Fight Like Anthony Bourdain By Making His Post-Jiu-Jitsu Acai Bowl Recipe

Reprinted from Appetites by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever. Read our interview with Bourdain here.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a thing in our house. Our lives—all our lives—revolve around training schedules; at any given time, there's a heap of sodden, frequently blood-smeared gis (the two-piece garment, secured by a belt whose color signifies level of expertise, worn by practitioners of jiu-jitsu, karate, and other martial arts) waiting outside the washer, and another set (Mom, Dad, and girl) hanging to dry on a special rack in my daughter's playroom.

Most of our professors are Brazilian, and it is an article of faith among Brazilian practitioners of martial arts that acai, the "miracle jungle fruit of the Amazon," is the answer to—and cure for—all things, from ineptness at rear naked choke holds to cancer.

Whether the health benefits hold up under scientific scrutiny or not, the stuff is pretty delicious, and it's become a staple in our household. A post-training bowl of icy cold acai purée and fruit? It sure seems to make us all feel better.

Serves two

1/2 to 3/4 cup acai juice, Sambazon brand preferred2 bananas, peeled7 oz. frozen unsweetened acai puree, Sambazon brand preferred3/4 cup frozen blueberries1/4 to 1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries or raspberries1/2 cup granola, for garnish (optional)1/4 cup cacao nibs, for garnish (optional)Vitamix or other blender with a fairly strong motor

Place the acai juice and one of the bananas in the blender's pitcher, then add the frozen acai puree, blueberries, and strawberries on top so that the blades suck in the frozen items. Pulse as needed to form a smooth sorbet, scraping down the sides of the pitcher with a spatula as necessary.

Slice the remaining banana. Divide the mixture between two bowls and top each with the garnishes. Serve immediately.