Blue Spirulina Recipes: Five Edible Forms of Blue
Blue spirulina adds color to recipes rather than a distinct flavor. Therefore, the key question when using it isn't "How flavorful do I want it to be?" but "What shade of blue do I want to achieve?"
The purest shades of blue are achieved with light-colored ingredients like yogurt, milk, coconut, banana, and vanilla. Adding strongly colored ingredients like cocoa, strawberries, or mango will still result in a delicious color; however, the resulting shade may turn turquoise, green, purple, or a more muted tone instead of blue.
These blue spirulina recipes help you use the pigment in various applications, from smoothies and bowls to chia pudding, frosting, and frozen desserts.
Before You Begin
0.5–1 g of blue spirulina is usually sufficient for one serving.
For light blue, start with a small amount; gradually increase to darken the color.
Mix the powder with a few spoonfuls of cold liquid first, then add it to the main recipe.
Phycocyanin is heat-sensitive. Do not boil blue spirulina and do not add it directly to very hot mixtures.
Excessively acidic ingredients, such as lemon or lime, can cause the blue color to weaken or take on a greenish tint.
In blue spirulina, the required amount is often determined by the desired color, not the taste.
1. Vanilla Blue Coconut Smoothie
A creamy and light smoothie that clearly displays the blue color of the spirulina because it's made with light-colored ingredients.
Serving size: 1 large glass Preparation time: 5 minutes
Materials
1 small banana, sliced and frozen.
200 ml cold coconut drink
0.5–1 g blue spirulina
Half a teaspoon of vanilla
1 teaspoon of honey or maple syrup
a pinch of salt
3-4 ice cubes
Preparation
Mix the blue spirulina powder with 2 tablespoons of coconut drink in a small bowl.
Mash with a small whisk or spoon until you obtain a smooth and thick blue mixture.
Combine the frozen banana, leftover coconut drink, vanilla, sweetener, salt, and ice in a blender.
Add the blue spirulina mixture you prepared.
Blend for about 30–45 seconds, or until completely smooth.
Check the color. If you want a more intense blue, add a very small amount more blue spirulina and mix again.
Serve immediately.
A Little Note
The yellower the banana, the closer the result will be to turquoise or green. For a cleaner blue, use a light-colored, not too ripe banana and white coconut drink.
2. Blue Spirulina Bowl
A thick, spoonable breakfast bowl with light-colored toppings that accentuate the blue background.
Serving size: 1 person Preparation time: 10 minutes
Materials
For the bowl base:
1 small banana, sliced and frozen.
100 g thick plain yogurt
0.5–1 g blue spirulina
30–50 ml of milk or coconut drink
Half a teaspoon of vanilla
Optionally, 1 teaspoon of honey.
For the topping:
25 g granola
A few slices of banana
1 teaspoon grated coconut
1 teaspoon of chia seeds
Dried almonds, cashews, or white mulberries
Preparation
Blend blue spirulina with 2 tablespoons of milk or coconut drink until smooth.
Place the frozen banana, yogurt, vanilla, and the prepared blue mixture into a blender.
Run the blender in short bursts.
If necessary, add one tablespoon of the remaining liquid to each blade to allow them to rotate.
Stop blending when the mixture reaches a consistency thick enough to be eaten with a spoon.
Transfer the bowl base to a bowl.
Complete the dish with granola, banana, coconut, and your choice of other toppings.
Serve immediately before it melts.
How can you adjust the color?
For a pastel sky blue, start with around 0.5 grams. Gradually increase the amount for a more intense shade. Instead of adding the blue spirulina to the entire mixture, you can mix it into a small portion and gently blend the two tones to create a marbled effect.
3. Blue Chia Pudding Prepared the Night Before
A practical recipe that can be prepared the night before, served directly in the morning, and beautifully showcases the color of blue spirulina.
Serving size: 2 people Preparation time: 10 minutes Resting time: At least 4 hours
Materials
250 ml coconut drink or milk
30 g chia seeds
0.5–1 g blue spirulina
15 g honey or maple syrup
Half a teaspoon of vanilla
a pinch of salt
For service:
3-4 tablespoons of yogurt
grated coconut
Banana slices
Granola or sliced almonds
Preparation
Place the blue spirulina in a large bowl.
Add about 3 tablespoons of milk and stir until there are no lumps.
