Check out the pic above ... Looks yum, right? Absolutely! And did you know that hiding under all these delicious toppings is a refreshing fruit-packed smoothie, perfect for the tropical climate of Jakarta.

If you aren't already acquainted with the Smoothie Bowl, then let us introduce you to this colourful and healthy treat. You are no doubt going to become life-long friends! And to further this friendship, we have developed our own recipe for a Tropical Smoothie Bowl that can be whipped up in minutes, using ingredients that are easily available here in Indonesia (see below for recipe).

Smoothie bowls are a great idea for you and your family because..

They serve as a satisfying weekend brunch or afternoon school snack that are both refreshing and nutritious.

You no longer need to worry about what to do with your excess over-ripe bananas or left over fruit - all of which spoils more quickly in a tropical climate. Before the fruit turns, chop into small pieces and freeze in clip-lock bags, ready for when you experience your next Smoothie Bowl craving.

You can hide veggies in Smoothie Bowls - grated carrot, baby spinach, kale and beetroot are just some ideas.

It teaches the kids about the benefits of each ingredient and lets them be artistic with creating their own Bowl.

Designing a Smoothie Bowl means you can experiment with tropical fruits that you may not have had a lot of exposure to previously e.g.: dragonfruit, guava and jambu air (rose apple).

You can control the amount added sugar - in fact, if you select a variety of ingredients and toppings, of which some are naturally sweet, then the addition of sweetener is not required.

ajb's Tropical Smoothie Bowl

Servings:
1 large or 2 small bowls

Ingredients

¾ cup frozen mango pieces
¾ cup frozen pineapple pieces
1 small frozen banana - chopped
½ cup coconut water

For garnish
fresh mango slices
kiwi fruit slices
2 Tbsp. shredded coconut
Cacao nibs (Optional)

Method

1. Chill serving bowls in the fridge for 20 minutes before starting.

2. Slice and prepare chosen toppings and have ready for smoothie bowl assembly.

3. In a food processor or blender, place the frozen mango, pineapple, banana and coconut water and process until smooth. You may need to stop the processing and use a plastic spatula to rearrange the ingredients for more effective blending.

4. Transfer smoothie mixture to a wide bowl and using a soup spoon, smooth over the top of mixture.

5. Arrange toppings and serve immediately.

Try keeping the kids out of the kitchen...! As soon as our kids cottoned onto the fact that I was preparing a Smoothie Bowl, they were in the kitchen with me. Their excitement at whipping up their favourite fruit combinations and then decorating their own Bowls was fantastic to see. Even better, they demolished their creations with gusto.

To make your own recipe follow these basic ratios:
1 cup frozen fruit/vegetables
1 small frozen banana
1/2 cup of liquid (some ideas include coconut water, almond milk, cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, natural yoghurt)

Some Smoothie ingredient ideas (mix and match to suit your taste):
Greens: baby spinach, avocado, spirulina, kiwifruit, mint
Orange/yellow: citrus, mango, papaya, pineapple, banana
Pink/red: dragonfruit, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, guava
White: apple, dragonfruit, ginger (in small amounts)

Our favourite local places in Jakarta to enjoy a quality Smoothie Bowl include Snctry, Berrywell and Nalu Bowls. For a sneak peek at their beautiful creations, check out our Photo Gallery below (along with contact details for these outlets)

And if you do happen to get swept up in the Smoothie Bowl craze, then refer to Instagram for more recipe ideas. In particular @smoothiebowls, @smoothiebowl and @smoothiebowlrecipes offer some enticing and creative combinations.

Wishing You Good Health and Happiness, 

BERRYWELL
Instagram: Berrywell
Internet: Berrywell

NALU BOWLS
Instagram: Nalu Bowls 
Internet: Nalu Bowls

Snctry
Instagram: Snctry
Internet: Snctry

Interested in more Tropical Fruit Ideas? Check out:

Tropical Fruits of Indonesia
Green Smoothie recipe
Rujak Buah recipe

Words: Jo Stevens Photography: a journey bespoke