As a transfer student at NYU, the only açaí stop for gym girls to visit for a refreshing bite after a workout was Playa Bowls. That’s why, when I saw Oakberry Açaí at 124 MacDougal Street, I felt the need to try it out. Now let’s just say…I did not walk out disappointed.
I was greeted by the engaging interior and friendly staff. It had simple posters hung on the walls and a whole selection of fresh ingredients on the counter. From goji berries to fresh granola, almonds to other nuts—any customizable topping you can think of was available. They also had their own line of granola bars and wrapped goods, like protein bars, up for purchase.
Now, for the good part. They had a large menu of smoothies, small protein snacks, and pressed juices. What caught my attention was the bowl selection. You could choose from a variety of sizes, unlike Playa Bowls. They only had one smoothie base—açaí—but you could choose from many different toppings including nuts, fruits, and drizzles. My eye was immediately drawn to the “Crunchy Bowl”.
It was $15 for 16 ounces full of refreshing deliciousness. Açaí layered with sweet granola and coconut chia pudding. It was all topped off with fresh blueberries and strawberries as well as cacao nibs. Compared to Playa Bowls, I felt like I was getting more than what I paid for. The size was bigger than I thought and they were not skimpy on the ingredients. To make matters better, the base was less sweet, giving it a more natural taste. The cherry on top was the pictures I got in the process.
Courtesy of Kylie Lin
As good as Oakberry was, we have to face reality: fall is here, and paying for açai bowls during this season is not worth the money, especially when the vibes are shifting to pumpkin spice and soon Christmas flavors will sneak into our homes. However, this doesn’t mean we cannot make a delicious refreshing fruit bowl at home whenever we feel like it. Luckily, I created a nice açai with granola bowl recipe at home years ago that I’m willing to share when you are in the mood for a sweet, refreshing treat, even when it is not summer.
There are two aspects to this, the granola and the actual base. You can add your own ingredients to some of these if you like, so I put a star (*) next to the essentials and even some suggestions if you want to switch things up. Also, I didn’t include specific measurements because his recipe is completely customizable so you can make as many as you want and as sweet as you want!
Açaí Bowl and Granola Recipe:
What you'll NeeD
Granola:
Steel Cut Oats*
A Liquid Sweetener* (I usually use maple syrup, but honey and even agave is acceptable)
Sliced Almonds
Raisins
Chia Seeds
Açai/Smoothie Bowl Base (about 3 servings):
Açaí Bowl Packets (I used to use the ones from Sambazon from Costco, but you can use whichever brand from any store)*
Frozen Blueberries*
Frozen Strawberries*
Apples
Pears
Two Splashes of Water*
Instructions For Granola:
Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grab a large bowl and put as many oats as you like. Pour a nice layer of your sweetener on top and mix it until it sticks together and makes clusters. You can add more oats or sweetener to adjust the consistency and the sweetness as you like.
Take a sheet pan and put parchment paper over it or spray with non-stick spray.
Pour your oat mixture on top and spread it out. Try to get as thin and even of a layer as possible and press down.
Put it in the oven for 20 minutes. I like to set 20 minutes as a benchmark for me to monitor its progress. You can leave it in longer of you want it toastier.
Take it out to cool down and once it isn’t hot to the touch anymore, you can store it in any container.
Courtesy of Kylie Lin
Instructions for Fruit base
Take all of your açaí packets and frozen fruit and put them into a blender.
Take some water and pour in a few splashes. Trust me, it’ll save your blender.
Start blending until smooth. If you want it more runny or the fruit keeps getting caught in the blender, add more water.
Pour your smoothie base into a bowl and smooth it out with a spoon.
Layer out some granola on top and you are ready to enjoy!
You can even add sliced strawberries and bananas. Chocolate sauce is also a great choice! Put any toppings that you like!
Courtesy of Kylie Lin
So while fall is looming around the corner and we are putting our shorts away, the refreshing vibes of summer do not have to be lost! Whether you are craving a nice açai bowl from a wonderful shop like Oakberry, or a homemade version that brings out a fresh flair, there’s always room for a smoothie-based meal no matter what time of year.
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