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    Home » Gluten-Free

    Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl

    January 3, 2022 by Agnieszka 17 Comments

    32 shares
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    blue smoothie bowl topped with blueberries, raspberries and sliced bananas

    This Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl is packed with nutrients from fruit, veggies, nut butter and spirulina. If you’re in for a nutritious and beautiful breakfast, snack or treat, this mesmerizing blue bowl is for you. It is vegan, paleo and gluten-free.

    blue spirulina smoothie bowl in a coconut bowl topped with sliced banana, raspberries and blueberries.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • Only 5 ingredients
    • This smoothie bowl uses a whole cup of hidden vegetables (zucchini)
    • It is luxuriously thick and creamy
    • It can be eaten as a healthy breakfast, snack or dessert
    • Vegan, paleo (see Special Diets notes below) and gluten free
    • Kid-friendly! Who doesn’t like blue ice-cream?

    If you’re into smoothie bowls, make sure to also check out my recipe for an ultra creamy Vanilla Coconut Smoothie Bowl (vegan vanilla ice-cream) or my summary Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp Smoothie Bowl. Or, try my refreshing green Spinach Cucumber Smoothie.

    Ingredient notes

    blue spirulina smoothie bowl ingredients in small round containers on white marble surface.
    • Frozen Banana: for best results, use a banana that’s overripe (lots of brown spots on the skin). Slice the banana and freeze flat on a cookie sheet. Store in a ziplock bag until ready the use.
    • Frozen Zucchini: one small to medium zucchini is what you’ll need. Freeze it in the same way as banana – lay the slices flat on a baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour before using.
    • Nut Butter: use whatever nut butter you like or have on hand. I use all-natural peanut butter but cashew or almond butter will also work.
    • Plant Milk: unsweetened almond milk is my go to but any sugar free plant-based or dairy milk will be great, too (coconut, soy, oat or hemp milk).
    • Blue Spirulina: also known as Blue Majik, this powdered algae is a great alternative to artificial food coloring. Read more about health benefits of blue spirulina below.

    What is blue spirulina

    Blue spirulina is a blue green algae that lives in ponds and lakes and is known for its super bright blue color (thanks to the blue pigment called Phycocyanin that’s extracted and isolated). Unlike green spirulina, the blue kind does not have a fishy taste. In fact, it has virtually no flavor at all. In other words, the blue and green spirulina come from the same species of algae but through the process of extracting and isolating the blue pigment, blue spirulina powder loses the oceanic (fishy) flavor, while maintaining the same nutritional value.

    blue spirulina ingredients in a high powered blender, overhead look.

    Spirulina is a superfood believed to have many health benefits, some of which include:

    • Increase energy and performance
    • Lower high blood pressure
    • Improve digestion
    • Good source of protein
    • High in antioxidants (may help fight cancer)

    Tips for a thick and creamy smoothie bowl

    There is a major difference between a smoothie bowl and a regular smoothie. Unlike a smoothie, smoothie bowls are NOT meant to be drunk but eaten with a spoon and therefore must be thick and creamy. The best kind of a smoothie bowl resembles the texture of ice-cream but if you’ve ever tried making one, you may have ended up with a thick smoothie that’s nonetheless still liquid. Been there, done that!

    For a lusciously thick and creamy smoothie, follow a couple of golden smoothie bowl rules:

    • All fruit and veggies should be frozen solid in slices or small chunks.
    • Use creamy fruit. That’s essential for achieving a creamy texture. Bananas are always my number 1 but other “creamy” fruit include peaches or mangoes.
    blue spirulina smoothie bowl blended in a high powered blender, overhead view.

    Serving suggestions

    Serve your smoothie bowl in a bowl of your choice. My favorite smoothie bowl vessel is this nifty bowl made of natural coconut shell.

