Just look at this dairy free dragon fruit ice cream – have you even seen such a pretty dessert? This is no churn ice cream made with bananas and dragon fruit only. That’s right. You only need two ingredients and both of them are fruit. You will LOVE this frozen dairy free dessert recipe using dragon fruit, also known as pitaya. If you are looking for a fun, colourful ice cream flavour, this is for you!
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So it’s not just a delicious recipe using dragon fruit but a healthy one as well. So if you’re looking for a colourful ice cream flavour which is super-easy to make and free from dairy, this is it!
What is Dragon Fruit?
Dragon fruit is native to Central America and Mexico but grows all over the globe these days. Sometimes known as strawberry pear or pitaya, this tropical fruit comes in different colours. You can get red-skinned ones with white flesh and black seeds and another variety has reddish pink flesh and black seeds. There is also a yellow-skinned type which has white flesh and black seeds.
This fruit is a great source of Vitamins B1, B2 and B3 and Vitamin C. It’s also rich in magnesium which helps you sleep well, plus calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron. And as if that wasn’t enough, it’s a good source of essential fatty acids, protein and fibre as well!
Taste-wise I would describe dragon fruit as a cross between a pear and a kiwi fruit. The different varieties taste the same, but choose the red-fleshed one to get this colourful ice cream flavour. This frozen dairy free dessert can be made with a different variety though or even a mixture of two kinds.
You know, the thought of ice cream for breakfast might strike you as strange but when you consider this recipe is made with only banana and dragon fruit, it makes more sense! What could be more refreshing on a hot summer morning than healthy ice cream made with bananas?
So How Easy is It to Make?
As far as ice cream recipes go, they don’t get much easier. You don’t need an ice cream maker or any gadgets at all to make this frozen dairy free dessert. You do need to start it a day ahead though by peeling and freezing the bananas.
The following day, blend them in a blender or food processor. You are going to need a decent quality blender for this, as frozen bananas are hard. They’re no match for mediocre quality blender blades!
Once the bananas are pureed you can add in the dragon fruit and blend again until the mixture is well combined. Now all that’s left to do is transfer the fruity mixture into a container and freeze it. You can either freeze it overnight or give it at least six to eight hours, which means you’ll probably want to prepare it in the morning. Then you can enjoy it same day!
What if I can’t find Pink Dragon Fruit?
If you can’t find frozen or fresh one pink dragon fruit (pitaya), you can substitute with dragon fruit or pitaya powder. You can actually use as much as you want as the flavor is mild. The dragon fruit powder is great to add to smoothies, too.
How to Serve this Recipe Using Dragon Fruit
You can enjoy no churn dairy free dragon fruit ice cream just as it is, or try it as a palate cleanser between courses. It’s also good served with whipped cream (or a non-dairy alternative) or sprinkles, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, nuts – the list goes on! Chocolate syrup would be a good contrast.
Have a scoop with a piece of lemon pie, some waffles or pancakes or even a slice of cake. I’m sure you can come up with lots of ways to enjoy this dairy free dragon fruit ice cream.
Another idea is to add a scoop to your preferred variety of milk and blend to make a fruity milkshake or smoothie. Yum!
Remember too that you can add other types of fruit to the mixture if you want. The bananas give a creamy texture without the need to add any dairy or dairy-free milks or creams. The dragon fruit adds another dimension to the flavour as well as that gorgeous colour.
I would suggest starting with the frozen bananas and then pureeing those. Next you can add your choice of fruits to the blender or food processor. Peaches, strawberries, mango, or blueberries might be nice. How about keeping the exotic theme going with something totally different, like lychees?
How to Store Dairy Free Dragon Fruit Ice Cream
This frozen dairy free dessert will keep for a month in the freezer (or much less, in my case!) Make sure it’s in a tightly sealed container because if moisture gets in that causes ice crystals which you don’t want in there.
This recipe using dragon fruit is so easy to make. Ensure you choose a pink-fleshed fruit if you want a colourful ice cream flavour. I love this dairy free dragon fruit ice cream at any time.
If you like this recipe using dragon fruit (aka pitaya), you might also like Dairy Free Fresh Pineapple Peach Smoothie, Healthy Breakfast Banana Split with Berries or Nourishing Blue Smoothie Bowl.
Dairy Free Dragon Fruit Ice Cream Recipe
Dairy Free Dragon Fruit Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 5 bananas medium
- 1/2 dragon fruit
Instructions
- Peeled and freeze bananas overnight.
- The next day, remove from the freezer and chop in 1 inch.
- Transfer in a high speed blender or food processor. Blend or process until smooth
- Transfer in a loaf pan or any freezer friendly container with a lid.
- Freeze at least 8 hours before serving.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
It’s so great to know an ice cream recipe can be so healthy! Ice cream made with bananas is naturally creamy and the dragon fruit adds an amazing pink colour which is all-natural. Plus, it is no churn so no special machine is needed.
If you are looking for other no churn ice cream recipes, you might also like No Churn Matcha Dulce de Leche Ice Cream, No Churn Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream or Coconut Pineapple Frozen Yogurt
This is so pretty! Love the color.