Add the remaining milk, honey, vanilla, and salt, and whisk.
Add the chia seeds and stir until evenly distributed.
Divide the mixture into two serving jars or bowls.
Stir once more within the first 10 minutes. This prevents the chia seeds from clumping together.
Cover the containers and let them rest in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Check the consistency before serving. If it's too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk and stir.
Finish it off with yogurt, coconut, banana, or granola.
Two-Color Presentation
You can set aside half of the mixture without coloring it. Add the white chia pudding first, then the blue chia pudding to the serving jar to create two layers. To prevent the layers from mixing, let the first mixture rest in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before adding the second layer.
Storage
It can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for about two days. To keep the color as vibrant as possible, keep the container in a section of the refrigerator that doesn't receive direct sunlight.
4. Blue Cream Cheese Frosting
A cream that can be used in cupcakes, cakes, and cookies, and whose light-colored base allows the blue spirulina to show clearly.
Quantity: For 10–12 cupcakes or a small cake. Preparation time: 15 minutes
Materials
200 g full-fat cream cheese or labneh
75 g butter at room temperature
100–120 g sifted powdered sugar
0.5–1 g blue spirulina
1 teaspoon of vanilla
a pinch of salt
1-2 teaspoons of cold milk if needed
Preparation
Drain off excess water from the cream cheese. Using a very watery product can result in a loose frosting.
Beat the room temperature butter with a mixer for 2–3 minutes, until it becomes light in color and creamy.
Add the powdered sugar in two or three batches, mixing at a low speed.
Add the cream cheese, vanilla, and salt. Whisk briefly until the mixture is homogeneous.
In a small bowl, blend the blue spirulina with 1 teaspoon of cold milk until smooth.
Add the blue mixture to the frosting and stir on low speed until the color is evenly distributed.
Check the color. If you want a more intense blue, add a small amount of blue spirulina, also dissolved in milk.
Let the frosting rest in the refrigerator for 15–20 minutes before using.
Points to Note
Whipping the cream for too long can cause the cream cheese to become watery. Stop the mixer once the color has dissipated.
Do not apply frosting to a cake or cupcake before it has completely cooled. A warm surface can both spoil the consistency of the frosting and weaken the blue pigment's color.
Marble Look
Leave a small portion of the frosting white. You can create two-colored, marbled-look decorations by placing blue and white frosting side-by-side in the same piping bag.
5. Blue Coconut Ice Cubes
A simple dessert made with blue spirulina, coconut, and vanilla; it can be served directly from the freezer on hot days.
Servings: 6 small molds Preparation time: 10 minutes Freezing time: At least 5 hours
Materials
300 ml coconut milk
100 g thick yogurt
20–30 g honey or maple syrup
1 g blue spirulina
Half a teaspoon of vanilla
a pinch of salt
2 tablespoons grated coconut
Preparation
In a small bowl, blend the blue spirulina with 2 tablespoons of coconut milk until smooth.
Whisk together the remaining coconut milk, yogurt, honey, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl.
Add the blue spirulina mixture you prepared.
Mix until the color is evenly distributed.
Add the grated coconut.
Divide the mixture into ice cream molds.
Tap the molds gently on the counter a few times to remove air bubbles.
Insert the sticks and freeze for at least 5 hours, preferably overnight.
When serving, hold the outside of the mold under warm water for a few seconds before removing the desserts.
Layered Alternative
Set aside half of the mixture before adding the blue spirulina. Prepare two-colored ice cream desserts by filling the molds alternately with the white and blue mixtures.
For a more dynamic look, instead of blending the two colors completely, swirl them only once or twice with a thin stick.
Storage
It can be stored in molds or a sealed freezer container for about a week. Since ice crystals may form on the surface if stored for too long, consume it as fresh as possible.
Basic Rules for Working with Color Using Blue Spirulina
In blue spirulina recipes, the results don't depend solely on the amount of powder used.
White and light-colored bases give a cleaner blue color.
Yellow materials can make the color closer to turquoise or green.
Pink and red ingredients can create lilac or purple tones.
Dark ingredients like cocoa can make the blue color largely invisible.
Excessive acid can cause the color to fade or change.
High temperatures can weaken the bright blue hue.
Start with a small amount for your first attempt, evaluate the color after mixing, and gradually increase the amount if necessary.
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