Dragon fruit is not just delicious but also loaded with nutrients. This vibrant, refreshing fruit is perfect for summer. Besides enjoying it raw, you can also try some easy Dragon Fruit recipes.  Nutrients and Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, is a nutritional powerhouse despite its low calories. It is rich in vitamin C, which boosts the immune system. It also contains vitamin B which aids in energy production. High in fibre, dragon fruit supports healthy digestion and helps maintain a healthy weight.  Dragon fruit is also packed with antioxidants like betalains, which combat free radicals and reduce inflammation. Some research suggests these antioxidants have anti-cancer properties.  Additionally, this fruit provides essential minerals such as iron, magnesium, and calcium, contributing to bone health and muscle function. Including dragon fruit in your diet can enhance the overall well-being of health.  Read more: Tasty Beef and Mutton Steak Recipes for Bangladeshi Kitchens Mouthwatering Dragon Fruit Recipes for Bangladeshi Kitchen Dragon Fruit Smoothie Ingredients 1 cup dragon fruit (cubed and frozen), 1 cup mango (cubed and frozen), 2 bananas (cut into quarters and frozen), 3/4 cup almond or coconut milk, 2 tablespoons lime juice, and 2-4 ice cubes. Instructions First, add frozen fruit, milk, and lime juice to a blender. Then, blend it until the mixture is very smooth. If needed, gradually add more almond milk to achieve your desired consistency. Serve chilled, and enjoy your refreshing smoothie. Read more: How to Safely Enjoy Street Food in Bangladesh Dragon Fruit Salad with Ice-cream Ingredients 1 dragon fruit, 1 banana, 2 mangoes, 4 to 5 sapota, 10 to 12 strawberries, 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped nuts (cashews, almonds and pistachios), 6 scoops vanilla ice cream or as required, 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped nuts (for garnish), and 5 to 6 strawberry slices (for garnish). Instructions First, rinse, peel, and chop the dragon fruits. Then place the fruit slices in a bowl. Now, add chopped nuts like cashews, almonds, and pistachios to the dragon fruits. Stir the mixture properly to combine. Following this put the fruit salad into ice cream cups. After that, top each cup with vanilla ice cream. Garnish with slices of strawberries, berries, or other fruits. Sprinkle additional chopped nuts on top. Serve immediately for a fresh and healthy treat. Read more: Fridge Smells Bad? Reasons and How to Get Rid of It Dragon Fruit Dessert (Panna Cotta) Ingredients 2 cups coconut milk (use full fat), 5 ½ tablespoons maple syrup (divided), 2 teaspoons agar agar, 1 cup chopped dragon fruit, 1/2 cup water divided, and 1 ½ teaspoon cornstarch. Instructions First, put a pan on the cooker with medium heat. Now, add coconut milk, agar agar, and 3 tablespoons of maple syrup to the pan. Stir until combined and heated. However, do not boil the mix. Reduce the cooker’s heat to a low to medium level. Simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring often, until the agar agar dissolves.  Next, strain the mixture for a smooth panna cotta and pour it into serving cups. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 3-4 hours until firm. At this stage, prepare the dragon fruit sauce. First, heat chopped dragon fruit with 2 ½ tablespoons of maple syrup and 1/4 cup water. Then, boil the mixture until it softens, and gets mashed. Mix the remaining 1/4 cup water with cornstarch, add to the pan, and simmer for 2 minutes until thickened. Now, strain the dragon fruit sauce and leave it to chill.  Pour the sauce over the panna cotta before serving.  Read more: Urban Agriculture: Top 10 Monsoon Vegetables to Grow in Bangladesh Dragon Fruit Pudding Ingredients 3 cups water, 1 cup dragon fruit, 1 cup evaporated milk, 3/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup cornstarch, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Instructions First, scoop out the dragon fruit flesh with a spoon and set it aside. Now, place a pot over the cooker at medium heat. Combine evaporated milk and water. Then, add cornstarch and sugar. Stir the mix until dissolved.  