    To make your smoothie bowl fun, top it with fresh fruit, nuts, seeds or chocolate. Here are some suggestions for a Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl toppings:

    • Fresh berries: sliced strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or raspberries
    • Sliced banana
    • Chocolate chips or cacao nibs
    • Nuts: chopped walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, almonds or cashews
    • A drizzle of nut butter
    • Shredded unsweetened coconut
    • Hemp hearts or chia seeds
    blue spirulina smoothie bowl in a coconut bowl topped with sliced banana, raspberries and blueberries.

    Substitutions and special diets

    This blue smoothie bowl is naturally vegan and gluten free. For a paleo version, use almond or cashew butter as your nut butter choice. If you don't have plant-based milk, feel free to use dairy milk, though the bowl won't be vegan anymore.

    Bananas and zucchini are my go to fruit & veg combo for a neutral tasting smoothie bowl. If you prefer, you can use other fruit and vegetables as long as they are white or light-colored so the blue of the spirulina still stands out. Frozen cauliflower is a fine substitution for zucchini though you may be able to taste it a little bit. I find that frozen zucchini blended into smoothies and smoothie bowls has no taste at all. Frozen avocado would also work great in this bowl and make it extra creamy.

    Frequently asked questions

    Where can I get blue spirulina powder?

    Most grocery stores with a health food or supplement section will have it, or you can buy blue spirulina online. Some brands worth checking out are:
    Terrasoul Superfood Organic Blue Spirulina Powder
    Unicorn Superfoods 100% Natural Blue Spirulina Powder
    KOS Organic Luminous Blue Spirulina Powder

    Can I make this smoothie bowl without bananas?

    Yes. Bananas will give you best results but if you don’t have any, you can swap them with frozen mango or peaches.

    What to use instead of zucchini?

    If you don’t have zucchini, frozen cauliflower florettes (or cauliflower rice) will work well, too, though the flavor may be a little different.

    Can I make a smoothie bowl without a Vitamix?

    Yes. A powerful blender such as Vitamix is my favorite piece of equipment for making a smoothie bowl but if you don’t have access to one, a food processor will work equally well. Another great economical option is the Ninja Foodi Smoothie Bowl Maker.

    blue spirulina smoothie bowl in a coconut bowl topped with sliced banana, raspberries and blueberries, a spoonful view.

    You may also like

    • Chocolate Cherry Nice Cream (vegan banana-based ice cream)
    • Vanilla Coconut Smoothie Bowl
    • Snickers Smoothie Bowl
    • Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp Smoothie Bowl
    • Chocolate Bliss Balls (vegan, paleo)
    • Flaxseed Pudding

    If you’ve made this Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl, I would love for you to leave me a comment! If you want to connect with me, you can find me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

    This post includes affiliate links. 

    Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl

    This Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl is packed with nutrients from fruit, veggies, nut butter and spirulina. If you’re in for a nutritious and beautiful breakfast, snack or treat, this mesmerizing blue bowl is for you. It is vegan, paleo and gluten-free.
    5 from 17 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: blue spirulina smoothie bowl, how to make blue smoothie bowl, vegan blue smoothie bowl
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 142kcal
    Author: Agnieszka

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup frozen banana slices about 1 medium banana
    • 1 cup frozen zucchini slices about 1 medium zucchini
    • ⅔ cup unsweetened plant milk almond, coconut, oat or soy
    • 1 tablespoon nut butter peanut, cashew or almond
    • 1-2 teaspoons blue spirulina powder

    Instructions

    • Place frozen banana slices, frozen zucchini, plant milk, nut butter and 1 teaspoon spirulina powder in the bowl of a blender.
    • Blend until smooth. It will be hard at first and you may need to stop the blender several times to stir and scrape the sides. Eventually, the contents of your blender will resemble a very thick smoothie, almost ice-cream like.
    • If you want your bowl to be more blue, add another teaspoon of blue spirulina powder.
    • Transfer to a bowl, top with fresh banana slices, raspberries, blueberries and hemp seeds and serve immediately.

