Yellow dragon fruit lemonade is made from this unusual and delicious tropical fruit that is sweeter than most dragon fruits and has a lot of health benefits. Enjoy it in a sweet lemonade recipe.
This yellow dragon fruit lemonade is easy to make and made from a version of dragon fruit that is more flavorful than most. Yellow dragon fruit, also called pitaya, is a baseball-sized melon with Jurassic-park-like spikes that is showing up increasingly now in the produce areas of grocery stores. These tasty pitayas are worth a try if you come upon one.
Sweet and syrupy like kiwi without the sour aftertaste, yellow dragon fruit benefits are powerful, including higher fiber than is found in many fruits, including yellow pitaya's more common cousin, pink dragon fruit. So not only is the melon's flesh delicious to eat, it can also reverse constipation. Yellow dragon fruit can be eaten in a smoothie, scooped like a melon, or spooned straight out of the shell.
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All About Yellow Dragon Fruit
What is a yellow pitaya? Yellow dragon fruit, Hylocereus megacanthus, is a type of cactus native to Central America. The yellow fruit's pink counter part comes with both pink and white flesh, is popular because of the striking pink color. However, yellow dragon fruit is catching up in popularity both because it is far sweeter in flavor than its pink cousin, and because of current attention on TikTok for its digestion support. Although dragon fruit's peak season is summer into fall, lately both colors are appearing in grocery stores in early spring.
Dragon fruit health benefits. Yellow dragon fruit is much sweeter than other pitayas, with about 20 grams of sugar per cup, compared to only 15 grams in its pink counterpart. Both pitayas have a low glycemic index however, so neither type spikes blood sugar. And both the pink and yellow pitaya are high in fiber, the same amount each, about 5 grams per cup. Like all pitayas, the yellow fruit is also high in vitamins C and B, and is rich in antioxidants which protect cells against aging and disease. And dragon fruit is good for weight loss because it is so high in fiber that it makes you feel full so you will reduce snacking.
How to Eat
How to cut yellow dragon fruit. Start by choosing a firm fruit with a green clear tinge to the scales, wash off the surface well with soap and water so when you cut it you don't drag germs inside the edible area. Holding it steady on the cutting board, push tip down, and slice the fruit in half with a sharp knife.
How to eat. You can eat the inner flesh straight from the sliced shell or spoon the fruit inside into a glass with water, lemon and ice for a refreshing yellow dragon fruit lemonade (recipe in this post.)
Storage. Once cut, the fruit cannot be stored at room temperature or even refrigerated for very long. If cut, its best to put the fruit inner flesh into a sealed container and freeze. It can last at least two months if sealed tightly.
Lemonade Ingredients
It's easy to toss fresh yellow dragon fruit into a blender for a smoothie or make melon balls to drop in a salad, but the melon is so sweet it makes a wonderful sweetener for refreshing drinks. Here are the ingredients you'll need to make a dragon fruit fruit-sweetened lemonade recipe.
- yellow dragon fruit flesh, throw out the skin.
- pure lemon juice
- pinch of salt
- water
Step by Step Instructions
- Wash a yellow dragon fruit with gentle soap and water, rinse well.
- Using a sharp knife, point the tip down and cut the fruit in half.
- Using a spoon or melon baller, scoop out the inner flesh, seeds and all, and add to a blender.
- Add lemon juice, water and a pinch of salt and blend into a white froth.
- Pour the drink into a glass filled with ice and lemon slices.
- Enjoy cold. Refrigerate leftovers for 2 days.
Expert Tips
- To choose a ripe yellow dragon fruit, look for one that is firm but has a little give when you press your finger onto the shell. Also avoid any that have cuts, rotten areas, and if the scales are looking blackened.
- The black seeds are not only edible but contain considerable fiber so feel free to eat them and leave them in your lemonade for an interesting black speckled effect.
- Given the effect dragon fruit has on triggering digestion, it is best to not eat more than one a day.
- If you buy more than one yellow dragon fruit - for instance if you found them on sale - remove the flesh using a melon baller or press it into ice cube trays and freeze.
Recipe Variations
- Swap the lemon juice with lime juice for a sweeter accent.
- Blend in some flesh from a pink dragon fruit as well as yellow dragon fruit to combine the two fruits creating a mix of sweet with sour notes.
- Though dragon fruit is typically eaten raw, it can be cooked. For instance, it can be added to the grill and blackened. However, since yellow dragon fruit flesh is incredibly moist, freeze it first before grilling it and grill it directly out of the freezer.
FAQS
What is yellow dragon fruit good for?
Yellow dragon fruit is sweeter than other dragon fruits and so is best for smoothies and making ice cream. It is just as high as its pink counterparts in fiber, making both types of dragon fruit a great source of fiber that helps relieve constipation. About half a cup of dragon fruit contains a whopping 5 grams of fiber.
What does yellow dragon fruit taste like?
Yellow dragon fruit tastes like a ripe kiwi crossed with a ripe pear, with some rose petal notes in there as well. This variety of dragon fruit is much sweeter than the dragon fruit with a pink shell.
What is the difference between yellow and red dragon fruit?
Yellow dragon fruit has a yellow outer shell, while red dragon fruit has a pink shell. Red dragon fruits can also come with either white seeded inner flesh or pink seeded inner flesh. Meanwhile yellow dragon fruit's inner flesh is white but also translucent, and its black seeds are much larger than those found inside the red dragon fruit.
More Dragon Fruit Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Yellow Dragon Fruit Lemonade
Equipment
- 1 sharp knife
- 1 measuring cup, spoons
- 1 blender
Ingredients
- 1 yellow dragon fruit*
- 2 cups water
- ¼ cup pure lemon juice
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Wash the dragon fruit gently with soap and water, and rinse well.
- Using a sharp knife cut the dragon fruit lengthwise. Scoop out flesh and add to a blender.1 yellow dragon fruit*, 2 cups water, ¼ cup pure lemon juice, pinch salt
- Add the lemon juice, water and salt to the blender jar and process.
- Pour the drink over ice and lemon slices. Enjoy!
Jude
I love the idea of no sugar in a lemonade.