Next, add vanilla extract and dragon fruit to the combination. After that, continue to cook and stir until the mixture thickens. Turn off the heat and transfer the dragon fruit pudding to a container. Let it cool before serving. Read more: Summer Drinks: Refreshing Homemade Sherbets to Beat the Heat Dragon Fruit Cake Ingredients 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 dragon fruit (cut into cubes), ½ tangerine (thinly sliced), and 2 tablespoons raw sugar. Instructions First, preheat the oven to 350°F. Take a large bowl and combine the flour with baking powder. Add sugar, eggs, vanilla, and oil to the mix. Now, stir the ingredients until well combined and thick. Take an 8/9-inch cake pan and pour the batter. Use a spoon to smooth the top. Then, put fruit slices on top of the batter, and press them slightly into the mixture. Sprinkle it with raw sugar.  Bake the combination in the microwave for about 50 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the centre comes out clean. Let it cool before serving. Read more: Delightful Recipes from Bangladeshi Kitchens to Savor on Rainy Days Dragon Fruit Ice Cream Ingredients 2 whole dragon fruit, 3 cups milk, 450ml condensed milk, juice from ½ lemon, a pinch of salt, and 2 cups coconut milk. Instructions First, remove the skin from the dragon fruit and purée it in a food processor. Next, add milk, condensed milk, lemon juice, and salt to the purée. Blend properly. After that, lightly whisk the coconut milk and gently add it to the purée mixture. Then, pour the mixture into a shallow, lidded container and freeze until partially set. Whisk the partially set mixture until smooth, then return it to the freezer until fully set. This step ensures the texture remains soft and creamy while setting. Enjoy these icy treats on a hot day. Closing Lines Dragon fruit is a versatile summer fruit that can be enjoyed in many ways. From smoothies to desserts, these recipes will help you stay cool and enjoy the benefits of this tropical superfruit. To enjoy the refreshing, nutrient-dense treats of dragon fruit this summer, get creative, and incorporate your favourite local ingredients! Read more: Miyazaki: Why are the world's costliest mangoes considerably cheap in Bangladesh?

The moment Abu Taleb tasted the dragon fruit for the first time in his life two years ago he knew he got stuck to it forever. On a sunny day in 2019 his farm in Faridpur treated a visiting foreign team with the pink coloured fruit with juicy flesh and black seeds inside. He and his colleagues had them too. Read: Engineering graduate now a successful dragon fruit farmer That was the day a highly impressed Taleb decided to move to his village at Kamalabari Battala area of Lalmonirhat’s Aditmari upazila determined to go for commercial cultivation of the fruit, that grows from cactus-like plants. Two years down the line the 38-year-old man has developed a dragon fruit garden on three bighas of land from where he hopes to sell fruits worth up to Tk. 10 lakh.   Taleb, head of a 12-member famly, with an average monthly income of Tk. 1 lakh, has so far earned Tk. 4 lakh from dragon fruit and its saplings. Read Alt. Farming: How women in Kurigram augment their households' incomes His start was not as easy as he thought. He had to take several sessions with at local agricultural extension department to learn more about the method of the fruit’s cultivation. He also got useful instructions from farmers who cultivated the fruit in other districts.

Thirty-two-year-old Jamal Munshi is trained as an electrical engineer, but found his calling in the traditional family trade of farming. The crop to which he has dedicated his hard work and devotion though, was different from what his family members traditionally cultivated: dragon fruit. Jamal, a resident of Nikhurhati village in Nagarkanda upazila, graduated in 2013 from an engineering college in Dhaka but getting a good job after graduation is not that easy in Bangladesh. Sharing his journey from trying to be an electrical engineer to becoming a successful farmer, Jamal told UNB that his father Aynal Munshi, a farmer by profession, also dreamt that their son will become a doctor or an engineer. Read Sofol App from iFarmer: A Revolution Towards the Agriculture Digitization To fulfil the wish of his parents, Jamal obtained higher education but he had interest in farming. His passion for cultivation has turned him into an ideal farmer. Jamal brought 54 decimals of land under Dragon cultivation and earned success. He has now  become the inspiration of many unemployed young men of his area. Jamal is now a well-known person in his village as his name was listed as an ideal farmer of the district. Jamal’s dragon orchard is the biggest fruit garden in the district and people from different parts of the district throng his garden to take lessons on farming. Read Top 5 Mobile Apps for Farmers in Bangladesh