JOIN USHave you ever tasted a dragon fruit? Don’t get put off by its name. Dragon fruit has nothing to do with dragons or their food. It is named so only because its skin resembles the scales of a dragon.
This oblong, large fruit has a deep pinkish-red outer skin covered with green scales. When peeled, the inner flesh is whitish-gray with plenty of black seeds. The seeds are similar to black sesame seeds in appearance, grainy in texture and sandy to the bite. Like kiwi fruit, dragon fruit can be eaten with the seeds.
Native to Central America, with Vietnam being the major commercial cultivator, dragon fruit belongs to the cactus family. Available in most supermarkets, dragon fruits are a bit expensive, but offer a novel and healthy experience.
The dragon fruit boasts of a wide range of health benefits. It is a rich repository of Vitamins B and C and is known to aid a blemish-free skin. It is a good source of iron, calcium and phosphorous. It is also low in calories and has phytonutrients that help reduce cholesterol. What’s more, the high fibre content keeps constipation at bay, while the seeds contain a good amount of protein.
But remember not to eat the fruit in its entirety. First wash it thoroughly and trim the top end. Now, cut it lengthwise into half, separating the fruit at its base. Take each half and gently peel back the thick skin with your hand in one go. This will leave you with a semicircular chunk of fruit, which you can relish.
Alternately, you can cut the fruit in half and simply scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Else, cut roundels with the skin, and then peel off the outer layer. What remains are beautiful
circles of the flesh. Enjoy them in their natural taste (bland to sweet) or sprinkle some sugar on them.