Dragon Fruit Mango Smoothie
Start your day off with a delicious and sweet tropical Dragon fruit And Mango Smoothie.
Once upon a time, there was a maintenance company…
…aaaaand this maintenance company was responsible for making sure that all ran well at a building I happened to work in.
However, they were kinda “lackadaisical” in their approach to any and ALL issues and so, on more that one occasion, our HVAC unit backfired! In winter no one seemed to mind too much, but, in summer, oooh – let’s just say, you wouldn’t find anyone walking around singing the “Happy Song“!
What you would have found instead were people walking around with portable fans in one hand and spray bottles in the other muttering “the heat is on” and threatening to steal spray bottles! But – for me – these were some of the few times when the temperature in the building was finally. Just. Right.
Not too hot, not too cold – but Just. Right.
Having spent my teen years (most of them running track) in 100+ degree weather – I have grown accustomed to the heat! Ooh, in fact, I might even break out the “L” word in describing my feelings towards heat!
Sadly, however…
My daughter has not inherited my love of heat – she definitely does not feel the lure of a hot, scorching evening! The other day, she pelted me with her empty water bottle while we were in the middle of an easy 4 mile run around 5pm as she thought the sun was too high in the sky! I wanted to pull out a “when I was your age…” story but instead … I came home and I made her a smoothie!
Or, rather subjected her to a dragon fruit and mango overload!
If you haven’t tried dragon fruit yet, it is a gorgeous fruit – from cacti – very similar in texture to a kiwi – ripe dragon fruit that is somewhat soft to touch, tastes somewhat like a cross between a sweet pear and a kiwi – it’s best ripe and (from my limited experience) the ones with brown blotches tend to have a different aroma and taste – not as pleasant as ripe, blotch free, dragon fruit!
Dragon fruit can be eaten buy cutting the fruit in half and easily scooping out the flesh with a spoon or the flesh can be pulled off the skin and cubed – which is what I did to make this smoothie. Just make sure not to include any of the pink skin as it tends to be a tad bit bitter.
So – I have 3 questions I would love to know your opinions on:
1) What is your “sweating point” – or rather, when is it just too hot for you?
2) Have you tried Dragon fruit before?
3) Would you rather listen to “The Happy Song” or “The Heat Is On” on repeat – ALL day?
Hoping y’alls week is off to a wonderful start!
Ingredients
- 1 Dragon fruit cubed
- 1 mango cubed/chopped
- 4-6 ice cubes
- 3 tablespoons raw cane sugar or honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1/2 a scoop vanilla protein powder of your choice optional
Instructions
- Place ALL the ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth – this smoothie will be thick – we gulped ours down sans straws!
Dragonfruit is so pretty to look at. It’s okay in smoothies but I’ve never found one I wanted to give up all other food for. Unlike mango. ๐
It is pretty indeed – yes – it isn’t as good as mango – but I like to pair it with mango – I dunno why – clearly I have unresolved issues! ๐
I can’t believe I haven’t used dragonfruit in a smoothie and now I can’t wait to!!
Matt – looking forward to seeing a smoothie or something with dragon fruit on your blog soon…
I’d love to find perfectly ripe, unmarred dragon fruit around here…I’ve never tried it! And as far a temperature goes, my hubby says I have a very narrow comfort range, but I’d always prefer it a little warmer than being cold ๐
Liz – I sure hope you get to try dragon fruit – I have seen it at major grocery store chains like Publix- maybe like once during the course of the year – but they are available in plenty at a South Asian Store near me.
I love the heat but not while I’m working. When at work I like nothing higher than average temperatures. I think dragon fruit is so pretty. I love dragon fruit but haven’t tried it in a smoothie xx
Dragon Fruit is indeed pretty – Charlie – have you tried chunks of it frozen? So so good!
I actually haven’t tried a dragon fruit! But this girl loves mango, so WHY THE HECK NOT. Plus, it’s so purdy!
As far as heat. I hate it.
Says the girl who lives in Florida. I am dying here. Pinned!
Hahaha – Oh dear – I would so love to live down in Florida – besides you guys have no income tax! Oooh that heat is getting more bareable by the second ๐
Thanks lady – I do love mango too – this summer, Costco had cases of 6 mangoes for $5 – you bet my daughter and I hd bellies full of mangoes!
I would much rather be hot than cold, but still. Excessive heat is EXCESSIVE! I could have used this smoothie after some of my summer long runs!
Thanks Joanne – and you live where when it gets cold it gets absolutely FRIGID! BRRR!!!
Shashi! You just confirmed that you are crazy. Atlanta. In August. With a broken A/C unit. And you almost used the “L” word. Crazy, I say! I can’t say that I’ve had dragon fruit very often…and come to think, I don’t think I’ve even seen it in stores since we left Atlanta. Oh, and “the heat is on” wins by a landslide against the happy song.
