Dragon Fruit Waldorf Salad

A delicious and healthy dragon fruit Waldorf salad recipe that is perfect for a light summer meal. It’s a fabulous and unique summer salad.

Are you looking for a healthy and fun salad recipe to add to your rotation? If so, you’ll love this Dragon Fruit Waldorf Salad!

Dragon fruit Waldorf Salad is a modern twist on the classic dish. The addition of fresh dragon fruit adds a pop of colour and a mildly sweet flavor to the salad. I love how the different textures and flavors come together in this easy to make salad.

It’s packed with fresh fruit, crunchy nuts, and a delicious vinaigrette. Plus, it’s pretty enough to serve at a dinner party!

In this recipe, we’ll show you how to make a Dragon Fruit Waldorf Salad that is perfect for summertime dining. So gather your ingredients and get ready to enjoy some healthy and delicious salad goodness!

Why You Will LOVE This Dragon Fruit Waldorf Salad

1. It is so easy to make! Simply chop the ingredients and mix them together.

2. It is a beautiful salad that is perfect for summer gatherings or potlucks.

3. It is a refreshing and light salad that is perfect for warm weather.

4. The salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.

5. Dragon fruit is a good source of fibre, antioxidants, and vitamins C and B1.

If you are looking for a light and refreshing salad to enjoy this summer, I think you will love this dragon fruit Waldorf salad! It is perfect for potlucks, picnics, or BBQs.

What is a Dragon Fruit

A dragon fruit is a tropical fruit that is native to Central and South America. A fruit of many names, it is also known as pitaya or pitahaya. It belongs to the cactus family and is grown in hot, humid climates.

Dragon fruit is available in several different varieties, but the most commonly found variety in North America is the red dragon fruit. This variety has a unique appearance with bright red skin and white flesh with black seeds.

Dragon fruit is a good source of fibre, antioxidants, and vitamins C and B1. It is also low in calories and has a high water content.

Look for dragon fruit with bright, evenly coloured skin. Avoid fruit that has bruising or brown spots. The flesh of the dragon fruit should be white or pink and firm. Soft or mushy fruit is overripe and will not taste as good.

To store dragon fruit, place it in a plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

What Does Dragon Fruit Taste Like?

Dragon fruit has a mildly sweet taste that is reminiscent of a cross between a kiwi and a pear. The flesh of the fruit is soft and creamy, with a slightly crunchy texture from the small black seeds.

Dragon fruit is fairly expensive, and I feel like the flavour doesn’t reflect this at all. It does taste nice, but the flavour doesn’t match it’s gorgeous appearance. It can be a bit of a let down.

That said, dragon fruit does work well in this Waldorf salad, as the mild sweetness and soft flesh pairs well with the crisp apples and juicy grapes

How to Cut Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit is easy to cut once you know how. The best way to cut dragon fruit is to first slice it in half length-wise. Then, use a spoon to scoop out the flesh or use your fingers to peel back the skin.

The fruit can then be cut into small pieces or cubed.

What is Waldorf Salad

Classic waldorf salad is a salad made with apples, celery, grapes, and walnuts. It is typically dressed with mayonnaise.

The salad was created in the late 19th century at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. It has since become a popular dish in the United States and other countries.

This dragon fruit Waldorf salad is a modern twist on the classic dish created by the Waldorf Astoria hotel. The addition of dragon fruit adds a pop of color and a mildly sweet flavor to the salad. I love how the different textures and flavors come together in this easy to make salad.

Tips for Making the BEST Dragon Fruit Waldorf Salad

• Make sure your Dragon fruit is perfectly ripe for the best flavour and texture.
• Make sure you chill the salad well before serving, it needs a chance for the flavours to come together.
• Try to keep your ingredients the same size.
• Toast the nuts for deeper flavour, and eliminate their raw taste.
• To bulk the salad up further you can include a stalk or two of crunchy celery as well.
• Combine the dressing in a separate bowl for a more homogeneous and creamy texture.

How to Store Dragon Fruit Waldorf Salad

This salad is so easy to make and store.

I like to keep my salads in mason jars for easy grab and go meals. Simply layer the ingredients in a mason jar, starting with the dressing on the bottom. Omit the lettuce for this option.

If making ahead, or storing leftovers, you can store the dragon fruit Waldorf salad in an air-tight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. It is not advisable to freeze the salad.

Do not leave the Waldorf salad at room temperature for more than 2 hours as the dressing of the salad contains dairy.

About the Ingredients for Dragon Fruit Waldorf Salad

This dragon fruit salad is made with mostly simple ingredients. It’s a combination of fresh produce and tropical fruits.

Dragon fruit – You need to make sure the dragon fruit is perfectly ripe. When ripe, a dragon fruit should be somewhat firm, but give slightly, similar to an avocado or kiwi. You will want to go with a large dragon fruit for this salad.

Apples – Go with a granny smith for the green apple, and a sweet but crisp apple for the red, such as Royal gala or red delicious apples.

Grapes – Red globe grapes are seeded but firm and flavourful, red seedless grapes would cut down on prep time.

Cilantro – Feel free to omit if you aren’t a fan of cilantro.

Yogurt & Mayo – You can go with all mayonnaise here if you like, but the yogurt adds a nice bit of tang and creaminess. Use real mayonnaise or you can use eggless mayo if you want to go vegan. Sour cream is a good substitute for the yogurt or in place of mayonnaise.

Citrus juice – Use fresh squeezed lime juice or lemon juice for the best flavour. Apple cider vinegar works too. If you use citrus fruits, be sure to include a little lemon zest for added zing.

Honey – Substitute with agave for a vegan option.

Salt – Balances out all the flavours.

Ginger – Fresh ginger adds a little zing to the dressing.

Nuts – We are using a mix of almonds, cashews, and walnuts. You can really go with just walnuts if you want to cut down on cost. Try roasting the nuts ahead of time.

Lettuce – Romaine lettuce or Bibb Lettuce is a good option for making a bed of lettuce to serve.

Looking for More Summer Salad Recipes?

If you are looking for more delicious recipes like this one, check out more of my favourite summer salads!

This delicious and easy Mexican Street Corn Salad recipe is perfect for summer potlucks and barbecues! It’s easy to make and full of flavour.

A summer salad recipe perfect for any occasion, this strawberry spinach salad is easy to make and features a strawberry poppy seed dressing.

Honey Lime Fruit Salad is made with seasonal fruit and tossed in a fresh lime and honey dressing for a crowd-pleasing summer salad.

How to Make Dragon Fruit Waldorf Salad

Yields: 4 Servings | Prep time: 15 Minutes | Chill time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe Dragon fruit, cubed
• 1 green apple, cubed
• 1 red apple, cubed
• ½ cup red globe grapes, halved
• ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
• 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 2 teaspoons honey
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ginger grated
• 2 tablespoons almonds, chopped
• 2 tablespoons cashews, chopped
• 1 tablespoons walnuts, chopped
• 5-6 lettuce leaves

Directions:

Place the cubed dragon fruit and diced apples into a large bowl.

In small mixing bowl, whisk together yogurt, honey, mayonnaise, salt, ginger, and lime juice.

Pour the prepared dressing over the cubed fruit; then add in grapes, chopped almonds, cashews, walnuts, and cilantro.

Give it a nice toss to combine, making sure the fruit is coated well with dressing.

Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes.

Serve cold over a bed of lettuce and enjoy.