Dragon Fruit Banana Smoothie
Enjoy this beautiful and refreshing Purple Dragon Fruit Banana Smoothie any time of the year. It’s made with only five ingredients and is gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. This healthy smoothie has no added sugar.
Don’t you just love when your food is beautiful and delicious? Dragon fruit (also called pitaya) is a tropical cactus fruit that tastes similar to a kiwi and a pear.
Red dragon fruit originates in Central America and has a variety of health benefits (see my related article on the health benefits of dragon fruit).
Fresh dragon fruit or frozen dragon fruit puree is naturally sweet, perfect for smoothies, and rich in antioxidants. It’s also high in fiber which helps you feel full for a longer period of time.
Whip this smoothie up on a busy morning for an on-the-go breakfast or as a healthy snack (see all of my healthy breakfast smoothie recipes).
Why You Need This Recipe
- Smoothies are an excellent way to pack in vitamins and minerals. Pitaya is full of Vitamin C, magnesium, and iron, while chia seeds add some plant-based protein.
- It doesn’t need any added sugar. The banana and frozen dragon fruit add the perfect amount of sweetness all on their own.
- It’s dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan! Unsweetened almond milk is a perfect base when you want to avoid dairy.
Key Ingredients
Unsweetened almond milk has a mild flavor and creamy texture which makes it perfect for smoothies. Coconut milk would also be amazing.
You can use any of your favorite plant milks for this recipe (and, if you’re not on a dairy-free diet, feel free to use regular milk). Or, feel free to use fruit juices such as orange juice or even coconut water instead of plant-based milk.
Banana sweetens up the smoothie naturally and also makes it thick and creamy. Be sure to use a ripe banana.
See my tips on how to freeze bananas.
Pitaya or dragon fruit gives this smoothie its gorgeous pink color, tropical flavor, and array of vitamins.
Look for dragon fruit in the frozen fruit section of your grocery store. You can also use yellow dragon fruit or white flesh dragon fruit in this recipe. But, the red dragon fruit with the pink flesh will offer the most vibrant color to your pitaya smoothie.
Frozen strawberries keep the smoothie icy cold while keeping it creamy. You can also use fresh fruit, but then you’ll need to add a few ice cubes to thicken the smoothie.
Chia seeds add filling protein and naturally thicken the smoothie. They are one of my top weight loss smoothie ingredients!
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Steps
Step One
In the base of a high-speed blender add all the ingredients.
Step Two
Blend on high until the mixture is thick and creamy.
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Step Three
If you want the smoothie to be thicker, add a few ice cubes and blend well.
Step Four
Otherwise serve immediately.
This is a great easy breakfast or snack with simple ingredients. I hope you love this Dragon Fruit Smoothie recipe as much as I do! It’s a tropical smoothie with a mild taste.
Recipe Tips & Substitutions
- Look for dragon fruit in the frozen section of grocery stores. It is a tropical fruit so it’s more cost-effective to buy it frozen. To open the packet of frozen dragon fruit, run it under warm water for about 30 seconds. Then, use your hands to break it in half and use scissors to open the packet.
- It’s ideal to use a high-speed blender like a Vitamix, but you can also use a regular blender.
- To increase the protein content of this smoothie to make it a meal replacement, feel free to add a scoop of your favorite unsweetened protein powder. See my list of the best clean protein powders.
- Other optional add-ins include: maple syrup, hemp seeds, cacao nibs, a handful of ice, or pineapple juice.
- To make dragon fruit smoothie bowls, reduce the liquid in this recipe by half.
- Store any leftover smoothie in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Recipe FAQs
Smoothies made with healthy ingredients can be an excellent part of a weight loss plan. Avoid smoothies with added sugar, fruit juice, sweetened yogurt, ice cream, or canned fruit.
Dragon fruit has a tropical sweet flavor that goes well with most fruits. It pairs particularly well with bananas, strawberries, oranges, pineapple, and mango.
This fruit got its name for its appearance. Its skin has large folds or scales which are reminiscent of what a dragon’s skin looks like. You may like this article on the health benefits of yellow dragon fruit.
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes You Might Like
- Watermelon Banana Smoothie
- Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie
- Acai Strawberry Smoothie Without Dairy
- Oat Milk Smoothie with Strawberry & Banana
Don’t Miss These Smoothie Resources!
Dragon Fruit Banana Smoothie
Enjoy this beautiful and refreshing Purple Dragon Fruit Banana Smoothie any time of the year. It’s made with only five ingredients and it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan.
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 1 ripe banana, broken into chunks
- 1 100–gram packet of purple frozen dragon fruit, also called pitaya (about 1/2 cup)
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
Instructions
- In the base of a high-speed blender, combine the almond milk, banana, dragon fruit, strawberries, and chia seeds.
- Blend on high for about 30 seconds, or until the mixture is thick and creamy.
- If you want to increase the thickness of the smoothie, feel free to add a few ice cubes.
- Serve immediately.
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
- Look for dragon fruit in the frozen fruit section of your grocery store. To open the packet of frozen dragon fruit, run it under warm water for about 30 seconds. Then, use your hands to break it in half and use scissors to open the packet.
- To increase the protein content of this smoothie to make it a meal replacement, feel free to add a scoop of your favorite unsweetened protein powder.
- This recipe can easily be doubled.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Category: Smoothie
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Diet: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 207
- Sugar: 9.1 g
- Sodium: 152.6 mg
- Fat: 8.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30.5 g
- Fiber: 8.3 g
- Protein: 4.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.
I’ve always wanted to try dragon fruit. Thanks for the tip to look in the frozen fruit section, I can’t eat strawberries— what would be a good fruit to swap in for this recipe?
Thank you
Hi Lorraine, I would try frozen mango or any type of other berry to replace the strawberries. Let me know what you think of the smoothie! 🙂
I really love this combo of fruits!