Dragon fruit
(Hylocereus
undatus), a tropical
fruit popular in
Southeast Asia,
belongs to the
climbing cacti
(Cactaceae) family.
Vietnam is the main
commercial
producer of dragon
fruits in this region.
The fruit, apart
from being
refreshing and
tasty, has loads of
vitamin C and is
said to aid
Dragon fruits improve eyesight and prevent hypertension. The seeds of the fruit are said to
help in controlling blood glucose levels in people with non-insulin-dependent
hyperglycaemic conditions (a kind of diabetes). It is also used to treat stomach and
The fruit is popularly
eaten raw and tastes
better chilled. It is
also served as a juice.
The flesh is sweet and
sometimes served
with mango in a
tropical sorbet. The
fruit is also used to
flavour drinks while
syrup made of the
whole fruit is used to
colour pastries and
candy. The pulp of the
fruit is used in
producing an
alcoholic beverage.
The fruit makes a
wonderful cocktail on
its own or mixed with
other tropical fruits. It
is sometimes used in
cooking. Unopened
flowerbeds can be
cooked like
vegetables.
Dragon Fruit Salad Recipe
1 dragon fruit, chilled
1 cup chopped fresh fruit
1 cup torn lettuce leaves (optional)
1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced (optional)
1 tablespoon honey
1. Cut dragon fruit in half. Gently scoop out the white center fruit. Cut the white fruit in chunks. Reserve
the red dragon fruit peel as a serving bowl.
2. Add fruit in medium bowl with other fresh fruit and/or lettuce leaves and mint.
3. Drizzle honey over fruit, gently toss together.
4. To serve, use the fruit peel as the bowl.
Ingredients:
1/2 pink dragon fruit, peeled
1/2 lemons zest
2 Tb. lemon juice
water or milk
optional: a few drops of stevia
fresh basil leaves
Directions:
Dragon fruit is really easy to prepare, you can basically peel the skin off with your hands or a knife. Discard
the skin. Chop the pink dragon fruit.
In a blender add the chopped dragon fruit, lemon zest, lemon juice and blend till smooth. Add enough milk or
water to form a thick paste. Taste the mixture, if it’s not sweet enough for your liking add a few drops of
stevia.
Pour the mixture into a container with a lid and put it in the freezer.
At half hour intervals, using a fork breakup up the ice crystals as the sorbet freezes (this results in a smoother
mouth-feel). Keep doing that until sorbet is frozen.
Once frozen, scoop out of the container and serve with a few basil leaves for something different!
Enjoy.
Dragon fruits are high in antioxidants, which help to fight
carcinogenic free-radicals from forming in the body. In addition, they
are a good source of Vitamin C, and are rich in minerals, especially
calcium and phosphorus. They are also low in calories and high in
fiber, while the seeds are have high polyunsaturated fatty acids. Aside
from its nutritional content, the fruit is also said to help excrete heavy
metal toxins from the body and lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
Dragon fruits are also known to be a natural laxative.
Dragon Fruit is a very well known fruit in central America and
Vietnam. It is used for many foods and recipe, from desserts to
healthy eating. Dragon Fruit is good for health and can help with
anything that needs fiber, Which it has much of. All in all the
Dragon Fruit is an amazing health remedy and also a very tasty
treat!