This is a great recipe for anyone who loves coffee and chocolate together. I feel like I’m inviting my favorite coffee shop and superfoods into my kitchen, every time I make a mocha smoothie bowl with chia. And because it’s made with beans and seeds, all that fiber and protein will keep you feeling sweetly satisfied for hours! Vegan and gluten-free.

Chia seeds, that trendy superfood, that’s actually been around since ancient Mayan and Aztec times, is the hero of The Mochachia smoothie bowl. Chia seeds have all sorts of things to brag about, being a superfood and all, but one of their most unique qualities is the ability to turn any liquid into a gel like substance. This makes chia seeds an excellent, nutrient dense thickening agent in plant-based recipes.

Unlike flax seeds, chia seeds don’t need to be ground for your body to absorb the nutritional benefits. Whole chia seeds are equally nutrient dense. Ground chia seeds do, however, work better as a quick thickening agent without the “frog egg” appearance or texture of soaked whole chia seeds. So, I prefer to use ground chia seeds in smoothie bowl recipes, but it’s totally up to you! (for more info. on chia seeds click here)

Here’s everything you need to make this recipe:

Ingredients

1½ cups of **black beans** (one 15 oz. can) drained and well rinsed
2 large very ripe **bananas**
1 ripe pear, cored and quartered
¼ cup (2 oz.) of very strong coffee
¼ cup (2 oz.) of full fat coconut milk (the kind that comes in a can)
2 teaspoons of vanilla
2 teaspoons of **coffee extract** (for a stronger coffee flavor)
¼ cup of raw, organic cacao powder
1/8 teaspoon of fine sea salt
2 tablespoons of ground chia seeds
4 large medjool dates, pitted
A drizzle of tahini and a dollop of **coconut whip cream** for topping
**Makes 2-3 bowls**

How to make mocha smoothie bowl with chia

Step One:

1. If using canned beans, drain and thoroughly rinse the beans to avoid a beany taste. One 15 oz. can is approximately 1½ cups. If you have cooked dried beans, measure out 1½ cups.

Step Two:

2. Add the beans, bananas and pear to a blender container, followed by the coffee, coconut milk, vanilla and coffee extract, along with the cacao powder, salt, ground chia seeds and dates

Step Three:

3. Securely attach the lid to your container and blend util creamy, starting on low speed and working up to medium speed. You may have to stop and scrape down the sides of the container or use the tamper (with a Vitamix) to push the food down and around toward the blade. This will take about a minute or more, depending on what type of blender you are using.

Step Four:

4. Scoop the delicious superfood mixture, which will be the consistency of thick pancake batter into two or three bowls and top with a drizzle of tahini and a dollop of coconut whip cream.

Enjoy as an easy energizing breakfast or a filling superfood snack!

Note: You can buy chia seeds that are already ground or grind your own in a small coffee grinder or spice grinder. If those choices aren’t available, use whole chia seeds.