Watermelon Smoothie Bowl
If you enjoy a fruity morning smoothie, you will love my watermelon smoothie bowl! Refreshing for a hot summer’s morning, all you need is a big watermelon, fresh fruits, and a few friends or family to share this delicious vegan fruity smoothie, as well as my favorite watermelon and pineapple juice for a fresh start to the day.
In my opinion, watermelon is underrated. Not only is it cooling on a hot summer day, full of sweet refreshing juice, but it also comes with a ready-made bowl for when you want to blend it into a super thick, smoothie to serve with fruity toppings!
Sometimes, especially when the weather is warm, breakfast just needs to be cool and drinkable. Heavy foods are often the last thing on my mind! That’s where smoothie bowls come in.
Bowls of thick smoothies which you can eat with a spoon are cool yet filling and energizing so you can tackle a busy day.
My recipe for watermelon smoothie bowls is full of mixed fruit – mango, strawberries, and banana as well as watermelon for a creamy thick texture. And it’s all garnished with pretty shapes of sliced fruit, and crunchy coconut and chia seeds.
Not only that but blending watermelon creates this unbelievably refreshing juice which is mixed together with pineapple juice and mint leaves for a soothing fruity start to the day! Keep reading to learn more about my watermelon smoothie bowl recipe!
WHAT IS A SMOOTHIE BOWL?
Smoothie bowls exploded in the online food world a couple of years ago as the fashion for clean eating became increasingly popular. Healthy food bloggers took pictures of their fruity smoothies in bowls, garnished with colorful toppings for bite and texture.
Smoothie bowls are incredibly healthy because they are full of blended fruit so they contain vitamins, minerals, and the fruits’ fiber which is often lost when juiced.
But, what makes them different from a regular smoothie?
Smoothie bowls are thicker than regular smoothies so they can be eaten with a spoon and support the weight of slices of fruit as garnishes. The ice cream-like thick texture can usually be achieved with frozen ingredients.
Freezing your fruit beforehand or adding ice means your smoothie will be similar to a sorbet. You can control the texture by freezing some ingredients, keeping others fresh, or adding a little or extra liquid.
I’ll create more smoothie bowl recipes like this one in my next blog posts, but for now, I suggest trying my smoothie recipes like kiwi papaya smoothie, banana blueberry breakfast smoothie, and plum smoothie.
HOW DO I MAKE A WATERMELON SMOOTHIE BOWL?
If you’ve seen my watermelon sorbet recipe, you will already know my trick for this thick watermelon smoothie bowl!
As you can see, the watermelon is a perfect shape for a ready-made bowl – all you need to do is cut off one end. Scoop out a small hole in the watermelon, insert your hand blender, and start blending that watermelon! No need for a high speed blender, jug, or food processor!
Watermelon is incredibly juicy, so as you blend, loads of juice will come to the surface. Scoop out 3 cups of watermelon juice and set aside, then use the watermelon rind as a bowl to add the rest of the ingredients.
You will need:
- Frozen strawberries
- Frozen chopped banana
- Chopped mango
- Coconut milk
My secret tip is to use only frozen fruits as it gives you the thickest, creamiest smoothie bowl.
Blend all these frozen fruits down to a smooth silky puree or your desired consistency with the remaining watermelon, the sub full fat coconut milk making it deliciously creamy and dairy-free.
Now it is ready to garnish with the toppings!
WHAT TOPPINGS SHOULD I ADD TO MY WATERMELON SMOOTHIE BOWL?
Smoothie bowl toppings are the best part in my opinion – they add color and crunch as well as extra health benefits.
For my watermelon smoothie bowl, I add:
- Desiccated coconut or coconut flakes
- Chia seeds
- Dried cornflowers
- Chopped almonds
- Fresh fruit
These toppings transform a regular smoothie into a smoothie bowl! Nuts are full of healthy fats and protein so they are a great choice if you’re wanting to lose weight or improve your diet. Chia seeds are packed with antioxidants to boost your heart’s health and they’re high in fiber.
I love cutting my fruit into hearts or stars! They’re so pretty and eye-catching, perfect for a big watermelon smoothie bowl to share with friends!
HOW DO I MAKE THE WATERMELON AND PINEAPPLE JUICE?
