Strawberry Açaí Smoothie

This strawberry-açaí smoothie is my perfect summer smoothie recipe! It's light and refreshing, and oh-so-delicious. Strawberries and açaí create a classic flavor combination that's tart but sweet.

If you're unfamiliar with açaí (pronounced ah-sigh-EE), it's a fruit that grows in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. Brazilians have been enjoying it in cups and bowls for a long time, but it only recently became more popular in the United States. Because the fruit doesn't last very long, the best way to get it here is either in frozen or powdered form.

This recipe uses the unsweetened frozen form of açaí berry. You can find pre-portioned packets of açaí at Trader Joe's for around $4.50 for a pack of 4. You can also get the Sambazon brand at most grocery stores and Costco. However, some stores may only carry the sweetened packs. If that's all you can get, leave the maple syrup out until you taste it and decide how much (if any) you'll need to add.

This simple smoothie is made with an açaí packet, frozen strawberries, coconut water, and maple syrup.