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This vibrant dragon fruit smoothie is a refreshing, tropical way to kickstart your morning. Dragon fruit (also known as pitaya), banana, mango, and coconut chunks blend into a sweet, plant-based smoothie. It's a perfect on-the-go breakfast or healthy snack!
Believe it or not, its gorgeous color isn't why I love this dragon fruit recipe, although it doesn't hurt! Pitaya packs a nutritional punch. It's high in fiber, antioxidants, and prebiotics but low in fat and calories. One 100 gram serving has only 60 calories with 3 grams of fiber!
This healthy dragon fruit smoothie recipe is an easy way to pack in nutrients. Even my picky kids love it, and thanks to its bright magenta color, pitaya has grown in popularity and accessibility.
Latest Recipe Video!
While you can typically find this fresh fruit at the grocery store, I prefer to buy it from the frozen fruit section. They use the sweet, magenta variety, and it's ready to use - no peeling or chopping required!
I love how quickly a dragon banana fruit smoothie comes together. It's ready in only 5 minutes! Easiest. Breakfast. Ever.
👩🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Sweet, tropical flavor!
- High in immune-boosting Vitamin C
- Made with whole foods and plant-based milk
- A beautiful mango dragon fruit smoothie with a vibrant color
- A creamy texture just from the fruit '
- Vegan and Gluten Free
- No added sugar
- Kid-friendly!
- Easy to turn into smoothie bowls
- Pitaya has a good amount of fiber
- Best dragon fruit shake recipe!
🥘 Ingredients
This easy pitaya smoothie requires only five healthy ingredients! See the recipe card for the full nutrition info.
Dragon Fruit: Native to Central America, pink dragon fruit can be found in the frozen section of your grocery store. There are different varieties of fresh dragon fruit. It typically comes in two different colors. White dragon fruit has a white flesh with tiny black seeds on the inside. It's not very sweet with a mild flavor. Red dragon fruit has a red or pink flesh with a sweet taste! Frozen dragon fruit (or frozen pitaya) has a bright magenta color and very sweet flesh perfect for smoothies. It's easy to find in the frozen section of grocery stores.
Banana: Bananas are a natural way to sweeten this pink dragon fruit smoothie, plus they make it creamy too! For best results, use ripe bananas. The starches in a banana convert to sugar as they ripen.
Mango: Tropical fruit like mango taste great in pitaya smoothies! Mangoes are rich in vitamins A,C, and K for a healthy immune system. They're also a great way to sweeten this beautiful smoothie without the need for refined sugar.
Coconut Chunks: This is optional, but a little bit of coconut adds more creaminess to this vegan pitaya smoothie. Frozen coconut chunks are cut, peeled, and frozen coconut meat. Not all stores carry them, but I can always find them at Trader Joe's.
Almond Milk: Any unsweetened plant-based milk works great. Coconut milk, oat milk, and even coconut water are great, healthy options. For additional sweetness, substitute half of the milk with pineapple juice.
📖 Variations
This recipe is easy to customize! Try one of these quick and easy substitutions.
- Add Protein: Plant-based protein powder, hemp seeds, chia seeds, whey protein, and nut butters are great options to pack in protein!
- Fruit: Smoothies are customizable! Feel free to change up the this mix of colorful fruit with ones you have on hand. Pineapple, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and kiwi are great options!
- Easy Dragon Fruit Smoothie With Yogurt: For extra creaminess and protein, add 1/2 cup of greek or dairy-free yogurt.
- Pitaya Smoothie Bowl Recipe: Pitaya bowls are perfect for those who adore toppings! Reduce the milk to 3/4 cup and pour the smoothie into a bowl. Top with fresh kiwi fruit, pitaya, granola, dried coconut, or bee pollen!
🔪 Instructions
Here's how to make this healthy pitaya smoothie.
Add Ingredients: Add the mango, frozen pitaya, banana, coconut chunks, and almond milk to a high powered blender or food processor.
Blend: Blend the ingredients until smooth and creamy. Adjust Sweetness: Taste your pitaya smoothie, if you like it a bit sweeter, add one tablespoon of maple syrup and blitz one more time.
Serve: Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately!
❓ Recipe FAQs
What does dragon fruit taste like?
This exotic fruit is also referred to as pitaya or strawberry pear. It comes from a fruit-bearing cactus in South America and typically has pink skin with green scales and bright pink or red flesh. Ripe dragon fruit has a slightly sweet flavor similar to a pear, with a soft texture.
Is dragon fruit healthy?
Yes! This delicious fruit is packed with health benefits. It's high in immune boosting vitamin C and antioxidants. It's also high in fiber (7 grams per cup), magnesium and Vitamin E!
What fruit goes well with dragon fruit?
Pitaya's mild taste pairs well with a variety of fruit. Since it's not overly sweet, it pairs well with naturally sweet fruits like banana, mango, blueberries, and pineapple.
How do you store leftover dragon fruit tropical smoothie?
Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately but can be stored if necessary. You can store any leftover smoothie in the refrigerator for up to two days. But since the fruit is no longer frozen, the smoothie won't have the same texture. Be sure to stir it first before drinking it. You can also freeze the mixture into popsicles using a popsicle mold.
If you have any fruit left over, you can store fresh whole pitaya (not diced) on the counter for a few days. Diced pitaya will last for up to two weeks in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Frozen pitaya can last for up to 6 months in the freezer if stored properly. Store the fruit in an airtight container in the back of the freezer.
💭 Expert Tips
- For the smoothest results, use a high-speed blender.
- If you want to adjust the thickness of the tropical smoothie, it's easy! Add frozen fruit to make it thicker and more milk to make it thinner.
- Make sure to use a combination of fresh and frozen fruits. If you only use fresh ingredients, the smoothie won't be thick and creamy.
- This pitaya smoothie doesn't need a handful of ice. Ice cubes create a gritty texture, while frozen fruit keeps it nice and creamy.
