Dragon Fruit Smoothie
Dragon Fruit Smoothies are going to be the new thing in my house! They are a vibrant magenta color and taste incredible, only take a few minutes to make, and even the kids love them. The name alone makes my son love them because he is into dragons. And they are healthy with all the fruit and protein. This is probably the perfect smoothie with tropical flavors and a rich, smooth texture.
Table of contents
First of all, let me tell you that I love smoothies, and I made sure to get the right flavors and consistency in this one. A little bit of a tropical twist and full of tangy fresh fruits with the creaminess of a sinful shake. The most important thing, I feel good drinking it and giving it to the kids. The vibrant color and fun name encourage them to try it. Then they are hooked.
What makes my smoothie better than all the rest is my two secret ingredients. Adding them makes this recipe stand out from the other dragon fruit smoothies because it tastes so much better. The lime juice, it adds just the right amount of tanginess to balance the sweetness, and also the vanilla yogurt!
Why you will love this recipe
- Full of vitamins and tropical flavors: With tons of potassium, iron, calcium, and vitamin C, not only is this a delicious drink but it is also healthy. The flavors are incredible though with sweet and tangy mango and dragon fruit, smooth and creamy bananas, and rich coconut milk.
- The kids love it: I always enjoy finding something that the kids will love that has lots of vitamins and minerals. This is something they do not hesitate to try because of the color and the name.
- It is so easy to make in minutes: It takes me less than 10 minutes to make these. All I have to do is toss everything in a blender and push a button.
- Vegetarian and gluten-free: There is nothing to worry about for those with allergies and special diets. In fact, I can easily make it dairy-free as well.
What you’ll need to make dragon fruit smoothie
Equipment
- Blender – I use a high-speed blender to mix my smoothie.
Ingredients:
- Dragon fruit – Cut into cubes. The taste is similar to kiwi and pear with a slightly sweet taste and a soft texture. Its main attraction is the magenta color that makes this smoothie vibrant and beautiful.
- Mango – Cut into cubes. I like to add mango because of its tropical and tangy flavor. It is like a mixture of pineapple and peach.
- Bananas – Cut into quarters. The mild sweet taste and smoothness is perfect for adding thickness and texture to this smoothie.
- Coconut milk – For a plant-based alternative that is creamy and sweet, coconut milk is rich, adds fiber, and has a tropical taste.
- Lime juice – Brightens the flavor and enhances the overall taste of the smoothie with a refreshing element and tanginess.
- Protein powder – This one is optional. I use whey protein powder because it is lighter and easier to absorb without overpowering the flavors. It fills me up without weighing me down.
- Vanilla extract – My first secret ingredient. I only use pure vanilla extract for the best taste and depth of flavor to enhance the blend without the bitter aftertaste that vanilla flavoring can have.
- Vanilla yogurt – My second secret ingredient. To add a creamy thickness, protein, and probiotics.
How to make dragon fruit smoothie?
- Mixing it up: First, I add the milk, protein powder, lime juice, vanilla extract, vanilla yogurt, and fruit to the blender and process it until it is very smooth. Then, I clean the blades and sides and give it a few more pulses.
- Adjusting: If it is too thick, I add more milk and if it is too thin, I add some ice and process more until it is the right consistency.
- Serving: Then, I pour it into a glass and garnish it with lime wedges or other fruit before serving.
Expert tip
How to find the best dragon fruit
Dragon fruit are not from the United States so it can be difficult to find them most of the year. But, when they are in season, look for fruit that is red or bright pink depending on what variety it is. My most important tip is to avoid any fruit with blemishes or brown spots. A dark purple or black dragon fruit is spoiled and should not be bought. Also, do not get fruit with green wings.
Although green wings look healthy and ripe, the wings will start to dry up and turn brown as the fruit ripens. Another tip, is to feel their weight, they should also feel heavy for their size and be slightly soft but not squishy. The spiky tip of the fruit should be pliable. It should not be woody or hard.
It is important to buy dragon fruit when it is ripe because, unlike bananas and other fruits, they do not continue to ripen after they are picked. Once they are picked, they stop maturing so they will not get any softer or sweeter. Dragon fruit is also sold frozen in bite-sized pieces and smoothie packs.
Recipe variations and add-ins:
- Smoothie bowl: Use half the amount of coconut milk to make it thicker and put it in a bowl with toppings for a tasty smoothie bowl.
