The bright majestic pink nestled in green leaves that seem almost mystical, the dragon fruit looks rather dramatic for a sweet tropical treat that is one of the healthiest snacks. Once considered exotic, the dragon fruit is regarded as a super-fruit, and is now available globally. However, how to cut a dragon fruit still remains a question that leaves many people wondering.
Soft flesh speckled with tiny black seeds, the pulp may be white, red or purple in color depending on the type of dragon fruit. How to cut a dragon fruit is pretty simple as you can just about slice through, but you can also open it up to enjoy it sliced, or as an addition to a salad or smoothie, or place it on the grill for a barbecued flavor!
How To Cut A Dragon Fruit
A dragon fruit may appear tough looking at its exterior, however the skin surface is thin and smooth. As such, it is quite simple and effortless to cut through its scaly leaves. Underneath the skin is a thick yet soft peel that separates out easily from the pulp.
How To Cut A Dragon Fruit – Step 1
Cut In Half
Dragon fruit with its tender flesh slices up rather nicely. The easiest way to go about with how to cut a dragon fruit is using a sharp chef knife on a cutting board to slice the fruit in half. Start cutting lengthwise at the top carefully moving down towards the thicker stem. Alternatively, you may further cut up the halves into wedges if you would like.
How To Cut A Dragon Fruit – Step 2
Remove The Skin (2 Ways)
Method 1: Scoop It Out
Once you have split your dragon fruit into two halves, you can simply use a large spoon to scoop out the flesh onto the chopping board, just like an avocado. You can also enjoy the pulp straight from the half as you admire the contrasting shades of bright pink and speckled white of this super-fruit.
Method 2: Peel The Skin
You can also peel the skin of the dragon fruit with your fingers and separate out the flesh from the skin. This is rather easier when you have cut up the dragon fruit into fourths or wedges as you can get a better grip for peeling.
How To Cut A Dragon Fruit – Step 3
Cut Into Smaller Pieces (3 Ways)
Dragon fruit once peeled away from all its skin can be cut into pieces depending on the use of the fruit. You can put up a fancy presentation by cutting dragon fruit different ways for fruit plates, salads and smoothies.
Method 1: Slices
For fruit plates, slice up your dragon fruit into wedges or thin slices and leave the skin on, like oranges or mangoes. The skin makes it easier to grip the slice and scoop out pulp as you eat. Plate up all your fruit slices together for a colorful presentation.
Method 2: Cubes
Cutting a dragon fruit into cubes is the perfect way to add it to any salads. Surprise your tastebuds with a soft texture and mild flavor as you munch on your crunchy croutons and fresh lettuce.
This is also a great way to serve the fruit with tiny fruit forks to kids. Scoop out the pulp from the half, place it on the cutting board, and slice it along its length and width to form cubes.
Alternatively, you may also freeze the dragon fruit cubes to use later for a smoothie.
Method 3: Spheres
Making a seasonal melon-mint cooling salad for the summers? Mix in the dragon fruit to match the round melon scoops by using a melon baller. Cut up the dragon fruit into half, and leave the skin on as you scoop out the spheres. You can then finish up the remaining flesh within the halves by gobbling it up with a spoon. Not only is it a great addition to your melon-mint salad, it can add some color variation to your salad bowl as well!
How Does Dragon Fruit Taste Like?
Now that you have figured out how to cut a dragon fruit, are you wondering what does it taste like? For a fruit that is seemingly vibrant, dragon fruit, with its mild flavor, tastes fairly bland. Many people compare it to a cross between a mild kiwi and pear, subtly sweet being the taste easily identifiable for most.
The tiny black edible seeds offer a nice crunch to this tropical refreshing fruit that blends well with its creamy pulp for an overall delicate taste.
How To Make Dragon Fruit Taste Better?
The subtle flavor of this super fruit may seem too bland for some, and here are some ways to make it more appetising for those who prefer.
A Drizzle Of Honey
A simple drizzle of good old honey over some cubes of dragon fruit can make up for the lack of flavor of the fruit. The subtle touch of sweetness can make a huge difference to the palette, and can make the fruit seem much more appetising to snack on.
A Topping Of Yogurt
Mix up the dragon fruit with some plain Greek yogurt, or even better, your favorite flavoured yogurt, for added creaminess. Turn it into a healthy breakfast superfood by topping it with some toasted almonds and nuts for a bit of crunch. This may also well work for a quick evening snack for your toddler.
Blend It To A Smoothie
Add some goodness of health to your daily smoothie by blending dragon fruit with bananas and berries. Use a base of your choice mixed with a natural sweetner such as honey or syrup and top it off with some walnuts and get a head start on you day with this power mix in a glass!
Grill Some Fruit Kebabs For Summers
Spice up your dragon fruit by giving it a smoke on the barbecue as you thread up small cubes of the fruit with some fresh, ripe mangoes and pineapples until brown. Sprinkle some sugar, or seasonings to your taste and enjoy this tasty treat on a summer afternoon.
FAQ
- How to pick out a good dragon fruit?
Shiny, bright pink exterior with some fresh green tips is what you want to be looking for, when picking out a dragon fruit. Dragon fruits that look wrinkled, blemished or brown are to be avoided.
- How to tell if a dragon fruit is ripe?
A bright pink color and smooth skin are most often the indicators of a ripe dragon fruit. A rock hard dragon fruit is usually unripe, wait till the flesh becomes softer. A mushy dragon fruit is overripe.
- How to store a dragon fruit?
An uncut dragon fruit may be stored at room temperature. A ripe dragon fruit may be stored in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator for upto a week. To ripen a dragon fruit, you may put it in a paper bag with an apple or banana which aid in ripening the dragon fruit. Cut pieces may be stored in an airtight container for about 2 to 5 days in the refrigerator, but ensure to throw them out if brown or mushy.
- What are the nutritional benefits of dragon fruit?
Dragon fruit is considered a super fruit. It is rich in dietary fibre, prebiotics, magnesium, iron and potassium. It is also high in antioxidants like vitamin C that boosts immune system and plant polyphenols that prevent cellular damage.