P.S. I’m in upstate New York…about 2.5 hours north of NYC. Very close to Saratoga Springs if you’re familiar with Saratoga. ๐
Hahaha – David – it’s like you are my brother from another mother – you know me too well! I sure am CARAZY indeed! ๐
I’ve kinda heard about Saratoga – not a whole bunch though – I am gathering that there are no places like the Dekalb Farmers Market there?
I love how you use all these exotic, fun ingredients! I’ve never tried dragonfruit before… but you may have just inspired me to go out and look for it!
Thanks bunches Chris – let the hunting (for dragon fruit that is) begin! Hey maybe you and the Wolf-pack can use it in your next Chopped challenge? ๐
Dragon fruit looks pretty…but I prefer mango :-)) This morning I had a mango juice with maca powder…and it was WOW..Your smoothie looks great too!
Mango juice with maca powder?I am intrigued!
Thanks Angie!
Just recently I found this fruit being sold at a supermarket near my house. I am sure going to try this. Thanks for sharing ๐
You are so welcome – Hope you enjoy dragon fruit – I know some people who eat it with ice cream! ๐
Now i have “the heat is on” in my head, and im kinda dancing to it in my chair ๐ I dont think ive ever had dragon fruit but that smoothie looks AMAZING! im probably more of a new englander than ill admit in that i always say i like heat, but temps topping out around 78 is my idea of hot enough ๐
GAH – 78 degrees makes me wanna start looking for my sweater! ๐
Just kidding – 68 degrees does that! ๐
Oh and thank you BTW.
I don’t think I have ever tried Dragon fruit. This smoothie looks like a great way to beat the heat!
Thanks Erin – ooh girl, you gotta try it – at least once!
I am with you,I love sun and sunny days more :)Dragon fruit looks interesting and so is the smoothy ๐
Thank you so very much Harini
I used to be right there with you on the heat but this past summer for some reason I can’t handle it as well.
I would much rather hear the happy song all day!!
Kim, I seem to be the opposite – I cannot seem to handle the cold – I remeber once getting into a conversation with this older gentleman who told me his goal in life was to live in cities where the lowest temp was above his age – he said it involved a lot of moving but he was happy!
Sadly I don’t handle cold well either – I like it to be around 75!!
Kim – 75 year round is perfect for me too! I think we should move to San Diego – what do you say?!
Perfect – I’m in!
Oooh what a great idea to use dragon fruit in smoothies! It sounds so good especially with the mango, love it! I am a big fan of summer but not when it’s extremely hot. I think I would take a sunny day over snow any day though ๐
Thanks Kelly!
I am with you on those snow days – here in Atlanta our city just shuts down-last year when snow started to fall people got stuck on the freeways for hours!!!
Oh I love that you used dragon fruit in a smoothie and combining with mango wis a great idea too!
Thanks so very much Suzanne!
dragon fruit is so so beautiful, just like these smoothies. i’m currently drowning to death in the new orleans humidity and i really really really want one of these right now!
Thanks so much Graham! I just googled New Orleans weather and looks like y’all are about 10 degrees hotter than us with about 5% more humidity! Drink ALL the smoothies my friend! ๐
When I saw a dragon fruit for the first time I thought to myself that this is one of the prettiest and most perfect fruits in the world. I wonder how your smoothie tastes. For sure awesome! =)
Helene – it is indeed such a gorgeous fruit – have you seen the ones with the bright pink flesh? So so pretty!
You’ve got me incensed now to try dragon fruit! It looks like such a super-fun and exotic fruit! And it definitely works in these gorgeous smoothies!
Thanks so much Sarah! I hope you can get your hands on some soon!
Such an interesting combination
Thanks so much Sam
hahaha!!! I can completely relate with your daughter! I hate the heat! It’s almost always so hot and humid here that it is difficult to walk two steps without sweating!!!! On the days when it’s gloomy and cloudy, I’m the happiest since that is the only time I get to experience a pleasant weather! ๐ I have tasted dragon fruit only once and I loved the flavor and texture and I love how you incorporated it with some delish mangoes! I can almost taste how refreshing this will be and need to make it stat!!!!
Thanks so much Samina – it’s not so humid here – humidity makes it miserable I know!
A refreshing and delicious combo!
Cheers,
Rosa
Thanks Rosa!
I’ve never had dragonfruit before but it’s certainly a pretty fruit! I’m from Northern Minnesota and I still haven’t gotten my “Southern blood” yet so the heat here is unbearable for me during the summer. But I am an indoor Sashi so make good use of the A/C. ๐
Hahaha – So you must have loved last winter!
I haven’t tried dragon fruit and you’ve definitely inspired me! Looks delish!
Have a great Wednesday Shashi!
