I have to admit, when I bought my ice cream maker, I was unsure how much use I'd get out of it and feared it might get consigned to the back of the cupboard. However, since I discovered it can be used to create the perfect smoothie bowl, it's been in constant use.
Right now, you can get the machine for £169.99 down from £199.99 at , cheaper than and , where at the time of writing it's priced at £179.
The great thing about making a smoothie bowl with the Ninja Creami is that it doesn't take very long and unlike when you use it to make an ice cream, you don't have to pre-plan either.
Smoothie bowls are the ultimate breakfast treat, they're nutrient-rich, sweet, full of protein and can be adapted to suit whatever you fancy. I make my smoothie bowls using three simple ingredients, so this recipe won't break the bank either.
Now, you can make this up and freeze it overnight before popping in your Ninja Creami if you think you're going to lack time in the morning. But it doesn't have the same soft consistency and you may need to do a couple of mix-throughs to make it soft enough to eat.
If you don't want to invest in the Ninja Creami then there are some other alternatives that may help you make a good smoothie bowl. that costs just £39.99, this will give you the same freedom of making ice-cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt but at a wallet-friendly price.
Another really good alternative isn't an ice-cream maker but does have a frozen drink setting which would be ideal for smoothie bowls, and that's the (I know what you're thinking, soup and iced smoothies are a world apart but trust me on this one). This machine makes both hot and cold drinks and the frozen drink function will blend your frozen fruit to a delicious smoothie bowl in seconds. It also has a self-cleaning function so you don't even have to scrub it afterwards. At the time of writing, this is reduced down to £120 from £179 at Ninja.
Protein-packed smoothie bowl
Ingredients
Taking one of the dessert tubs, add your Greek yoghurt, frozen fruit (I like a mix, which most supermarkets sell prepackaged) and a teaspoon of honey.
I always add a generous scoop of protein powder to my smoothie bowl, especially if I'm making one up for breakfast. This doesn't just thicken up the smoothie bowl, but it also gives you a good protein boost and depending on the flavour protein powder, it can add to the taste too. Adding protein powder is completely optional, but eating a protein-rich breakfast has so many benefits, including helping to boost your cognitive function (ideal if you've got a lot of work on), keeping you fuller for longer and boosting your metabolism.
You don't need to mix your ingredients together, just secure the lid and add to your machine.
Select "smoothie bowl" from the control panel, stand back and watch it blend together.
And that's it. A healthy protein-packed breakfast or snack in minutes. Once it's done, transfer to a bowl and add the toppings of your choice. I like to add a bit of granola for some extra crunch, but you can also add some fresh fruit, nuts or both.
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