Write About Everything

Dragon fruit has a pink, waxy peel but inside its flesh is white and flecked with tiny black seeds. JethuynhCan/Getty Images

Don’t let the title frighten you; there’s nothing scary about dragon fruit. Oh sure, they might look a little bit different. Their peel may be shiny pink or yellow depending on the variety, and they’re covered with what appear like prickly scales, hence the name. But when you slice right into a ripe dragon fruit, it is all good.

A cross part slice of dragon fruit is nature at its most visually interesting. Dragon fruit flesh is both white or magenta and is flecked with tiny black seeds. And its style? Effectively it’s like a cross between a kiwi and a pear.

The place Does Dragon Fruit Come From?Though dragon fruit is grown in tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world right now, it wasn’t all the time that method. The fruit is a member of the climbing cactus household (Cactaceae) and was probably indigenous to Central America, Mexico and northern South America the place it was referred to as pitahaya or pitaya.

Dragon fruit grows as a climbing cactus and requires assist to develop correctly. The growing season takes place throughout the recent summer months and into early fall. Blooms usually happen between July and October, and plants are nocturnal bloomers, which means they exhibit their blooms only at night. Once the plant flowers, fruit begins to form. Plants are productive for as much as 30 years.

French explorers are believed to have taken dragon fruit from Central America to Southeast Asia, specifically Vietnam, within the 1800s. From there, dragon fruit production unfold all through Asia. In the present day it is commercially produced in Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, China, Israel and nations in Central America.

Vietnam is the world’s leading producer of dragon fruit and it is the nation’s main fruit export. Eighty p.c of the dragon fruit produced in Vietnam is exported to China with demand rising. Why? In addition to the health benefits of dragon fruit, many Chinese language consumers consider the fruit is fortunate or culturally significant, especially round Chinese language New Year.

Dragon fruit is the fruit of a cactus that blooms between July and October. As soon as the plant flowers, fruits start to form, ロイヤルハニー and will proceed to supply for up to 30 years.

xu wu/Getty Pictures

Purchasing for Dragon FruitDragon fruit used to be discovered solely in Asian markets, but not anymore. Depending on where you live, you might find dragon fruit in your native Costco, neighborhood grocery store or farmers market. The fact that it’s imported – and in excessive demand – has pushed up the value of this exotic fruit. You may expect to pay between $5 or $10 apiece (or extra!) relying on where you reside.

We talked to Anupy Singla, a Chicago-based mostly cookbook author, journalist and recipe developer about what to look for when shopping for dragon fruit.

“Search for brightness of coloration and agency to the contact so it could actually proceed to ripen and get a bit smooth for you, and you will have a little bit time to dig in and enjoy it,” she says. “You don’t want it to get to the point where it’s mushy. They need to look fresh.”

The peel should not look withered and search for any apparent bruising or wilting of the leaves. Dragon fruit will keep at room temperature for just a few days or you can retailer them in your fridge. But do not minimize the fruit till you’re able to eat. Once it’s cut, it’s going to have to be stored within the refrigerator in an airtight container.

To prepare the dragon fruit, simply slice it down the center and pull away the peel. “As a result of it is thick and waxy it is super simple to peel away,” Singla says. “Then I will slice it and drizzle some honey over it to eat it recent. You may always scoop it out and eat it that means, too. My youngsters eat it that method with a spoon.”

Singla created a dragon fruit smoothie recipe that uses coconut milk, and lately made something she calls “chaat.”

“It is a small plate – a tiny salad,” she says. “I mix the dragon fruit with the Indian spice chaat masala, and put in pink onion and Vietnamese purple chilis, to add heat and a few lime juice. It’s so good. You possibly can pair it with fish or any sort of protein, and even plain on salad. What I like about it, if you speak concerning the nutritionals, is the extent of fiber in a dragon fruit, they’re second only to raspberries (the best in fiber).”

Consuming fresh dragon fruit is straightforward. You’ll be able to merely slice it down the middle and pull away the peel, or just scoop the flesh from the peel and eat it with a spoon.

saulgranda/Getty Photographs

Health Advantages of Dragon FruitSo, let’s talk about the nutrition in these fruits. Six ounces of dragon fruit will typically net:

0 grams fats

2 grams protein

22 grams carbohydrates

13 grams sugars

5 to 7 grams fiber

Dragon fruit makes a terrific snack because it’s naturally low in sugar, fats free and, as a result of it is high in fiber, will assist you are feeling full for longer. It’s also a superb source of several important vitamins and minerals including magnesium, iron and vitamins A and C.

Singla says dragon fruit is great for people who are trying to add something completely different and healthy to their food regimen.

“When you get over the looks, it is really easy to work with and easy to eat contemporary with none real prep to it,” she adds. “It’s an easy source of fiber, vitamin C and all these different issues and I really like that you can get vitamin C from something aside from a grapefruit or orange. The secret’s simply to understand that there are totally different options which might be just as tasty as those you’re used to.”

Now That’s InterestingThere is a species of dragon fruit called the David Bowie Dragon Fruit, (Hylocereus undatus). It has a white star-like blossom. The fruit is flashy vibrant pink with white flesh and black seeds.