The Delectable Fruit José Andrés Says Should Be 'Forever Part Of Your Table'

Born and brought up in Spain, celebrity chef and humanitarian José Andrés is known across the globe for popularizing the "small plates" trend in the United States and beyond. As the executive chef of more than 30 restaurants and the holder of two Michelin stars, per The Bazaar, Andrés has a vast gastronomic repertoire that spans multiple cultures and cuisines. Though he comes from the land of meat-filled paella and luxurious Iberico ham, the chef and television host actually has a long-standing preference for plant-based ingredients. 

Andrés famously declared his passion for produce in a "60 Minutes" interview where he said, "I believe the future is vegetables and fruits. They are so much more sexier than a piece of chicken." His love for vegetables is also captured in his cookbook "Vegetables Unleashed," in which he argues that people should up their vegetable consumption through exciting and inventive recipes. This is the guiding philosophy that Andrés uses when talking about fruits, as well — including one that he says should be "forever part of your table."

According to Andrés, pitaya is the delicious fruit that should be part of your grocery routine if it's not already. Also referred to as dragon fruit or strawberry pear, pitaya is native to Central America and southern Mexico, per Healthline. "In my house," Andrés says in an Instagram video clipped from his "Longer Tables" podcast, pitaya "keeps showing up every day more and more for breakfast." He adds that the fruit is easy to peel, especially compared to kiwi: "You only cut it in half, and the white pulp with all those black seeds...separates so easily from the purple-reddish skin." Thanks to the lemony fragrance, lightly sweet flavor, and the contrast between the smooth flesh and crunchy seeds that alert your ears to "attention," pitaya "forever and ever will be part of your table," he says. 

According to Healthline, pitaya is rich in vitamins and flavonoids that may improve your heart and brain health. It contains magnesium, a mineral crucial to the body's energy levels, and fiber, which improves your metabolism. If you're inspired to incorporate more pitaya into your diet, you can take a cue from Andrés and simply enjoy it sliced up for breakfast. It's a versatile fruit to throw into smoothies, salads, and even a homemade version of TikTok's viral pink sauce.