A Dangerous-Looking Fruit - Carlos Dragon.....fruit

Sorry, failed at attempt to tie this recipe into the Anthony Weiner debacle, which has absolutely nothing to do with this fruit or the recipe. Ok? Let's move on!

The store had these beautifully odd-looking specimens, Dragonfruit. Who doesn't like a fruit that looks like it could kill you by flinging one of its pokey sharp-y thingies at you, like Oddjob throwing his lethal hat, or Rosa Klebb with her venom-laced shoe blade. Hold it. We went from Weiner to James Bond? Get on with it, already! 

So, to work with these beauties, you slice them in half lengthwise and then scoop out the flesh like you would with an avocado. Be sure to trim off all the pretty orange-pink skin. The flesh is firm enough to cube or slice. The texture is similar to Kiwi fruit.  Let's make a salad. This is based on a recipe from Thaifood.about.com. Mangia! 


Asian Fruit Salad

 

YIELD: 1 large bowl of fruit salad

 

1 fresh dragonfruit, cubed

1 cup fresh pineapple chunks

1 banana, sliced

1 cup mango, cubed

1 cup strawberries, sliced or cut into quarters

1 cup Kiwi fruit, cubed

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
6 or 7 basil leaves sliced into a chiffonade
Small handful of mint leaves

 

FRUIT SALAD DRESSING:

1/4 cup coconut milk

1 Tbsp. freshly-squeezed lime juice

2 Tbsp. brown sugar OR palm sugar

Preparation:

1. Stir fruit salad dressing ingredients together in a cup until sugar dissolves. Set aside.
2. Place all the fresh fruit in a mixing bowl.
3. Pour the dressing over and toss well to mix.
4. Pour or scoop the fruit salad into a serving bowl