I have one very important rule when it comes to both smoothies and smoothie bowls: keep. it. simple. I guarantee none of us want to be pulling out a million ingredients just to make something that’ll be gone in five minutes. That’s why my go-to smoothie bowl formula is just two ingredients: 1 cup frozen fruit + 1/2 cup cottage cheese.

If that’s where you want to start and end your smoothie bowl journey, great! But lately I’ve been blending in one or two scoops of vanilla Ka’Chava, a whole body nutrition shake made with 85 superfoods and nutrients. (Think of it as your greens, electrolytes, and protein powder all rolled into one). The combo of protein, fiber, and healthy fats makes my smoothie bowls so much more satiating—and gives them an extra thick and creamy texture. Use code GRACE30 for 30% off.

my protein smoothie bowl formula

Here’s exactly how to make them, plus my favorite flavor combinations.

  • 1 cup frozen fruit
  • 1/2 cup 2% or 4% small-curd cottage cheese
  • Splash of milk, juice, or coconut water, if needed
  • 1 to 2 scoops vanilla Ka’Chava or other vanilla protein powder (optional)
  • Fresh fruit, granola, nut butter, honey, chia seeds, hemp seeds, etc., for topping

Combine the frozen fruit and cottage cheese in a mini food processor or high-speed personal blender. Process until smooth, scraping down the bottom and sides as needed. It will look too dry at first but will eventually come together. Add a splash of liquid to help it along if needed.

If using protein powder, add it and process just until mixed in. Transfer to a bowl, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy immediately.

my favorite flavor combos

  • mixed berry: 1 cup frozen mixed berries (such as blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries), 1/2 cup 2% or full-fat small-curd cottage cheese, 1 to 2 scoops vanilla Ka’Chava (optional)
  • pretty in pink: 1/2 cup frozen pitaya, 1/2 cup frozen strawberries or raspberries, 1/2 cup 2% or full-fat small-curd cottage cheese, 1 to 2 scoops vanilla Ka’Chava (optional)
  • mango-pineapple: 1/2 cup frozen mango, 1/2 cup frozen pineapple, 1/2 cup 2% or full-fat small-curd cottage cheese, 1 to 2 scoops vanilla Ka’Chava (optional)

toppings I can’t live without

One Trick Pony peanut butter. Only two ingredients (organic Argentinian roasted peanuts and Patagonian sea salt) and sooooo drizzly!

Purely Elizabeth Cookie Granola. So many big clusters and just the right amount of sweet. I’ve only tried the chocolate chip flavor but I’m sure all of them are delicious.

What equipment do I need?

My favorite tool for smoothie bowls is the Cuisinart 4-Cup Chopper/Grinder. It’s powerful enough that I never need to add liquid, which keeps the texture super thick — just how I like it.

A personal blender can work, too, but you’ll likely need to add a splash of liquid to help things along. If that happens, no problem — just pop the blended mixture in the freezer fora. few minutes to firm it up.

If you’re in the market for a personal blender, my friend Julie (who cross-tested all the recipes in my cookbook) swears by the Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro. She says it can handle jobs usually reserved for food processors.

And that’s it! Let me know if you have any questions — and tag me when you make one!

A note about this partnership: Right around the time when I started spotting Ka’Chava in Target, the brand reached out about partnering. Before saying yes, I spent a few weeks trying every flavor and learning more about them. I really appreciate their commitment to third-party testing (especially amid all the recent concerns about heavy metals in protein powders) and — most importantly — I genuinely liked both the vanilla and chocolate flavors.

I’m picky about what I recommend (the only other protein powder brand I’ve partnered with is Ritual, who also does rigorous third-party testing and remains a favorite for a more classic protein powder). So know that this is a product I really think is worth trying 🙂