The photo shown above is a delicious bowl of tropical “nice cream” from a food truck at Weligama Beach in Sri Lanka — it’s simply blended frozen bananas mixed with other frozen fruits (in this photo its mango and jackfruit; my favorite was pineapple, mango and passion fruit), and topped with some fresh fruit, coconut nectar caramelized crunchy lentils and toasted coconut shavings. It was sooo good!
So, what is nice cream? It’s simply an alternative to ice cream that is NICE to your body, because it’s free of dairy and added/refined sugar — the base is simply frozen bananas, and it resemble soft serve ice cream. Yes, fruit still has sugar but it also has lots of fiber and many nutrients. so you are actually nourishing your body! Plus, when you try one of the recipes below you’ll be combining the bananas with healthy fats, protein and/or extra fiber (plus more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants). Give at least one of the recipes below a try and then have fun experimenting with different mix-ins and toppings. You can even enjoy nice cream for breakfast!
1. Tahini Chocolate Banana Soft Serve By Minimalist Baker
Cacao is a great source of magnesium which is an important mineral most people are deficient in, and tahini (aka sesame seed “butter”) is full of healthy mono-unsaturated fats, vitamins and minerals. Tahini has powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties . Read here to learn
Recipe notes: I used raw cacao, and left out the maple syrup (for no added sugar), and served with some fresh strawberries, sliced. You can sub for the tahini any nut butter you have on hand; just be sure it’s natural and sugar-free.
Tip: Try making your own tahini by first toasting 2 cups of raw sesame seeds in a saucepan over medium heat until lightly golden, then add to a food processor or vitamix and grind, while slowly drizzling in 1-2 tablespoons of mild-tasting oil, such as avocado or olive oil.
2. Very Berry Nice Cream
Blend 2-3 chopped frozen bananas with 1 cup frozen berries of choice (I use mixed berries), and ⅛ tsp pure vanilla extract (optional). Plus I like to top it with some raw cacao nibs. Equals 2 servings.
This one is really refreshing and a great way to get your daily dose of berries (remember: ½ cup of berries should be part of your daily diet for optimal overall health, and brain health in particular).
3. Mint Chocolate Chip Nice Cream
Blend 2-3 bananas with a pinch of salt, ⅛ tsp pure peppermint extract or fresh mint leaves (to taste), then stir in cacao nibs or vegan chocolate chips (such as Enjoy Life brand). And for an extra nutritional boost and to give it a green color, add a pinch of spirulina or some frozen spinach.
None of these flavors appeal to you? Then try recreating your favorite ice cream flavor! Below is the menu options from the nice cream food truck in Sri Lanka I visited.
