised of at least one fruit (frozen or fresh) and a liquid base. If the fruit used in the smoothie bowl is fresh, ice is added to give the smoothie base a cool, thick consistency. Many smoothie bowl recipes include frozen banana for thickness and added sweetness however I do not include frozen bananas in this Strawberry Smoothie Bowl variation.
Smoothie bowls then have a variety of toppings added to them. From fresh fruit, to nuts/seeds, to crunchy granola, and even edible flowers, smoothie bowl topping options are seemingly endless.
Recipe Ingredients for Strawberry Smoothie Bowl
Smoothie Base
Frozen Strawberries: I prefer to use frozen strawberries in this recipe to keep the smoothie base super thick.
Soy Milk: I use a bit less of the liquid in my smoothie bowl base. This allows for a super thick smoothie bowl. I keep this smoothie dairy-free however, you could also use another non-dairy milk of choice like or almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk.
Favorite Protein Powder: I love to use vanilla protein powder in this recipe. I usually include a protein supplement in my smoothies. It aids in the feeling of fullness but also ensures I am eating enough protein throughout the day. Keep this a vegan Strawberry Smoothie Bowl by using a plant-based protein powder.
Vanilla Extract: For a little bit for more flavor.
Dates: Option to omit this ingredient however, I always add 1-2 dates for a more natural sweetness and those deep caramel flavors. The addition of dates keeps this recipe free of added sugar. However, if you do not have dates and need a little extra sweetness, I use maple syrup.
Optional Ingredients – Yogurt, coconut yogurt, frozen cauliflower florets, or collagen powder.
Smoothie Toppings
Below are some of my favorite toppings for this recipe. Need some smoothie bowl topping ideas? Check out the list below or my article called Smoothie Bowl Toppings.
- Fresh Fruit: I use freshly sliced bananas and strawberries for some fruit toppings in my smoothie bowls. Other fruit would taste marvelous like blueberries, peaches, or cherries.
- Nuts/seeds: I like to include a dose of healthy fats by using whatever nuts I have on hand that I am “vibing” with. I like sliced almonds, chopped pecans, shredded coconut, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, or even a bit of drizzled nut butter like cashew butter.
- Granola: I love adding a bit of granola to my smoothies bowls, store-bought or homemade. I just love that crunch.
- Other: For this recipe in particular I enjoy other add-ins like cocoa nibs. You may also enjoy dried fruit (such as dried goji berries or cherries), cinnamon, bee pollen, or fresh herbs such as mint.
How to Make This Thick Strawberry Smoothie Bowl without Banana
To make a Strawberry Smoothie Bowl you will need a high-powered blender. I prefer using a Vitamix Blender. Vitamix blenders are an investment but they last a very long time. Vitamix’s are also easy to use and clean.
For more information about why you may consider investing in a Vitamix, check out Eat Drink and Save Money’s article called 5 Reasons Vitamix is Worth The Money.
For the Smoothie Base
Start with the liquids and add all of the ingredients to a blender. Using a spoon or blender tamper, blend and stir until combined. Note that the consistency will be thicker than a standard drinkable smoothie.
For the Smoothie Toppings
Transfer the smoothie into a bowl of your choice. Garnish with preferred toppings like sliced strawberries, coconut flakes, cocoa nibs, granola, or any other toppings that appeal to you!
Smoothie Bowl Recipe Variations
Smoothie bowls make the best breakfast bowl! Below are 5 examples of other smoothie bowl ideas with simple ingredients and topping combinations you could try at home.
- Acai Bowls: A acai smoothie base blending acai, berries, and maybe banana, with fresh berries, peanut butter drizzle, and granola.
- Peanut Butter Banana: A banana smoothie bowl base with blueberries sprinkled over the tip, sliced almonds, cacao nibs, chocolate chips, and coconut flakes.
- Blueberry Smoothie Bowl: A berry smoothie base (mostly blueberries) with sliced banana, almond butter drizzle, and chia seeds.
- Watermelon Smoothie Bowl: A watermelon smoothie base with lime and topped with coconut flakes.
