American Beauty Dragon Fruit
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
American Beauty dragon fruits grow on long, thin, vining cactuses that are often seen growing up trees, fences or walls. On the outside, American Beauty dragon fruits look almost identical to the white-fleshed variety. The brightly colored oblong fruits are about 10 centimeters in length and can weigh up to a pound. They have pink to magenta-colored skin that has the appearance of succulent, fleshy scales overlapping, leaving small, green-tipped protrusions along its length. The skin is thin, with an average thickness of only 3 millimeters, so the flesh to rind ratio is high. The bright magenta flesh of the American Beauty dragon fruit is the result of a compound called betacyanin, which is the same pigment present in beets and prickly pear fruit. The pulp has the texture of a kiwi fruit, with small, black edible seeds throughout. Red Dragon fruit is sweet, though not as sweet as the white-fleshed variety, and has a mild acidity.
Seasons/Availability
Red Dragon fruits are available year-round.
Current Facts
American Beauty dragon fruits, or Pitaya Roja, are botanically classified as Hylocereus guatemalensis. The red-fleshed dragon fruits are rarer than the yellow skinned variety, and are not nearly as widely available as the white-fleshed variety. American Beauty dragon fruits are a Guatemalan dragon fruit variety and almost became extinct due to disease in 2014.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include American Beauty Dragon Fruit. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Builicious |
|
Dragon Fruit Macarons |
| Cook with Manali |
|
Vegan Dragon Fruit Panna Cotta |
| Cherry on a Cake |
|
Dragon Fruit Jam |
| Choosing Chia |
|
Vegan Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars |
