This bowl of goodness came about by accident. I was up the other night and couldn’t sleep, so I started dreaming about breakfast the next day (who doesn’t, right?) What I’d actually cooked up in my head was pancakes, but the next morning the half-finished batter tasted so good and I was so impatient that I just poured it into a bowl, topped it with some sliced banana and cacao nibs and my new favorite smoothie (big statement but I stick by it!) was born.

Inspiration behind this whole pancake-turned-smoothie bowl was the  Blissful Brown Rice and Raw Cacao Super Protein from That Protein that I’d bought on a whim at Holland & Barrett . (For my usual breakfast smoothie I always use hemp – check out the recipe here.) The protein powder along with the peanut butter and banana make this breakfast a great source of plant protein.

Chocolate Protein Smoothie / Mousse

Makes: 1 serving

Ingredients

• 1 ripe banana
• 2 heaped tbsp (ca. 30g) brown rice and raw cacao protein powder*
• 1 heaped tbsp peanut butter (or other nut butter); I use the 100% one from Meridian
• 1 tbsp ground flaxseeds
• 1/3 cup brown rice milk (I use Rude Health, which has a wonderful natural sweetness)
• optional: cacao nibs, to decorate; maple syrup or a different sweetener

*My blend is made up of 60% brown rice protein powder and 40% organic raw cacao, so you can easily make your own mix, using a different protein source as well if you’d like – although the taste may vary (brown rice protein is great because it’s quite neutral and doesn’t interfere with the chocolatey taste).

Method

Blend all the ingredients together (you probably don’t even need a blender if you mash the banana well), pour into a bowl and I dare you to eat this without a big smile on your face! It’s so beautifully indulgent and keeps you full and fueled for a long time. I find the ripe banana and the brown rice milk make this perfectly sweet, but you can always add a bit of maple syrup, honey or even a date if you’d like.

Variation: Chocolate Protein Mousse 

If, like me, you are always in search of more indulgence, then this is a way to take the “dessert for breakfast” element of this smoothie bowl to the next level. By omitting the brown rice milk (or adding just enough so it all comes together) you end up with a lusciously thick and luxurious mousse that honestly tastes like dessert. No joke, this stuff is amazing. Without exaggeration, it is the most indulgent healthy breakfast I’ve ever had. Enjoy!

Feel Good Fact #1: Cacao is high in essential minerals, including magnesium and iron (did you know it has a much higher iron content per 100g than meat?) and chock-full of antioxidants, which may protect against cancer and other disease by preventing cell damage.

Feel Good Fact #2: Peanut butter is full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats (make sure you buy the most natural version possible or make your own using just peanuts) and peanuts have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.