| Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 0 mins | Difficulty: Easy | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 340 | 12g | 6g | 60g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 45g | 15g | 8g | 0.75g |
There’s something intrinsically joyous about blending flavors from my hometown on the New England coast with the culinary traditions of my Irish heritage. Today’s recipe is an innovative, green masterpiece that brings to mind this love for the ocean’s gifts and healthful living: the Sea Lettuce Smoothie Bowl. This vegetable-based delight is a harmonious blend of nature’s best. It’s visually arresting, almost as if you’ve brought a handful of sea greens ashore and tucked them into your daily diet.
Green Gold of the Ocean
Sea Lettuce, better known to scientists as Ulva lactuca, is the star ingredient of this recipe. Don’t be fooled by this plant’s simple appearance. Behind its vibrant shade of green lies a rich bounty of nutritional benefit. Sea lettuce, like other seaweed varieties, is a fantastic source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Incorporating sea lettuce into our meals is more than a nod to my coastal upbringing—it’s a heart-healthy habit. This oceanic wonder is an excellent source of heart-boosting omega-3 fatty acids, which also supports brain health—much needed for our little one’s development, entrusting him with the family’s love for nutritious meals and wholesome living.
Smoothie Bowls: More than Just a Pretty Dish
The beauty of our Sea Lettuce Smoothie Bowl is not simply visual—it’s a feast packed with healthful ingredients that is also wonderfully versatile. Laura and I have spent countless mornings enjoying a similar bowl. This mix of sweet, tropical fruits, creamy avocado, crunchy granola, and the unique, salty flavor of sea lettuce is reminiscent of a tropical holiday. A delicious departure from our traditional Irish soda bread, and yet, this bowl feels as comforting and welcome at our breakfast table as any homemade loaf.
What makes this recipe extra special is the addition of spirulina powder – another form of sea greens with high protein content and multiple health benefits, nuts and coconut which are sources of essential healthy fats. To top it off, this bowl can also serve as a perfect base for your choice of protein, perhaps a perfectly poached egg or thick slices of smoked salmon. It pairs well with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, a steaming cup of green tea, or on days when we’re missing our Irish roots, a good strong cup of black tea.
Is it a dessert, a breakfast, a meal plan? We’ll let you decide. What we can assure you is its goodness that rings aloud the phrase ‘health is wealth.’ As a proud Boston native bearing Irish roots, lovingly sharing this recipe with you truly brings me back to my heart’s center. Our Sea Lettuce Smoothie Bowl is more than just a dish—it’s home.
What You’ll Need
- 3 cups of almond milk
- 2 cups of sea lettuce (washed thoroughly)
- 3 ripe bananas
- 1 ripe avocado
- 2 cups of pineapple chunks
- 2 cups of mango cubes
- 1 cup of unsweetened coconut chunks
- 3 tablespoons of chia seeds
- 3 tablespoons of honey (optional)
- 1 cup of granola
- 6 teaspoons of spirulina powder
Method
Step One
Start by preparing your ingredients. Wash your sea lettuce thoroughly to remove any remaining sea salt or sand. Peel and slice your ripe bananas and avocado. Prepare your pineapple and mango cubes if you have fresh fruits, or simply defrost if you are using the frozen ones. Set all these ingredients aside.
Step Two
In your blender, combine the ripe bananas, the avocado, the pineapple chunks, the mango cubes, and the almond milk. Blend these until you achieve a smooth consistency.
Step Three
Once the fruit mixture is smooth, proceed to add the sea lettuce into the blender. Blend again until the sea lettuce is fully incorporated into the mixture. Your smoothie should now have a green color.
Step Four
For an added health kick and a deeper green color, add in the spirulina powder. Blend once more until everything is mixed well together.
Step Five
Add in your chia seeds and blend again for a few seconds, just enough to mix the seeds well into the mixture. At this point, you can also add honey if you want a sweeter smoothie bowl.
Step Six
Pour your smoothie into bowls and top with the granola and coconut chunks. If you have a bit of extra fruit, you can also add a few chunks on top for an added burst of freshness.
Step Seven
Enjoy your Sea Lettuce Smoothie Bowl immediately to benefit from all the vitamins and minerals it provides. Remember, it is best eaten fresh, not only for its taste but also for its nutritional value!
