Acaí Bowls are a great thing to learn how to make at home. This acaí bowl recipe will save you money and the best part is you get to customize the bowls exactly how you like them with all the toppings. I like to top them with tons of fruit, shredded coconut and a sprinkling of hemp seeds.

This past weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to the opening of Smorgasburg! If you’re unfamiliar, here’s the lowdown: Smorgasburg originally started in NY but has moved to LA, where every single Sunday you can head to The Row in downtown Los Angeles and try some of the city’s best food vendors.

My favorites were:Bub and Grandma’s Bread (best bread in da city)
Nana’s Pops (chocolate + banana)
Ugly Drum (their BBQ is so bomb)
Birria from Burritos Las Palma
Amazebowls

Where does acaí come from?

Acaí is a berry that hails from Brazil. It’s about an inch-long and is a deep purple color. It derives from the acaí palm tree which is native to Central and South America, but most commonly found in Brazil.

What texture of acaí is good for bowls?

These acaí bowls are inspired by the Amazebowls that I had at Smorgasburg. It was SO hot that day and the first thing I ate was one of these bowls and they hit da spot. The thing that made them really good was the texture of the acai. It shouldn’t be super soupy; it should be on the thicker side. Kind of like a wonderfully textured smoothie. You want it thiccck!

The ones you see in these photos are slightly more watery than I would have liked. I think that’s what happens when you’re trying to shoot acai bowls on a super hot day. :/ It was maybe 100 degrees on this shoot day. And phew! It was a learning lesson.

What to top acaí bowls with:

Top these with everything your heart desires. I topped mine with a lot:

coconut
chia seeds
raspberries
figs
flowers
and bee pollen.

Honestly the more stuff, the better. The different textures and fruit make it so much more tasty than just plain ol’ acaí.

And if you live in LA, you should def visit Amazebowls. If you don’t, then definitely make these and plan a trip to LA soon! Isn’t the coconut so pretty! The best part is that you can scoop out the fresh coconut flesh and eat it after you’ve eaten all the Acai!

How to Open Coconuts:

You don’t HAVE to eat these in coconuts. Of course, that’s what makes them so dang pretty. If you’re not that tropical and have never opened a coconut before, it’s super easy, just follow the directions in this video.

Where to Buy Acaí?

The acaí packs that I really like are made by Sambazon, straight from the Brazilian amazon.

How to Make Acaí Bowls at Home:

First, Blend! The base of acaí bowls is really so easy, just blend a pack of acaí in a blender with either almond milk or coconut water to help smooth it out to the right consistency.
Then, Scoop! After it’s been blended just scoop out the acaí into bowls or coconut halves.
Top! Top the bowls with whatever your heart desires.