Recipe and photos courtesy of: Well + Good
Isn’t this drink gorgeous?! We’re guilty of being drawn to this recipe just because of how beautiful it was, but then we realized just how great it truly is. These cubes are made of 100 percent pure pitaya and are a perfect, nutrition-filled alternative to a normal ice cube. They’re super easy to make and are the perfect way to spice up any drink or eat as a refreshing, summertime snack!
The pitaya fruit hot pink with a chic black-and-white polka dot design inside, basically it’s the supermodel of fruits. It’s bursting with antioxidants and nutrients like vitamins A and C, calcium, and others you might not expect. Pitaya contains powerful antioxidants known as phytoalbumine. Research suggests that phytoalbumine can efficiently stop free radical action and thus prevent cancer-causing cell mutations.
The most surprising nutrient? “Pitaya is a good source of monounsaturated fats,” says Stephanie Middleberg, RD and Middleberg Nutrition founder. The healthy fat is good for everything from your immune system and weight management to glowing skin. “In one ounce of pitaya, there’s about 1.5 grams of unsaturated fat.”
While it’s difficult to find these guys pre-cubed, you can make your own by blending up the whole fruit, pouring it into ice cube trays, and then freezing it. Then you can pop them in your mouth straight like grapes, blend them into smoothies or sauces, or simply toss them into a glass of water.
“The cubes still have the tiny seeds which give them the appearance of little pink dice, which look amazing when used as ice in drinks,” says Pitaya Plus co-founder Chuck Casano (case and point: the pretty photo above).
Vitamins, minerals, and an irresistible shot for your Instagram feed? It’s a hat trick of a healthy summer snack.
Sources:
Well + Good
Nature Word
