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Mixed Berry Protein Smoothie Bowl

A spoonably thick berry smoothie bowl made with frozen berries, banana and Greek yogurt, topped with raspberries, seeds and almonds. The trick is very little liquid: it should hold its toppings, not sink them.

Breakfast

10

Serves 1

A thick purple berry smoothie bowl topped with fresh raspberries, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and flaked almonds

Ingredients

  • For the smoothie base
  • 150g/5oz/1 cup frozen mixed berries (such as blueberries, raspberries and strawberries)
  • 1 small ripe banana (about 80g/3oz peeled), sliced and frozen
  • 150g/5oz/⅔ cup 0% fat Greek yogurt (plain, strained)
  • 50ml/3 tbsp semi-skimmed milk (2% milk), plus a little more if needed
  • For the toppings
  • 40g/1½oz/⅓ cup fresh raspberries or blueberries
  • 1 tbsp (10g) pumpkin seeds
  • 1 tsp (5g) chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp (10g) flaked almonds (sliced almonds)

Method

  1. Freeze the banana slices for at least 4 hours, or overnight, on a plate or in a freezer bag. This is not counted in the time; frozen banana is what makes the bowl thick and creamy.
  2. Put the milk, yogurt, frozen berries and frozen banana in a blender. Leave for 2 to 3 minutes so the fruit softens slightly at the edges.
  3. Blend in short bursts, stopping to scrape down the sides and push the fruit towards the blades, until thick and smooth. Add more milk only a teaspoon at a time; too much liquid turns it into a drink. A high-speed blender or food processor works best; a standard jug blender may need up to 2 tbsp more milk.
  4. Spoon into a bowl and smooth the top. Arrange the raspberries, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and flaked almonds over it, and eat straight away, before it melts.

Why it works

A bowl has about 25g of protein and 14g of fibre for 413 calories, including all the toppings. That is about half of the 30g of fibre a day recommended for adults in the UK (US guidance is 25 to 38g, depending on age and sex), all from fruit, seeds and nuts.

Why frozen berries. Frozen blueberries and raspberries are picked and frozen ripe, cost less than fresh ones out of season, and are what makes the bowl thick and cold. Raspberries are among the highest-fibre fruits.

Toppings that do a job. Shop-bought smoothie bowls are often topped with granola, syrup and coconut flakes. Here the pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and almonds add crunch, healthy fats, magnesium and more fibre, with no added sugar.

Why it is tagged for menopause. Protein and calcium from the Greek yogurt and milk, plus plenty of fibre, make it a breakfast that keeps you full. With about 39g of carbohydrate it is not tagged for blood sugar.

For a version you can make the night before, try the chia pudding with mango and lime, or for a drink, the green protein smoothie.