This vividly pink tropical fruit with yellow- and green-tipped spines is actually a type of cactus, and is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America. The fruit is also very popular in Asian countries such as Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Sometimes known as the ‘pitaya’ in South America, the dragon fruit’s texture is often compared to that of a kiwi due to the tiny black seeds inside, and many people describe the taste as somewhere between a kiwi, a pear, and a watermelon.
Dragon fruits may not be readily available at your neighborhood grocery, but you can usually find them in Chinatowns around the country. When choosing a dragon fruit, look for a specimen with bright, evenly colored skin. If it has too many brown blotches, or if it has a dry, shriveled stem, it’s probably overripe. If the fruit is very firm, let it ripen a few days until the flesh gives slightly.