Aww shucks – thanks Melanie ! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
We have plenty of dragon fruits including those red colored inner. I love the fruit and now after seeing this healthy smoothie, I know what to do next.
Thanks so much Nava!
A beautiful and healthy smoothie Shashi. Well lets see, I live in HK so my threshold for heat is not liking when I feel like I am melting whilst waiting for the bus is 100 degree heat and 100 percent humidity. Our family adores dragon fruit and eats it quite often. I would much rather little to the “Happy Song” for at least once before I put my own earphones in at work. Have a super day! Take care, BAM
Thanks BAM – Oh my goodness…100% humidity???? YIKES!!!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
What a fun post Shash! I do like Dragon Fruit. Tried it for the first time in Thailand a couple of years ago. Where’d you find it though? Regular grocery store or specialty one? I’ve never seen it here.
In response to your other 2 questions: Its never too hot for me. Still a desert girl all the way! And I’d listen to the “Heat is on” any day!
Keep your recipes coming.
Thanks Charmi – I found dragon fruit at a South Asia Store called super H Mart – and I think I might even have seen it at Publix -chain grocery store- once or twice.
this looks like a great combination.I usually use dragon fruit in smoothies.I use the red dragon fruit most of the time.
Thanks Amila – the red one is so so pretty!
I’m with your daughter — I’m a wimp when it comes to too much heat. So I’d definitely need this smoothie! I’ve never had dragonfruit in a smoothie — terrific idea. Thanks.
hanks so much KR – Yes dragon fruit is a must try – at least once!
Dragon fruit is so pretty! I see it in the stores from time to time, but I’ve never actually picked one up. I may have mentioned that I’m not all that adventurous with new foods? ๐ True, true. I’m also NOT good when it comes to the heat. Oh gawl. I’m lucky to live in Canada where our summers aren’t anything -too- extreme, but some of those hotter days… they just kill me!
Amanda when you visit Atlanta – I think it would be a good idea to come in winter – we are not called HotLanta for no reason ๐
I’m not a fan of weather at either extreme. Give me 60 to 70 degree weather and I’m very happy! I’ve never bought dragonfruit before because I had no idea what to do with it. Going to have to try this smoothie!
Brr – 60 makes me wanna go get my fleece! ๐ Hope you have a wonderful weekend Christin
Dragon fruit looks awesome but for some reason I don’t know what to do with it, thanks for the inspiration Shashi, can’t wait to try this out!
You are so welcome Mike – you could also use them to make popsicles – My daughter loves dragon fruit pops with almond milk and vanilla and honey.
haha um yeah I would definitely be one of those people sweating!! I cannot stand the heat! I love the colder temps and bundling up to stay warm!
I’ve sadly never had dragon fruit. I need to get my hands on some! This smoothie looks wonderful!
Thanks Ashley – you are missing out lady – hope you get your hands on some dragon fruit pronto – I have found them mostly in South Asian stores so far.
Oh wow – I never would have thought to use dragon fruit in a smoothie. I bet this is awesome!!
Thanks so much Ashley
Oh wow this sounds great- I never would think to add dragon fruit to a smoothie! I’ve had it a few times in Asian restaurants- it’s always served under “Exotic fruit platter”! Is it crazy to think that looks-wise, it reminds me a lot of cookies ‘n’ cream ice cream…looks not taste haha!
Oh my goodness Khushboo – it’s like we share the same brain – YES -YES – it most definitely does look like cookies ‘n’ cream ice cream – once I made vanilla dragon fruit popsicles and my brain tricked me into thinking exactly that before I took the first bite! ๐
Shashi! My half Asian side is wanting to come chase you with a stick for blending dragon fruit….but your forgiven for the beauty of the smoothie!
Hahaha – Arman – am Asian on both sides – is blending dragon fruit a no-no? GAH – I lost that memo!
Hope Sydney is treating you well…
I have never tried dragon fruit… but now you definitely have me curious!
It is like Kiwi – mixed with a pear – very interesting indeed!
I grew up in one of the hottest cities in the world, so let’s just say my heat tolerance is very high! I actually sweat more in winter, though – I think it’s because I’m wearing more clothes and not expecting to feel warm. I would take a hot, dry day any day of the week! Mangos are my favourite fruit ๐
I grew up in a tropical country but I dislike the heat and humidity! I do like smoothies a lot though and I bet I would love this one ๐
I am not sure I ever tried dragon fruit. Definitely I have never tasted it fresh. I’d love to try it but I am not sure where I could find it (didn’t see it much around :)). I am pretty sure I would like your exotic smoothie!
Years ago I use to be you, but now I’m your daughter. I want that smoothie after a run. I just recently tasted dragon fruit for the first time, and know how delicious this smoothie is! I’m not familiar with the Happy Song, but I love The heat is on, so I’ll go with that.