Mango Dragon Fruit Smoothie

Depending on the variety of dragon fruit (also called pitaya), the flavor can be described as a mixture of kiwi and pear.  The smoothie combination for this recipe and frozen dragon fruit variety available at my local shop delivers a mild sweetness that reminds me of melon.

The lime juice adds a slight tanginess to the mild flavor of dragon fruit.  Using mango and a ripe banana adds a creamy texture to the smoothie while naturally sweetening the beverage.

For more dairy-free smoothie recipes, try a strawberry blackberry smoothie or a blueberry raspberry smoothie.

Recipe features

• Plant-based and dairy-free!
• Takes less than 10 minutes to make!
• The recipe uses frozen dragon fruit and frozen mango!

Ingredient notes and substitutions

The recipe uses simple ingredients, but please see the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and exact measurements.

Frozen dragon fruit (pitaya)- There are several varieties of dragon fruit, but I only tested with the cubed frozen red/purple flesh variety.  It’s ripe, chopped, and I can have it on hand to whip up a smoothie quickly. 

Frozen mango - Dragon fruit with mango is a delicious smoothie combination.  The frozen mango can be substituted with frozen pineapple, or add another banana to the smoothie.

Ripe banana - The ripe banana makes your pitaya smoothie creamy.  Without it, the texture of the smoothie with only frozen fruit is more slushy-like.

Lime - The lime juice adds a slight tangy flavor to the mango and dragon fruit smoothie.  Instead of lime juice, try adding a peeled kiwi or a peeled orange. 

Tips

• If you don’t have a high-speed blender and your blender has trouble blending frozen fruit, let the frozen fruit partially thaw before blending to make it easier on your blender.  You may not need as much water for this option.
• If fresh dragon fruit is used, you may want to add ice cubes to chill the smoothie or use a frozen ripe banana instead of a fresh one.
• If you use all fresh fruit instead of frozen, you may want to reduce the amount of water.  The smoothie also won’t be chilled if you use all fresh fruit.
• If you prefer a sweeter smoothie, try adding soft pitted dates.  If your dates are not soft, soak them in the water used for the recipe for about 30 minutes.

Variations

Enjoy the mango dragon fruit smoothie as is or try a different variation.

• Use a kiwi, a peeled orange, or lemon juice instead of lime juice.  Add to taste.
• Use frozen strawberries instead of frozen mango.
• Add a handful of fresh spinach or fresh kale.  This will alter the color of the smoothie.
• Make the recipe into a smoothie bowl by using less water.  To make it easier on your blender to blend frozen fruit into a smoothie bowl, let the frozen fruit partially thaw before blending.  This reduces the need for so much liquid to puree the frozen fruit.  Then top it with oil-free granola, sliced banana, shredded coconut, fresh or thawed pineapple chunks, fresh or thawed dragon fruit, fresh or thawed mango chunks, or fresh raspberries.

How to make a dragon fruit smoothie (pitaya smoothie)

Add the frozen diced dragon fruit, frozen mango chunks, one ripe brown spotted banana, the juice of half a lime, and one cup of water to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.

If the smoothie is too thin, add more frozen dragon fruit, frozen mango, or banana to thicken.  You can also try whole chia seeds.

If the smoothie is too thick, add more water to thin it out. Serve and enjoy!

Serving suggestions

Smoothies tend to be delicious but not very filling.  I use them as an afternoon snack and not as a main meal.  To enjoy this smoothie as a meal, try pairing it with strawberry toast, avocado tomato toast, vegan avocado toast, vegan toast, dairy-free overnight oats, or plant-based granola.

Storage

The smoothie is best served immediately, but store the leftover smoothie in an airtight container with a lid in the refrigerator and consume it within 24 hours.  If there is any liquid separation, stir it back in. Leftovers can be frozen in ice cube trays and used later to add flavor to another smoothie.

Frequently asked questions

Related recipes

• Apple cucumber smoothie
• Strawberry blackberry smoothie
• Pineapple beet smoothie

I hope you enjoy the recipe!  If you did feel free to rate it and leave a comment.