Name: Dragon Fruit Salad with Tajín and Lime
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mexican/Latin
Ingredients: 1/2 cup sugar; 1/2 cup water; zest and juice of 2 limes; 2 dragon fruit, cut in chunks; 2 oranges, cut in sections; tajín; lime simple syrup

Dragon Fruit (aka pitaya or dragonfruit) may look intimidating, but its really very simple to break down. This quick Dragon Fruit Salad with Tajín and Lime comes together in just minutes, and it’s low calorie and loaded with nutrients! I’ll even show you how to prepare dragon fruit!

Dragon Fruit Salad with Tajín and Lime in a dragon fruit serving vessel on a square white plate.

🥭 What is Dragon Fruit/Pitaya?

Dragon fruit, also known by its Spanish name pitaya or strawberry pear, is a gorgeous, tropical fruit that is both sweet and crunchy (due to its seeds). It reminds me a little bit of a kiwi fruit, though the seeds are throughout rather than located in the center of the fruit.

Dragon fruit comes in 4 varieties, 3 of which have pink exteriors. One has a yellow exterior. You’ll see both in my ~~poor quality~~ video. When working on this dragon fruit salad recipe, I had one of the “yellow” pitaya, and was surprised (and disappointed) to discover that yellow pertains to the exterior only.

Be forewarned, it is next to impossible to know in advance what color fruit you will end up with. I thought my “red” pitaya would have red flesh; I have gotten them before. Lo and behold, both my “red” and my “yellow” pitaya had white flesh.

No worries! They really taste the same. I “eat with my eyes,” so I love the brilliant red ones, and I have gotten them only rarely…

Dragon fruit trivia: The plant that the fruit comes from is a cactus from the genus Hylocereus that only includes about 20 different species.

Though the plant is native to Mexico and Central America, it is now grown all over the globe. I have found them in every state in the US that I have shopped in. In Texas, they’re mostly coming from Mexico.

Dragon Fruit Nutrition

While people primarily eat it for its unique look and the way it tastes, it does offer some nutritional benefits as well. A 3.5 ounce/100 gram serving is high in fiber, and contains a decent amount of iron, magnesium, and vitamin C with only 60 calories.

So, it’s not a nutritional powerhouse, but it definitely complements a healthy diet.

🎥 How to Prepare Dragon Fruit

📖 More Ways to Use Dragon Fruit

Don’t limit dragon fruit to a salad bowl! Here are a few more ways to enjoy this beautiful fruit – cocktails, smoothie/smoothie bowls, and a salsa!

📋 Ingredients

dragon fruit – You’ll need 2 dragon (fruit any color). NOTE: The color on the outside does not always indicate the color on the inside!
oranges – On photo day, I used cara cara oranges, but you can use any orange. Choose the freshest available!
lime simple syrup – If making your own lime simple syrup, get it made so it can cool. I often have a mason jar of lime simple syrup in my refrigerator. Scroll down for simple instructions!
tajín – Of course I’d love you to try my homemade tajín recipe, but tajín is available on Amazon and in many US grocery stores.

🔪 Instructions

A glass bowl with dragon fruit/pitaya chunks, cara cara orange sections, a jar of lime simple syrup, and a jar of tajin.

A glass bowl with the lime simple syrup tossed with dragon fruit/pitaya chunks and a matte silver spoon with a jar of tajin behind.

Lime Simple Syrup: If making your own lime simple syrup, get it made so it can cool. I often have a mason jar of lime simple syrup in my refrigerator.

Bring 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar to a boil. Continue at a low boil, stirring occasional, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat.
Add the zest and juice of 2 juicy limes. Steep 10 minutes
Strain into a jar, then cool completely.

You can buy prepared lime simple syrup. Homemade is always best, but it’s a good shortcut… especially if it gets you interested in making this dragon fruit salad.

Tajín: Again, my preference is my homemade Tajín. My copycat recipe is low-sodium with all the zesty lime-chile flavor of prepared. You can, of course, buy Tajín as well.

Prepare the dragon fruit: See video above for guidance.

Prepare the cara cara (or other orange): I like to supreme the orange if I have the time, but it is certainly not necessary!

Dress the prepared fruit: You don’t want the fruit swimming in lime simple syrup! I drizzle it over the top, and gently combine it all together.

Sprinkle with Tajín: Whether using homemade tajín, or prepared, sprinkle the dragon fruit salad – generously if you know you love it!

A grey flecked shallow bowl with dragon fruit salad - including cara cara oranges, lime simple syrup, and tajin - with a silver spoon and a grey napkin.

🍤 Pairing Suggestions

We love this fruit salad with grilled shrimp skewers and either cilantro rice, red rice, or Mexican cauliflower rice.

Looking for a cocktail? A light and lively tropical chilcano or margarita fit the bill! A glass of sparkling water, a craft saison, or a glass of rosé may be more your style… Whatever you decide on, you’ll love this simple and quick tropical fruit salad!

💭 Tips

For a beautiful presentation, use the exterior of the dragon fruit as a bowl as shown in the photos.
Make the lime simple syrup in advance. It will keep in the refrigerator 2-3 days.
Make the tajín in advance. I make a batch and store in a mason jar and store for weeks (if it lasts that long!).

❓ FAQ

What other fruits can I use?

I must confess – I bought pomegranate arils to go with the dragon fruit and cara cara orange. It was only after I took the photos that I saw them on the refrigerator shelf! Try mango, blood orange, pomegranate arils, pineapple, etc.

How long can I keep my dragon fruit salad?

I really recommend making it and serving it the same day. You can keep it in the refrigerator for an hour or two, but it’s best served fresh.

I don’t have time to make lime simple syrup and tajín. What else can I use?

The lime simple syrup is available in many markets and liquor stores as it’s a common ingredient in cocktails. Tajín is available in most markets… usually near the produce. You can also order Tajín online.

In the coming months, I’ll be working on more recipes that use tajín. First up? Dried mango and tajín. YUM!

This easy Dragon Fruit Salad with Tajín and Lime comes together in minutes with the help of your already-made tajín and lime simple syrup. Don’t be intimidated by the exterior of the fruit!

📖 Recipe

Yield: 4

Dragon Fruit Salad with Tajín and Lime

Dragon fruit chunks and cara cara orange sections tossed with a lime simple syrup and sprinkled with spicy Mexican tajín in a quick, simple fruit salad!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

Dragon Fruit Salad

2 dragon fruit, cut in chunks
2 oranges, cut in sections
tajín
lime simple syrup

Lime Simple Syrup

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
zest and juice of 2 limes

Instructions

If making your own lime simple syrup, combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, and cook until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat.
Add the zest and juice. Steep 10 minutes. Cool completely then strain.
Combine the fruit in a bowl.
Drizzle with lime simple syrup. Toss gently to combine.
Sprinkle with tajín as desired.