Name: Papaya and Kale Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients: Frozen Papaya Chunks (1 ½ cups): Using frozen papaya is key. It chills the smoothie and contributes to a thick, scoopable consistency without the need for ice, which can water down the flavor. Papaya provides a luscious, tropical sweetness.; Fresh Kale (2 packed cups): Lacinato (or Dinosaur) kale is an excellent choice as it’s slightly sweeter and more tender than curly kale. Be sure to remove the tough, fibrous stems. The kale provides a powerhouse of nutrients and a beautiful green hue.; Frozen Banana (1 large): This is the secret to a naturally sweet and incredibly creamy smoothie bowl. A ripe banana, peeled, sliced, and frozen beforehand, will give your bowl a soft-serve ice cream texture.; Unsweetened Plant-Based Milk (½ to ¾ cup): Almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk (from a carton) all work wonderfully. Start with ½ cup and add more only if needed to help the blender. This liquid helps everything combine smoothly.; Chia Seeds (1 tablespoon): These tiny seeds are nutritional giants. They are rich in fiber and omega-3s, and they help to thicken the smoothie bowl further as they absorb liquid, creating a more satisfying texture.; Optional Protein Boost (1 scoop vanilla protein powder): If you’re enjoying this bowl post-workout or want to make it a more substantial meal, a scoop of your favorite vanilla plant-based protein powder blends in seamlessly.

Ingredients

This recipe relies on a few simple, high-quality ingredients. The magic is in their synergy, creating a balance of flavor, texture, and nutrition that is truly exceptional.

Frozen Papaya Chunks (1 ½ cups): Using frozen papaya is key. It chills the smoothie and contributes to a thick, scoopable consistency without the need for ice, which can water down the flavor. Papaya provides a luscious, tropical sweetness.
Fresh Kale (2 packed cups): Lacinato (or Dinosaur) kale is an excellent choice as it’s slightly sweeter and more tender than curly kale. Be sure to remove the tough, fibrous stems. The kale provides a powerhouse of nutrients and a beautiful green hue.
Frozen Banana (1 large): This is the secret to a naturally sweet and incredibly creamy smoothie bowl. A ripe banana, peeled, sliced, and frozen beforehand, will give your bowl a soft-serve ice cream texture.
Unsweetened Plant-Based Milk (½ to ¾ cup): Almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk (from a carton) all work wonderfully. Start with ½ cup and add more only if needed to help the blender. This liquid helps everything combine smoothly.
Chia Seeds (1 tablespoon): These tiny seeds are nutritional giants. They are rich in fiber and omega-3s, and they help to thicken the smoothie bowl further as they absorb liquid, creating a more satisfying texture.
Optional Protein Boost (1 scoop vanilla protein powder): If you’re enjoying this bowl post-workout or want to make it a more substantial meal, a scoop of your favorite vanilla plant-based protein powder blends in seamlessly.

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Instructions

Creating this beautiful bowl is incredibly simple and requires a high-speed blender for the best results. The key is to add the ingredients in the correct order to prevent the blades from getting stuck.

Prepare Your Blender: Pour the plant-based milk (starting with ½ cup) into the blender first. Adding the liquid at the bottom helps the blades get started and create a vortex to pull the frozen ingredients down.
Add the Greens and Seeds: Next, add the fresh kale leaves and the tablespoon of chia seeds. Placing the lighter, non-frozen ingredients on top of the liquid helps them incorporate easily.
Incorporate the Frozen Fruit: Finally, add the frozen papaya chunks and the frozen banana slices on top. If you are using protein powder, add it now. The weight of the frozen fruit will help push everything down towards the blades.
Blend to Perfection: Secure the lid on your blender. Start blending on the lowest speed to get things moving and chop up the ingredients. Gradually increase the speed to high. You may need to use your blender’s tamper to push the ingredients down towards the blades to ensure everything is incorporated and to eliminate any air pockets.
Achieve the Right Consistency: Blend until the mixture is completely smooth, thick, and creamy, with no visible specks of kale remaining. This may take 60-90 seconds in a high-speed blender. If the mixture is too thick and won’t blend, add another tablespoon or two of milk, but do so sparingly to maintain a thick consistency. The final texture should be similar to soft-serve ice cream.
Serve Immediately: Scrape the smoothie from the blender into a bowl using a spatula. The consistency will be thick, so it won’t pour easily. Work quickly, as it will begin to melt. Garnish with your favorite toppings and enjoy immediately.

Nutrition

Serving Size: one normal portion
Calories: 420