Remember that watermelon juice I told you to set aside earlier? I’m going to show you how to make that into a light and refreshing drink made with natural juice for a balanced and healthy morning.
This beautiful pearly pink juice just needs a couple of other ingredients and it will be ready to serve! You will need:
- Fresh pineapple juice
- Water
- Ice
- Frozen blueberries
- Fresh mint
Combine the pineapple and watermelon juice together, then strain it through a sieve to remove all the fruity pulp. Add water and ice, then serve in individual glasses with the frozen blueberries and mint. A wonderfully refreshing drink to start the day!
I don’t suggest adding too much liquid to the blend, as you want the bowl to be thick and creamy.
Another tip is to chill the serving bowls before serving because it will help the smoothie bowl stay cold for longer.
Enjoy a healthy brunch with friends and family with my showstopper watermelon smoothie bowl recipe. Full of sweet fruity flavors, this thick smoothie can be eaten with delicious healthy toppings as you drink watermelon and pineapple juice on a warm summer’s morning!
Watermelon Smoothie Bowl Topping Variations
There are so many delicious topping options to choose from for this refreshing watermelon smoothie bowl. Here are just a few ideas:
- Greek yogurt and granola
- Mango chunks and chia seeds
- Sliced banana and coconut flakes
- Fresh or frozen strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries
- Hemp seeds or flax seeds
- Nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans)
How to Store
This refreshing smoothie bowl recipe is best served immediately. If you have leftover watermelon smoothies, store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
You can also freeze this creamy smoothie bowl to enjoy later! To do so, place the smoothie in an air-tight container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready to eat the smoothie, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator or let it thaw at room temperature.
However, I recommend that you don’t freeze all the ingredients and toppings as they may lose their crunch and flavor. The only ingredient I suggest freezing is berries because you can use them as an ice cube substitute.
If you do want to store them, I suggest adding them right before serving so that they retain their freshness and crunch!
FAQs
Yes! If you’re using frozen watermelon, it’s important to make sure that you let it thaw before blending, as this will help ensure a smoother consistency. You may also need to adjust the amount of liquid in the recipe if you’re using frozen fruit but not too much.
Yes, this smoothie bowl is a nutritious and energizing breakfast or snack option.
Smoothie bowls are a great way to get your daily fruit and veggie intake, so they can be eaten on a regular basis. However, it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough other nutrient-dense foods in your diet as well. Try adding some protein sources (e.g. nuts or Greek yogurt) for a more balanced meal.
Yes! You can make the smoothie part of the recipe one day ahead and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The toppings also don’t need to be prepared until right before you’re ready to eat, so you can add them to the smoothie when it’s time. This makes it a great option for meal prepping or on-the-go breakfasts.
It depends on how sweet you like it! If your watermelon is naturally sweet, you may not need to add any additional sweetness. However, if you want a sweeter taste, you could try adding some sugar, honey, or maple syrup to the recipe. You can always taste as you go and adjust the sweetness according to your liking.
WATERMELON SMOOTHIE BOWL
Ingredients
- 1 medium watermelon
- 1 cup chopped mango
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 cup frozen banana
- 1 cup coconut milk
TOPPINGS
- 1 tablespoon Heart-shaped pieces of fresh mango
- 1 tablespoon Chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon Almonds
- 2 tablespoons Desiccated coconut
- A few strawberries
- Dried cornflower
WATERMELON AND PINEAPPLE JUICE
- 3 cups Watermelon juice
- 3 cups Pineapple juice
- Ice cubes
- 1 cup Water
- Frozen blueberries ice cube replacement
- Mint decoration
Instructions
- Cut the watermelon in half, and scoop out a little hole from the middle. Place the stick blender inside the watermelon and blend carefully until you can take out 3 cups of the juice. Set the juice aside.
- Finish blending the rest of the watermelon until smooth to make some space for the other fruits.
- Next, add the strawberries, diced mango, and coconut milk and blend until smooth. Then, add the frozen banana and blend again until you reach a light, smooth, and creamy consistency.
- Now it’s time for the garnishing part. Here I used a heart-shaped mold to cut out beautiful mango pieces, then I added some desiccated coconut, chia seeds, finely chopped nuts, strawberries, and dried cornflowers.
