¡No te pierdas nada!

Recibe los últimos post y contenido exclusivo en tu correo. Nada de spam. Prometido.

AÇAÍ: WHAT IS IT, AND WHAT CAN YOU MAKE WITH IT?

Estimated reading time: 3 minute(s)

You probably have seen this word tagged in many posts but might still be unsure of what exactly it is. You might be wondering, can a fruit have such a rosy color? The answer is yes, and it comes from the Açaí Palm! Although it’s not very well known in Spain, it’s becoming popular with the “fitness” crowd. Açaí comes from Brazil, only grows in very humid environments, and looks very similar to blueberries. In fact, the Açaí Palm tree is usually found near rivers and is widespread throughout the Amazon.

Açaí berries have a higher portion of seeds compared to its pulp. This is why it’s not recommended to eat them directly, as we would with a blueberry or raspberry, but rather processed in a way that takes advantage of all its nutritional properties. It is in fact the pulp of the fruit that gives dishes with Açaí their famous color.  

One Of The Healthiest Fruits 

Acai is known for its high content of proteins and vegetable fats, in addition to having great antioxidants that make it a perfect option to prevent cells from aging. As a matter of fact, it has much more antioxidant power than other products that we traditionally associate with this property such as red wine. It’s also important to point out that it also provides calcium to the body.

  • Omega 3, 6 and 9 which are essential fatty acids that protect against cardiovascular diseases
  • Vitamins A and C that strengthen the immune system
  • Vegetable proteins that help lower cholesterol
  • High in Fiber that leaves you feeling full and energized 

The Best Way To Get Your Hands On Some Açaí

As we mentioned before Açaí isn’t a fruit that is eaten raw, it needs to be treated so that only the pulp remains. This is a process that is done directly by the manufacturer so the best way to get in in Spain, is either in the form of powder or pulp. If you opt for the powder form, using it is quite simple as it’s just like when we use Oats or Cacao in our smoothies, bowls, and yogurt. All you need to do is add in some liquid like water or milk so that the powder dissolves properly.

The other option is to buy packages of already crushed pulp or to crush it at home. This is great to always have Açaí on hand since once crushed, it can be frozen. That way it’s got a great texture and is ready to throw into a dessert at any time. So, what’s the best way to use Açaí this way? Smoothies. Fruit smoothies with that frozen Açaí will give it a great texture and color. 

Açaí In The Kitchen: From Breakfast Bowls To Smoothies 

The flavor of açaí goes great with chocolate, actually many people say the taste of this fruit reminds them of cacao. Making this a wonderful idea for a sponge cake, mixing Açaí pulp with Pure Cacao Powder and Chocolate flavored Oat Flour. To make it even easier, check out this delicious recipe for a Mugcake.  It takes just 5 minutes to prepare all the ingredients and only 2 minutes to cook in the microwave, and voila you’ve got a yummy dish ready to eat!

And, if you had a teaspoon of protein powder you’ve got an even healthier sweet treat.  Açaí can be eaten with other fruits as well like apricots. You can make Strawberry and Açaí fruit cakes, or pancakes. Be sure to take the Açaí out of the freezer beforehand if you want to mix it into a dough as it will be easier to do so. Also, if you are using powdered Açaí remember it must be dissolved in water or milk, preferably a plant-based one.   

As we said above, one of the best ways to incorporate Açaí into your diet is through a smoothie. If you want a refreshing and thick texture put frozen açaí directly into your blender. If you’d like it to have a more runny texture then let it defrost a bit more beforehand. The really important thing is to remember to use the fruit whole in order to reap all their nutritional properties. To get a super appetizing pink smoothie for the whole family, especially your children, you can combine the acai with figs or strawberriesAçaí Smoothie, with figs and banana in another wonderful option to introduce you to the world of Açaí. 

  • 1 tbsp of Powdered Açaí
  • 2 Frozen bananas 
  • 3 Whole Figs 
  • 2 tbsps of Greek Yogurt 
  • A Splash of Water or Almond Milk (or whatever plant-based milk you prefer) 

Of course, we can’t leave out the star dish of Açaí: Breakfast bowls. Açaí Bowls with natural granola and fruit are the best way to start the day. Keeping in mind that many people make mistakes when it comes to their breakfast as they often eat cereals or jams that seem natural but are actually loaded with refined sugars. Natural Granola, whole fruit, and plant-based milks create a filling and energizing breakfast that is sure to get you through the day. What’s more, is the beautiful rose color from the Açaí makes this bowl 100% Instagram-able. 

Have we given you some ideas on how you can add Açaí into your diet? Are you brave enough to try this unknown fruit, full of antioxidants, proteins, vegetable fats, and fiber? It’s arguably one of the favorite fruits of anyone who cares about healthy eating, or athletes who need energy and food that enhance their muscles, it will surely win you over too!

 

Natruly
Post author
Natruly

Leave me a comment and we chat

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

sígueme en Instagram