- Make it nutty: I like to add some chopped nuts like roasted walnuts, pecans, or slivered almonds on top for a nutty flavor and crunchy texture.
- Add granola: Speaking of crunchy, adding a bit of granola to these smoothies makes them crunchier and gives them some extra flavor and fiber.
- Nut butter: Adding some peanut butter or almond butter to these smoothies gives them some creamy richness as well as some healthy fats.
- Decorate it: Make this smoothie more attractive with some edible flowers or add some colored sugar and sprinkles.
Serving suggestions:
- I like to serve this attractive smoothie with my air fryer pineapple rings. They are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, made in about 20 minutes.
- It is also a wonderful beverage to go with a turkey salad sandwich made with Dijon mayonnaise dressing and shredded turkey.
- Smoothies go with anything, but this one is especially good with fruity dishes like strawberry ice cream or lemon sorbet.
- For something else healthy and fruity with a protein boost, try my banana protein balls with this smoothie. They only take a few minutes to make with peanut butter, oats, and bananas. These are so delicious; they taste like candy!
- Since this is so fancy looking, I love to serve it with other vibrant-looking dishes like beet salad, caprese chicken, and vegetable curry.
Frequently asked questions
Dragon fruit itself is very watery, so it needs other thickeners to help make the smoothie thicker. That is why I suggest frozen fruit. I also recommend adding yogurt and banana, which is a natural thickener. It can also be from having too much liquid. Be sure to measure carefully. If the smoothie is too runny, add some more frozen bananas, yogurt, or ice.
This can happen when air gets whipped into the mixture when it is blending. It is usually from mixing fruits and vegetables that are fibrous, like dragon fruit. It can also be from a high blending speed. Basically, the blender is aerating the smoothie, which creates foam. It may also be from too much liquid, creating more air pockets and excessive foam. Frozen fruit can also cause air pockets.
Dragon fruit can be sour if it is not ripe yet. Like many other fruits and vegetables, dragon fruit do not get sweet until they are fully ripe. Similar to a green banana, they are hard and sour until they are ripe enough. It has to be soft to the touch before it is sweet. Sometimes, even ripe fruit can be sour. Certain types of dragon fruit are just naturally more tart than others. Choose the vibrant red dragon fruit that is soft when pressed.
If the ingredients sit too long, they may start separating. A smoothie is a suspension of particles mixed at different densities. So, when the drink sits too long, the heavier ingredients naturally settle to the bottom of the glass. This is normal and can be fixed by stirring with a spoon or straw. It can also be caused by too much fiber or too many high water content fruits like watermelon without enough thickeners.
How to store leftovers:
- Refrigerate: These smoothies are best enjoyed right after making them but leftovers can be saved in an airtight container for up to two days.
- Freezing: To freeze, put in a sealed jar for up to a month.
- Defrost: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for the best flavor.
More smoothies to try:
Recipe tips:
- Use frozen fruit for the best results. It gives the smoothie its creamy texture without watering it down.
- Always peel the banana before freezing it. Peeling a frozen banana is almost impossible.
- I use a high-speed blender. This gives it the smoothest results although a food processor would also work.
- Leftover smoothie mix can be poured into popsicle molds to make delicious frozen treats.
- Because this fruit is expensive, I buy it when it is on sale and keep it frozen for when I want to use it.
- Whey protein powder is what I suggest because it is pure protein, has a light texture, without artificial sweeteners or carbs.
Dragon fruit smoothie is full of tropical fruits and a refreshing, zesty flavor from the lime. Made with protein powder and creamy yogurt.
- 1 cup dragon fruit cubed – fresh or frozen
- 1 cup mango cubed – fresh or frozen
- 2 bananas cut into quarters – fresh or frozen
- 1 cup coconut milk or any other milk
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder optional
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt or vegan yogurt
- 2-4 ice cubes depending on how thick you prefer it
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Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender and process until very smooth.
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Add more liquid as necessary to thin to the desired texture.
2 Comments
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Amber Myers
I love dragonfruit so I know I’ll enjoy this smoothie. I’ll have to be sure to make it.
Kathy
I love dragonfruit, and smoothies with dragonfruit are also amazing. I need to give this one a try. My daughter is probably going to really enjoy it as well.