This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Dragon Fruit Smoothie is such a winning combination of flavor! And can we talk about that color? Many people think this color is artificial because its so brightly pigmented, but that’s the natural color of pitaya (dragon fruit), which is the main ingredient in this recipe, along with bananas, frozen cauliflower (which you won’t even taste!), almond milk and protein powder.
This beautiful smoothie gets its name from the main ingredient, pitaya, also known as dragon fruit. I am mesmerized not only by the vibrancy of the flesh, but also by its mild tropical flavor. The bright pink variety is now available in frozen food sections throughout the country, making it easy to bring a bit of exoticism to your smoothies.
This recipe was excerpted from the new cookbook Smoothie Project (Amazon affiliate link) by Catherine McCord, the founder of Weelicious. I doubled the recipe for 2 servings.
What is dragon fruit?
Dragon fruit is also known as pitaya. It is a super fruit indigenous to Central and South America that is now grown all over the world. It is a brightly colored pink fruit that has a mild but refreshing taste. Pitaya, or Dragon Fruit, has a faint, sweet taste, comparable to that of an earthy watermelon. All of its seeds give it the consistency of a kiwi.
Dragon fruit has amazing health benefits. It’s low in calories but filling, high in vitamin C, and, yes, mesmerizing to look at. Catherine says that if you’re trying to cap your calories, you can sub more dragon fruit for half of the banana—which also will make the color of the smoothie even brighter.
How to make a dragon fruit smoothie
Making this smoothie is as easy as throwing the ingredients in a blender and blending until there are no more chunks of fruit or vegetables. If using fresh, you can use the quick guide to cutting dragon fruit to get started. The color with brighten, and you’ll get a creamy, rich consistency. Feel free to taste it to see if you need anything else and to check that you like the consistency.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Plan ahead and use frozen bananas. This way you won’t need to add any ice that can dilute the smoothie and make it thinner.
- Use overripe bananas. They are naturally sweeter in flavor so you won’t need to add a sweetener and they also contain more antioxidants than under ripe ones.
- Use a high speed blender. If you don’t have one, be sure to blend for at least a couple of minutes so that it is perfectly smooth.
- Add a little water if the smoothie is too thick for your taste. Add a little at a time until you get the right consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This dragon fruit smoothie recipe is packed full of healthy ingredients with no added sugar. There’s a good amount of fiber and protein in it to help you feeling satisfied and full. It’s packed full of vitamins and minerals and it’s a great way to up your fruit and vegetable intake in a quick, easy and tasty way.
It is best to consume smoothies as soon as you have made them, as soon as the fruit starts to oxidize it begins to loose its nutrients. If you have leftovers then store them covered in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Instead of using 2 bananas for 2 servings, trying substituting one of the bananas for more dragon fruit in the smoothie. You can also use coconut water instead of almond milk, which will reduce the calories while adding to the tropical flavor!
More smoothie and juice recipes
- Blueberry Banana Smoothie
- Breakfast Coffee Protein Smoothie
- Sunshine Smoothie
- Smoothie Bowls – 3 ways
- Cucumber Juice
- Strawberry Mango Smoothie
- Layered Smoothie
This dragon fruit smoothie is healthy, refreshing and absolutely tasteful. I hope you give it a try for yourself and your little ones. Fresh, flavorful and oh-so fabulous smoothie for the win! And if you’re looking for more delicious smoothie recipes, Smoothie Project is full of 100 different ones, all with a variety of tasty flavors!
If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Dragon Fruit Smoothie recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
Dragon Fruit Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup dragon fruit frozen or fresh
- 2 bananas frozen or fresh
- ½ cup cauliflower florets frozen
- 2 tablespoons vanilla protein powder
- 1 ½ cup milk of choice
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a high-speed blender, and blend for 60-120 seconds until you get a smooth and creamy texture.
- Taste the smoothie, adding more milk if it is too thick or adding more sweetener if it’s not sweet enough for you.
- Pour into a cup or mason jar. Enjoy cold immediately, or store in fridge for up to 24 hours.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
I left out the cauliflower and added chocolate whey powder and it was amazing. Of course I have issues with textures so I made sure to blend for two mins.
I love that idea too! Yay!
Do I have to use cauliflower and protein powder in this smoothie?
You can leave out the protein powder, but I would recommend adding another fruit (e.g. more dragon fruit/ banana) in place of the cauliflower to help with the texture.
How do you get the smoothie pink if we only use a cup of the inside of the fruit? Are you putting the whole fruit skin and all in it?
You’ll want to use red dragonfruit, as the inside is a hot pink color that adds to the color of the smoothie.
Love everything witk Pink Pitaya and this recpie is soo good.
Same here! Thank you!
i love your smoothies!!!!
Aw, thank you so much, Olivia!