- Pina Colada: A pineapple and coconut water smoothie base sprinkled with chopped pineapple, chopped cherries, coconut flakes, and some edible flowers.
- Banana Strawberry Smoothie Bowl: A strawberry Banana Smoothie base topped with sliced fresh strawberries, bananas, and other favorite fruit toppings.
For more Smoothie Bowl inspiration, check out my new article all about Smoothie Bowl Toppings.
Health Benefits of Smoothie Bowls
Consuming this strawberry smoothie bowl, or any smoothie bowl has a variety of health benefits. Strawberries and other fruit and berries have antioxidants to help protect the body against oxidative stress and inflammation thus promoting overall wellbeing.
Smoothie bowls have fiber which aids in digestion and supports a healthy gut. Furthermore, there are numerous vitamins and minerals present in smoothie bowls. These contribute to a strong immune system.
My smoothie bowls also have a dose of protein from the toppings and protein powder I supplement the smoothie base with. Protein aids in satiety and appetite control, blood sugar management and regulation, as well as aiding in muscle repair and growth.
I love consuming a hydrating and protein-packed fruit smoothie after a long and grueling workout. I feel good knowing that smoothie is helping me get the nutrition I need to recover and nail my next workout!
FAQ about Smoothie Bowls (Ask a Dietitian!)
How do you thicken a smoothie bowl?
Ice is a great way to thicken a smoothie bowl. Notice the smoothie is a bit thin and water, add a bit of ice.
A preemptive measure to ensure your smoothie bowl is thick, use less liquid while also using frozen fruit.
By utilizing a spoon or blender temper you can help the blender along by manually mixing your ingredients in addition to the blender blending.
Are smoothie bowls actually healthy?
Yes, smoothie bowls are actually healthy. Keep in mind, they can be loaded with sugar or even added sugars depending on the ingredients used in the recipe. However, if you use the natural sugars in the fruit to provide the sweetness of the smoothie, you can keep the sugar amount low.
Supplementing a smoothie with protein powder or other additions like flax meal, chia seeds, hemp hearts, or other seeds can add additional protein and fiber important for a well-balanced diet.
Additionally, smoothie bowls are full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals essential for a healthy lifestyle.
Why is my smoothie bowl so watery?
Your smoothie bowl might be watery for several reasons.
- Adding to too much liquid: Too much liquid like milk or juice, can cause the smoothie to become watery.
- Adding too few thickening ingredients: Some of these thickening ingredients include thick Greek yogurt, avocado, nut butter, silken tofu, rolled oats, chia seeds, or flax meal.
- Not using frozen fruits: Frozen fruits help create a thicker consistency in smoothie bowls.
- Over-blending: Over-blending the smoothie bowl base can increase smoothie heat which can cause the ingredients to liquefy quicker. Try blending just until the ingredients are combined.
- The ingredient ratios are off: The ratio of ingredients is key for a thick smoothie bowl base. Consider adjusting the ingredient ratio by adding less liquid.
**Often, I take a smoothie recipe in which I aim to have a ratio of 1 cup liquid to 1 cup frozen fruit and reduce the liquid to 3/4 cup. You can always add more liquid a little at a time if the smoothie is too thick and unable to blend.
Other Recipes you will Enjoy
This is the first of many smoothie bowl recipes to come. I already have many smoothie recipes you will love. Use them as a smoothie or make it into a smoothie bowl. Check out the following recipes and articles.
How To Make Panera Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe
Strawberry Smoothie Bowl
Equipment
- 1 Blender
Ingredients
Strawberry Smoothie Base
- 1½ cups unsweetened soymilk
- 2 cups frozen strawberries
- 3 tbsp vegan vanilla protein powder
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 dates
Smoothie Bowl Toppings
- option to include fresh sliced strawberries, fresh sliced banana, coconut flakes, granola, nuts, seeds, cocao nibs. ingredients not included in estimated nutrition facts for this recipe
Instructions
- Start with the liquids and add all of the ingredients to a blender. Using a spoon or blender tamper, blend and stir until combined. The consistency will be thicker than a typical drinkable smoothie.
- Pour smoothie into your desired bowl. Top with desired ingredients and enjoy.
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!
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