Do n’t allow the name frighten you ; there ’s nothing scary aboutdragonfruit . Oh sure , they might look a petty dissimilar . Their peel can be bright pink or yellow reckon on the form , and they ’re covered with what seem like splenetic scales , hence the name . But once you slit into a ripe flying dragon yield , it ’s all serious .
A hybridizing section slice of flying dragon fruit is nature at its most visually interesting . Dragon fruit flesh is either lily-white or magenta and is blob with diminutive black seeds . And its gustation ? Well it ’s like a cross between akiwiand a pear .
Where Does Dragon Fruit Come From?
Though dragon yield is grown in tropic and subtropical areas throughout the human race today , it was n’t always that way . The fruit is a fellow member of the climb cactus crime syndicate ( Cactaceae ) and was plausibly indigenous to Central America , Mexico and northern South America where it was known aspitahayaorpitaya .
Dragon yield grows as a climbingcactusand requires bread and butter to develop properly . The growing season contract post during thehot summertime monthsand into early surrender . bloom typically come between July and October , and plants are nocturnal boner , meaning they show off their blooms only at nighttime . Once the plant flowers , yield begins to form . Plants are rich for up to 30 old age .
Gallic explorers are believed to have take dragon yield fromCentral America to Southeast Asia , specifically Vietnam , in the 1800s . From there , dragon yield production diffuse throughout Asia . Today it is commercially produced in Vietnam , Malaysia , Thailand , Taiwan , Sri Lanka , China , Israel and countries in Central America .
Vietnam is theworld ’s leading producerof dragon fruit and it is the country ’s pass fruit exportation . Eighty percent of the flying dragon fruit produced in Vietnam is exported to China with requirement increasing . Why ? In addition to the health benefits of dragon fruit , many Chinese consumer believe the fruit is prosperous or culturally meaning , particularly aroundChinese New Year .
Shopping for Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit used to be line up only in Asiatic mart , but not anymore . Depending on where you live , you might witness dragon yield in your localCostco , neighborhood grocery storehouse or Farmer grocery . The fact that it ’s imported — and in high demand — has drive up the Mary Leontyne Price of this alien fruit . you could expect to pay between $ 5 or $ 10 for each one ( or more ! ) depending on where you live .
We verbalize toAnupy Singla , a Chicago - based cookbook author , journalist and recipe developer about what to look for when shopping for dragon fruit .
" wait for luminousness of color and house to the touch so it can continue to mature and get a little diffused for you , and you ’ll have a slight time to drudge in and enjoy it , " she say . " You do n’t require it to get to the point where it ’s mushy . They need to wait reinvigorated . "
The peel should n’t look withered and await for any obvious bruising or wilting of the leaves . Dragon fruit will keep at way temperature for a few day or you may put in them in your electric refrigerator . But do n’t cut the yield until you ’re ready to eat . Once it ’s trend , it will need to be store in the refrigerator in an airtight container .
To devise the dragon yield , just slice it down the plaza and root for away the peel . " Because it ’s thick and waxy it ’s super promiscuous to peel off away , " Singla say . " Then I ’ll slice up it and drizzle some honey over it to eat it fresh . you may always take up it out and use up it that way , too . My kids eat it that way with a spoon . "
Singla produce adragon fruit smoothy recipethat uses coconut milk , and recently made something she calls " chaat . "
" It ’s a humble plate — a tiny salad , " she says . " I combine the tartar yield with the Indian spice chaat masala , and put in red onion and Vietnamese blood-red chili con carne , to add heating and some lime juice . It is so dear . you may pair it with fish or any form of protein , or even plain on salad . What I love about it , when you talk about the nutritionals , is the grade of fibre in a dragon yield , they are second only to raspberries ( the highest in character ) . "
Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit
So , allow ’s utter about the nutrition in these yield . Six ounces of dragon fruit will typically net :
Dragon fruit hit a great bite because it ’s of course low in sugar , fatness barren and , because it ’s high in fiber , will serve you feel full for foresighted . It ’s also a good root of several substantive vitamins and minerals admit magnesium , smoothing iron and vitamin A and C.
Singla says dragon fruit is cracking for people who are looking to add something different and healthy to their diet .
" Once you get over the appearance , it is so easy to work with and easy to eat fresh without any real prep to it , " she adds . " It ’s an easy source of fibre , vitamin C and all these other affair and I love that you’re able to get vitamin C from something other than a grapefruit or orange . The cay is just to realize that there are dissimilar options that are just as tasty as the single you ’re used to . "
