Red Dragon Fruit Smoothie

Isn’t this Red Dragon Fruit Smoothie gorgeous? This completely plant-based (vegan) smoothie gets that pretty fuchsia shade from red dragon fruit. If you’ve ever seen a dragon fruit in the supermarket and wondered what to do with it, this is one of my favorite ideas. Just scoop that beautiful, delicately sweet fruit out of its exotic, “dragon-like” skin, dump it into a blender, and whizz it all up to make a delicious, colorful, nutrient-rich smoothie. The most common type of dragon fruit is white-fleshed with dark black seeds (which are edible). However, I was lucky enough to find red dragon fruit, which has deep, pink-red flesh with black seeds. The taste is similar, but the color of your smoothie will vary depending on the variety of fruit you use.

It’s really cool, because dragon fruit is grown locally in my home state of California, and I have one growing in my garden right now. So, while it may seem exotic, you can find it locally in many parts of the U.S. In fact, dragon fruit originates in the Americas and is an indigenous food here in warmer parts of the hemisphere, but now grows in many other warm climates around the world. Dragon fruit actually grows on a fruit-bearing cactus! Rich in fiber, vitamin C, essential fatty acids (in the edible seeds), and antioxidant compounds, this fruit is a great addition to a healthful plant-based diet.

If you’d like to learn more about this intriguing fruit, check out my blog on How to Use Dragon Fruit for more ideas on how to use this flavorful plant food in your kitchen.