Dragon Fruit Chia Pudding with Rambutan (Make-Ahead Breakfast)
Dragon fruit is stirred together with chia seeds, coconut milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, and a pinch of turmeric, then chilled into a creamy breakfast pudding and topped with fresh rambutan. This dragon fruit chia pudding takes 10 minutes to make, sets in about 2 hours or overnight, and is vegan and gluten-free.
I partnered with Sprouts on this recipe. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep this blog spinning.
Good to know before you start
- Time: 10 minutes of prep, plus at least 2 hours (or overnight) to set.
- Make ahead: Mix it the night before for an easy grab-and-go breakfast.
- Dragon fruit: White or pink-fleshed both work. Pink gives the brightest color.
- Rambutan: Optional. Lychee, mango, or kiwi make great toppings too.
- Sweetness: Adjust the maple syrup to taste.
- Servings: 3.
I did not have my first apple until I was 10 years old. No, I do not hold a grudge against apples! I have always loved fruit. It is just that the fruit of my childhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka, was ripe jackfruit, papaya, mangoes, pineapple, plantains, mangosteen, and rambutan.
Some of those fruits are hard to find here in the US, so whenever I spot them, I do a happy dance. I have two left feet, so it looks more like the Tasmanian Devil having a meltdown, but I digress…
On a weekend trip to Sprouts, I could not believe my eyes: dragon fruit, rambutan, gold kiwis, and fresh coconut, right there in the produce section. Of course, I grabbed some dragon fruit and rambutan, and this chia pudding was the result.
What is dragon fruit?
Dragon fruit (also called pitaya or pitahaya) grows on a climbing cactus. It is native to the Americas and is also widely grown in Southeast Asia. To eat it, wash the outside, cut it in half, and scoop out the speckled flesh. It is lovely on its own, in smoothies, and in puddings like this one.
What is rambutan?
Rambutan looks a little intimidating with its spiky red shell, but inside is sweet, juicy, translucent flesh a lot like lychee. To open one, wash it, cut gently around the middle of the shell, and pop out the fruit. Eat around the large seed in the center, which is not meant to be eaten.
Ingredients
- Ripe dragon fruit: 2, one for the pudding and one for topping.
- Chia seeds
- Coconut milk: Or any dairy-free milk.
- Maple syrup
- Spices: Cinnamon, cardamom, and a pinch of turmeric.
- Vanilla extract and a pinch of salt
- Rambutan: 4 or 5, for topping.
How to make dragon fruit chia pudding
Step 1 – Scoop the dragon fruit: Halve one dragon fruit and scoop the flesh into a bowl.
Step 2 – Mix: Add the chia seeds, coconut milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, turmeric, and salt. Stir until everything is well combined.
Step 3 – Chill: Divide among 3 jars or bowls and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight, until thick.
Step 4 – Top and serve: Top with cubes of the second dragon fruit and peeled rambutan.
My daughter and I loved this for breakfast so much that we made it again for dessert. Enjoy it with your morning coffee or tea, or pack it to eat at work.
Variations
- Smooth pudding: Blend the dragon fruit with the coconut milk before stirring in the chia seeds.
- Other toppings: Mango, kiwi, toasted coconut, or granola.
- Protein boost: Stir in a scoop of vanilla protein powder or a spoonful of yogurt.
Storing
Keep it covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. Add the fresh fruit toppings just before serving.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use frozen dragon fruit?
Yes. Thaw frozen pitaya packs first, then stir them in.
Why is my chia pudding runny?
Give it more time to set, or stir in another tablespoon of chia seeds and chill for 30 minutes more.
Where can I find rambutan?
Look at Sprouts, Asian grocery stores, and farmers markets, especially in late summer. Canned rambutan works in a pinch.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe dragon fruit
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- ½ cup coconut milk
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ tsp cardamom
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- ¼ tsp turmeric
- Pinch of salt
- 4-5 rambutan
Instructions
- Cut one of the dragon fruit in half and, using a spoon, scoop out the white flesh with dark seeds into a bowl.
- Add in the chia seeds, coconut milk, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla extract, maple syrup, turmeric, and salt into the bowl as well and mix well with a spoon – until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Divide dragon fruit chia pudding between 3 containers and place in refrigerator to thicken for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- When ready to serve, cut up another dragon fruit – either cubed or cut decoratively. Also cut up some rambutan, making sure to avoid the center, and serve with the dragon fruit chia breakfast pudding.
Man, I wish we had a Sprouts up here! I do love tropical fruit, but we typically have to rely on the frozen aisle in order to get it. Fresh dragon fruit is such a cool idea for breakfast! We’ve been munching on blueberries we picked at a local farm, but I’m gonna have to find a way to put a tropical twist on our morning breakfast now! Awesome idea, Shashi!
Thank you for the background on dragonfruit and rambutan, Shashi! We can buy dragonfruit fairly easily here in Australia but I haven’t seen (and tasted) rambutan yet – it sounds a little like lychees? This pudding looks delicious, by the way!
Love the color of this! Texture is great, too. Super fun dish — thanks.
So colourful and delicious! I miss rambutan.
I was so excited to make your recipe for Dragon Fruit Chia Breakfast Pudding with Rambutan when I found the ingredients at my International market. It came out perfect!
I’ve been wanting to try these tropical fruits, especially dragon fruit. This is the perfect recipe to explore these new flavors!
Delicious and a healthy Breakfast option. Love that it is easy and can be prepared and stored a day before making mornings easy. I have to check this out.
I haven’t made anything with dragon fruit for quite some time now, so this is definitely the recipe I would love to fix that with!
This looks so pretty – almost too pretty to eat! Almost!
What a healthy looking breakfast pudding. I love cinnamon and cardamom so this is a must try for me!
Such a lovely breakfast – and it look so wonderful!
I Made this for a gathering and it was a hit, everyone loved it! Will definitely make it again!
This looks perfect, a delicious and healthy breakfast! Looking forward to trying it soon.
Yum! I love finding new ways to use dragon fruit. This will be a must try very soon, I will need to make a trip to the store first 😉 but saving this one!
These bowls are so pretty they almost look like table decorations instead of food. Excited to try them!
I cannot say dragon fruit is my favourite kind of fruit, but gosh, it is always so photogenic (and so is rambutan), right? This chia pudding looks and sounds delicious; love the addition of coconut milk and especially cardamom.