    Notes

    For best results, make sure the bananas and zucchini are frozen solid and plant milk is cold.
    When you first start blending the smoothie bowl, it may look like it won’t blend. Frozen bananas and zucchini slices may get lodged under the blades of your blender. If this happens, stop the motor, stir and scrape and keep blending.
    Don’t increase the amount of plant milk unless absolutely necessary. If you need to use more liquid, add 1 tablespoon at a time.
    1 teaspoon of spirulina powder is enough to make the bowl light blue. If you want a deeper shade, add another teaspoon (for my bowl in the pictures I used 2 teaspoons).
    Top the bowl with any fresh fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, shredded coconut or nut butter.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 142kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 130mg | Potassium: 511mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 181IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 143mg | Iron: 1mg

    More ideas

    • Oat Milk Chia Pudding
    • Boba Smoothie (3 Flavors)
    • Spinach Cucumber Smoothie
    • 2 Banana Muffin Recipe

    Meet the Author

    Hi, I'm Agnieszka. I'm a mom of three and recipe developer, writer and photographer behind Wholly Tasteful. I love creating comforting, delicious, family-friendly recipes that you can feel good about.

    Learn more about me →

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lilly

      January 04, 2022 at 10:15 pm

      5 stars
      I love the flavors of this bowl and the vibrant blue color! This is a fun way to enjoy spirulina!

      Reply
    2. Freya

      January 05, 2022 at 1:49 am

      5 stars
      I haven’t tried blue spurulina before so I’m visiting my local health shop today! And that colour is just wow!

      Reply
    3. Andréa Janssen

      January 05, 2022 at 4:04 am

      5 stars
      What a colorful bowl. It looks really nice and so easy to prepare.

      Reply
    4. Lucy

      January 05, 2022 at 2:36 pm

      5 stars
      What a beautiful colour! This smoothie bowl is packed full of healthy ingredients and is such a refreshing and nutritious way to start the day.

      Reply
    5. Nora

      January 19, 2022 at 2:38 am

      5 stars
      Such a beautiful colour and I love that you’ve added zucchini as well! Great idea! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    6. Jerika

      January 19, 2022 at 5:07 am

      This Blue Spirulina Smoothie is a nutritious and beautiful breakfast, snack or treat indeed.:) Would love to prepare this to my family.:) Can't wait. Thanks!:)

      Reply
    7. Natalie

      January 19, 2022 at 9:01 am

      5 stars
      What a gorgeous color. And the flavors are amazing. Yum! I have to make this asap.

      Reply
    8. Bernice

      January 19, 2022 at 12:30 pm

      5 stars
      What a lovely way to start the day. I'm always looking for new breakfast recipes and this one is so good I could have it for dessert too!

      Reply
    9. Leslie

      February 04, 2022 at 9:44 am

      5 stars
      Great smoothie idea!

      Reply
    10. Elizabeth

      February 04, 2022 at 9:49 am

      5 stars
      So yummy! Will definitely make again!

      Reply
    11. Jessica

      February 04, 2022 at 10:15 am

      5 stars
      Beautiful and delicious!

      Reply
    12. Kayla DiMaggio

      February 04, 2022 at 10:30 am

      5 stars
      Such a delicious smoothie bowl! Such a fun recipe for the warming weather!

      Reply
    13. Stacey

      February 04, 2022 at 11:24 am

      5 stars
      Such a fun and healthy breakfast idea!

      Reply
    14. amanda

      February 04, 2022 at 12:09 pm

      5 stars
      This smoothie blue was delicious and the color made eating it so fun!

      Reply
    15. Maya

      February 04, 2022 at 2:12 pm

      5 stars
      I've never zucchini in a smoothie before but it works really well!

      Reply
      • Agnieszka

        February 04, 2022 at 4:15 pm

        It's my "hidden veggie" trick - you absolutely can't taste it!

        Reply
    16. Pam Greer

      February 04, 2022 at 4:52 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect for breakfast!

      Reply

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    About me

    Hello and welcome to Wholly Tasteful, a healthy food and lifestyle blog! My name is Agnieszka and I am a busy mom of 3 living in and renovating a 1852 farmhouse in Maine. My recipes use ingredients that are healthy, whole and family friendly. More about me

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