Discover 5 irresistible recipes with pitaya that you will (really) want to try

It's colorful, vibrant, nutritious, healthy and... irresistible. Can you imagine how many amazing recipes you can find with pitaya?

Pitaya is a very popular exotic fruit with exceptional characteristics, and a very healthy and complete ingredient that you should include in your diet.

Do you want to know why and also know some recipes with pitaya to use in your daily life? 

Find out everything in this article we prepared for you.

What do you know about pitaya?

Pitaya, or dragon fruit, comes from a species of cactus native to Central America, South America, and Mexico. Its appearance is unmistakable, with a vibrant, colorful skin, a juicy and tasty flesh, and small black seeds, which give the fruit a crunchy texture.

Its intense color is 100% natural and is due to its pigment, rich in betalains, being very intense.

Pitaya is a fruit rich in nutrients, such as::

• Vitamins — B and C;

• Minerals — iron, calcium and phosphorus;

• Antioxidants — betalains are a powerful antioxidant;

• Omegas 3 and 6;

• Fiber;

• Water.

The wide variety of recipes with pitaya encourages its regular consumption recipes with pitaya encourages its regularconsumption and presents several benefits for the body, being a very healthy option for a balanced diet:

• Fights aging;

• Promotes the proper functioning of the intestine;

• Strengthens the immune system;

• It is friendly to the heart;

• It has antioxidant properties.

What does pitaya taste like?

The taste of pitaya can be considered sweet and mild, but with a slight acidity. Its flesh is juicy and the small black seeds add some crunchiness to it.

Some people compare the taste of pitaya to a combination of several fruits or to a fruit sorbet.

Are you even more curious?

Then it's time to try pitaya sorbet, a refreshing and super tasty option that you can add to your healthy recipes.

Do you want to discover Native Pitaya, a colorful and nutritious superfood?

The consumption of pitaya in Portugal has become more popular in recent years, not only because it is an option full of flavor, but, above all, for its nutritional properties. Therefore, at Native Foods, we work to offer our customers a natural, healthy and flavourful solution.

Native Pitaya is produced from premium quality pitaya.

The color you see in our cups is the natural color of the pitaya, because our sorbet is free of dyes and preservatives.

The texture of Native Foods sorbet is creamy, and its flavor is as similar as possible to the original dragon fruit flavor.

This is a vegan option, free of additives, lactose, gluten, and GMOs. It is therefore a natural, additive-free and healthy option to add to your pitaya recipes, adding color, texture and flavor.

Native Foods' pitaya sorbet is available in a glass, as an ice cream and can be consumed in several ways. You can choose to consume it plain, add it to juices, cocktails and smoothies, or to your healthy bowls. You can also use it as the star ingredient in some desserts.

Need some recipe ideas with pitaya to add to your menu?

1. Native Pitaya and Mango Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Native Pitaya

• 100g Brasfrut mango pulp (2 units)

• 90 ml milk or vegetal drink

• ½ banana

Preparation:

1. Rinse the pulp packaging through water, so that the pulp peels off the plastic;

2. With a suitable knife, try to cut the pulp into 4 parts and place them in a blender;

3. Add your vegetable drink (or milk) and the banana and blend until you get a kind of sorbet;

4. Rinse the ice cream molds with water, then distribute the mixture you have obtained among the molds and put them in the freezer;

5. Wait a few hours and your ice cream is ready!

2. Pitaya and banana smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Native Pitaya

• 1 ripe banana

• ½ cup coconut milk (or other option you prefer)

• 1 tablespoon honey (or other sweetener, such as agave jelly)

• ½ cup of ice cubes

Preparation:

1. Peel the banana and cut it into small pieces;

2. In a blender, add the pitaya sorbet, banana, milk, sweetener, and also the ice;

3. Blend until you get a creamy mixture;

4. Enjoy this delicious pitaya smoothie.

3. Pitaya caipirinha (non-alcoholic)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Native Pitaya

• 4 spoons of brown sugar

• Mint leaves

• ½ or 1 lime

• Sparkling water

• Ice

Preparation:

1. In a glass suitable for this purpose, place the pitaya sorbet;

2. Add the lime, cut in 4;

3. Add the sugar and crush everything so that the juices mix;

4. Add the sparkling water and then the ice;

5. Add some mint leaves and serve.

4. Colorful pitaya bowl

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Native Pitaya

• Red berries

• Banana

• 1 cup of vegetable drink

• Oatmeal | Granola | Dried fruit

Preparation:

1. In a blender, grind the pitaya with some of the red fruits, a few slices of banana and the vegetable drink;

2. When you have a mixture with a homogeneous texture, pass it to your bowl;

3. Use the remaining berries and the banana as a topping;

4. Add your favorite cereals and nuts to complete this super energetic bowl.

5. Chia pudding with Native Pitaya and fruit

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Native Pitaya

• 200g natural or Greek yogurt

• 100ml coconut milk (or other vegetal drink)

• 4 tablespoons of chia

• 2 tablespoons of honey

• 1 kiwi and raspberries

Preparation:

1. In a bowl, mix the yogurt, milk and honey;

2. Add the chia and stir;

3. When the chia is well mixed in, cover the bowl with cling film and place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours. Ideally, it should be chilled overnight;

4. To get a creamier texture, you should remove the mixture from the refrigerator a few minutes before eating;

5. Add Native Pitaya to your pudding and use sliced kiwi and raspberries as toppings, which will give even more life to this delicious snack! If you're not a fan, you can always exchange them for your favorite fruit.

What did you think of our suggestions for recipes with pitaya? Tempting, don't you think? Have fun and enjoy creating your own!

Join us on Facebook and Instagram and share some pictures of your pitaya sorbet creations with us.