Pitaya, or Dragon fruit, with juicy white pulp and pink peel, covered with leaf-shaped processes, looks appetizing and is a real superfruit! It is very rich in nutrients and in fact it is really a vitamin bomb.
Pick your recipe
Instruction manual
1
The dragon fruit acquired its name thanks to the leaves covering the fruit and resembling dragon scales. The original origin of the fruit is Central America, the size of the fruit is from 10 to 15 cm, weight up to 500 g.
The white pulp of the fruit contains small dark seeds like kiwi. The taste is sweet-fresh, which is why it is often used in smoothies. Because of its intense color, designers often use food as a decoration.
2
Like other bright varieties of fruits and vegetables, this fruit is also rich in antioxidants. They act as liquidators of harmful substances in the body, thus preventing the onset of cancer and slowing down the aging process.
Pitaya is an excellent source of minerals, in particular iron and magnesium. Also contains calcium and phosphorus, useful for teeth and bones, as well as vitamins B, C and E.
3
The B vitamins contained in Dragon Fruit play an important role in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. They activate the metabolism, contribute to blood formation. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system and improves iron absorption.
With colds, as well as during pregnancy, pitaya helps maintain a balance of nutrients. Black fetal seeds aid digestion. However, in large quantities, they have a laxative effect. This effect is enhanced if the seeds are chewed.
Pitaya is low-calorie: 100 g of fruit pulp contain 60 kcal. The fruit is 90% water, which makes it a good supplier of fluids.
4
There are several types of pitaya: with white pulp and pink peel, with red pulp with pink peel and with white pulp and yellow peel.
Red flesh contains a high amount of beta-carotene, which in the body is converted to vitamin A and affects, in particular, cell growth and the immune system.
Most often they grow pitaya with a pink peel and white pulp. The yellow fruits of Dragon Fruit are more expensive, as they are less commonly cultivated, as are fruits with red flesh - they are difficult to cultivate, making them more expensive.
5
Before use, the fruit is cut and pulled out, leaving the peel. Pitaya is stored in the refrigerator for about 12 days. In this case, if the fruit is heated, its aroma disappears. The ripe fruit has a pink peel and is malleable when pressed lightly. The peel is not edible.
Most pitaya is imported from Thailand and Vietnam. Her breeding is not so simple, because the plant must be at least 20 years old before the first harvest.