These Pitaya Bowls are the perfect refreshing treat for a warm summer day! Bright flavors of tropical fruit that have been blended and chilled, are fun and refreshing for the whole family!
There is something so hearty and filling about a smoothie bowl. It is the perfect power lunch or post-workout meal. Smoothie bowls are perfect for warm days and transporting you back to the tropics. I love the wow factor of smoothie bowls, they are delicious, easy and totally adaptable! Top these delicious smoothie bowls with your favorite fruits, granola or seeds and you have the best power meal!
For some other smoothie ideas, check out this Easy Strawberry Peanut Butter Smoothie or this Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl!
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What Makes This Pitaya Bowl So Great?
- Whole-Food Plant-Based: This smoothie bowl is Whole- Food Plant-Based which means it is dairy-free and vegan. Naturally sweetened by fruit, you will love this!
- Easy Ingredients- It doesn't get any easier than this! We almost always have all these ingredients at our house so it is just pulling together your freezer ingredients and blending them up!
- Healthy and Filling- This smoothie bowl is the perfect post-workout drink or just a fun drink for kids that is healthy and filling. Full of whole ingredients, you won't regret this!
Ingredient Notes
- Frozen Pitaya- The base of the smoothie bowl is pitaya which is also known as dragonfruit. Pitaya has a bright pink color and mildly sweet flavor often described as a blend of pear and kiwi.
- Frozen Pineapple and Mango- You can either purchase frozen fruit from the grocery store or freeze your own, however, you want to make sure that they are frozen and not fresh. If you use fresh, you will have to add ice to your smoothie to cool it making it thick.
- Banana- The banana adds a creaminess to the smoothie so it isn't gritty from the berries. If you don't like bananas, you can leave them out.
See the recipe card for the full ingredient list and quantities.
Instructions
- Measure all the ingredients out into bowls
- Add all of the ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth
- Taste the smoothie bowl and add additional sweetener if it is not sweet enough.
- Pour into bowls and top with granola and fresh fruit, enjoy!
Hint: Add all of the wet ingredients first to make blending easier, you can see in the photo that the frozen fruit and banana were added last.
Substitutions
- Almond Milk - If you want to keep this nut-free, swap the almond milk with your favorite plant-based milk. I love making this with oat milk as well!
- Frozen Pineapple and Mango -If you can't specifically find frozen mango or pineapple, feel free to freeze your own. I lay them out on a cookie sheet and flash freeze them in the freezer before adding them to a bag to keep in the freezer.
- Frozen Pitaya- Pitaya is in season June-September, so it is best to buy it frozen.
Variations
- Avocado - Swap the banana for avocado, it will still be super creamy and delicious!
- Spinach - Feel free to load this smoothie with extra vegetables. I love sneaking in handfuls of spinach.
- Triple Berry- Leave out the tropical mango and pineapple and swap with frozen blueberries, blackberries and raspberries!
Pitaya vs Acai
If you haven't heard of Pitaya before, you might wonder if it is the same as Acai, it is not. Pitaya is also known as dragonfruit and is either milky white in color or vibrant pink and has a mildly sweet flavor often described as a blend of pear and kiwi.
Acai can be found in South American rainforests, on the acai palm tree. The Acai berries are a lot like grapes in their texture and appearance. Acai is dark purple in color and tastes slightly tart and earthy, with notes of raspberry, pomegranate and a pinch of dirt.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. See below for the equipment you will need to make this recipe.
- High Speed Blender (I have a Ninja and it works amazing!)
- Measuring Cups
- Smoothie Bowls
Storage
Store for up to one day in the fridge in a tightly sealed glass jar or shaker, pour into bowls and top with fresh fruit when ready to eat.
You can make a big batch of these smoothie bowls and freeze them. I like to freeze them in individual portions using mason jars. I just take one out of the freezer the night before and put it in the fridge to thaw.
Top tips
- Always add the liquid first when making blending fruit. It will help it to blend better and have a smoother consistency.
- Make sure to use ripe bananas as they will have the most sweetness.
- If you are able, invest in a high speed blender, it has been a lifesaver for me on so many occasions!
Other Recipes You Will Love
- Banana Peach Smoothie
- Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl
- Blackberry Strawberry Banana Smoothie
- Easy Strawberry Peanut Butter Smoothie
- Refreshing Pineapple Mango Smoothie
- Easy Blueberry Toast
Pitaya Bowls (Dragonfruit Smoothie Bowls)
Equipment
- 1 High Speed Blender
- 1 Measuring Spoons and Cups
- 4 Smoothie Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Frozen Pitaya
- ½ Cup Frozen Strawberries
- ½ Cup Frozen Mango
- ½ Cup Frozen Pineapple
- 3 Cups Almond Milk
- 1 Banana
- ¼ Cup Granola
- 1 Kiwi
- ¼ Cup Fresh Blueberries
Instructions
- Measure all the ingredients out into bowls
- Add all of the ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth
- Taste the smoothie bowl and add additional sweetener if it is not sweet enough.
- Pour into bowls and top with granola and fresh fruit, enjoy!
Notes
- Always add the liquid first when making blending fruit. It will help it to blend better and have a smoother consistency.
- Make sure to use ripe bananas as they will have the most sweetness.
- If you are able, invest in a high speed blender, it has been a lifesaver for me on so many occasions!
Nutrition
FAQ
A pitaya bowl is made from tropical fruit such as pitaya, commonly known as dragonfruit, mango, pineapple and strawberries, blended together and served in a bowl topped with fresh fruit.
Pitaya and acai are two completely different types of fruits. Pitaya is either milky white in color or vibrant pink and has a mildly sweet flavor often described as a blend of pear and kiwi. Whereas acai is dark purple in color and tastes slightly tart and earthy, with notes of raspberry, pomegranate and a pinch of dirt.
Sometimes, in the frozen food section, they have smoothie based. These are pre-blended frozen fruit that you add to the blender with other ingredients to make a smoothie.
Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Kara says
This smoothie bowl was delicious! It's incredibly hot here in Texas and it totally hit the spot. It was perfect!
Rob says
This smoothie bowl is exactly what I need on these hot, summer days! We made the recipe as written and loved it. Next time we will try subbing avocado as suggested.
nancy says
Kayla your smoothie bowls are always so tasty and pretty!! I can never get mine to look as good!
Jere Cassidy says
I have been making pitaya bowls for years, but I made yours with almond milk and I like it so much better than my version. I could eat this every day.
Colleen says
This smoothie bowl is amazing and delicious. I love how it's loaded up with so much fruit. A perfect way to start the day..
Brianna May says
I have been wanting to make one of these at home because they are so pricey at my local juice bar. I made this recipe yesterday and it was incredible! Will definitely be making this again.