The dragon fruit looks like a plant straight out of a Dr. Seuss scene, as if it were a relative of the truffula tree.

It is not only nutritious and delicious but also strikingly beautiful. It’s also been quite the head turner on fruit platters at weddings and bar mitzvahs that my family and I have attended recently. While the other guests were enjoying the sweets, we were chowing down on this irresistible fruit.

It’s fair to say that my kids and I have been obsessed with this fruit lately.

What Is Dragon Fruit?

Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is native to Central and South America. It is the very fanciful-looking fruit of a cactus, with thick, leather-like skin and colorful, scaly spikes.

Dragon fruit comes in several common variants, all of which include tiny black crunchy seeds:

• Pinkish-red skin with white flesh inside

• Pinkish-red skin with purple or red flesh inside

• Yellow skin with white flesh

The Health Benefits Of Eating Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruits are tasty. They have tons of health benefits. And they look exotic.

Its benefits:

• They play a role in gut health, as they are very rich in prebiotic fiber – specifically those that foster the growth of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria.

• They contain a tropical blast of vitamin A, copious amounts of vitamins C & E and minerals such as magnesium.

• They are also high in antioxidants. The purple variety contains betacyanins. This substance is also what gives purple beets their deep pigment.

On the other hand, at $6 to $8 per pound in most markets, they certainly are pricey! An alternative to the pricey fresh fruit is to purchase it frozen at Costco or your local supermarket.

How To Eat Dragon Fruit: Raw, In Yogurt And In Smoothies

Fresh And Raw

The most satisfying way to eat dragon fruit is fresh and raw. When the outside of the fruit is slightly soft, slice it like you would an avocado. Peel away the thick, leathery skin. The tiny seeds have a very slight crunch reminiscent of eating a kiwi.

Frozen In Yogurt

Another way is to add frozen dragon fruit to plain cashew yogurt. It serves as a healthy replacement for the fruit-on-the-bottom of sugar-laden, flavored store-bought brands. The frozen dragon fruit from Costco is ideal for this. To a cup of plain (unflavored) cashew yogurt, add 2 Tbsp frozen dragon fruit, 1/4 tsp almond extract and 1/2 tsp maple syrup. Stir well. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. As the dragon fruit melts, 

Frozen In Smoothies

As frozen dragon fruit, it also goes very well in smoothies, such as this super simple summer smoothie recipe, which will really whet your breakfast appetite.

Here’s how to make this simple and delicious dragon fruit smoothie.

The Ingredients

• 1 cup homemade almond milk

• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries

• 2/3 cup frozen dragonfruit

• 1/4 cup cashews (soaked for up to two hours if possible)

  1/2 tsp fresh ginger, diced

• Optional: 1/2 Gala or Fuji apple, sliced into 2-3 pieces

• Optional: 1 Tbsp rolled oats

The Instructions

1. Prepare at least two cups of homemade almond milk. (You can also use a quality store-bought brand like Elmhurst, MALK or Three Trees. If so, then add a fresh deglet noor date or two to provide some sweetness.)

2. Pour a cup of almond milk into the blender, then add the nuts, fruits and ginger.

3. Blend for 60 seconds or until smooth. Serve immediately.

Drinking this smoothie is enough for a very filling breakfast!