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Despite its polarising nature, there are several ways to appreciate durian and debunk misconceptions about it. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the experience, following certain strategies can help you develop a taste for the fruit, like introducing your palate to durian through desserts and sweet treats like durian ice cream or cakes, which often soften its strong flavour. Or, blending it with familiar ingredients, as pairing durian with familiar flavours like coconut, banana, or chocolate can help balance its distinctiveness while adding complexity. Try small amounts of durian in recipes to gradually get used to its taste without feeling overwhelmed. Here are a few dishes to try with the durian fruit:
Chicken And Durian Curry
It is an unexpected yet delightful dish that showcases durian’s versatility in savoury cooking. This unique curry combines tender chicken chunks with coconut milk, durian pulp, and an array of spices to create a rich and flavourful stew. The natural creaminess of durian adds depth to the curry sauce, complementing the spices and enhancing the overall flavor. Surprisingly, during cooking, the strong aroma associated with durian diminishes, allowing it to blend seamlessly with the dish. This curry not only challenges misconceptions about using durian in meals but also offers a delicious plate that’s sure to satisfy both durian lovers and the curious.
Durian Soufflé
This dish offers a more refined approach to enjoying the fruit, incorporating the French technique of creating airy soufflés with a twist. Durian pulp is gently folded into whipped egg whites before being baked to golden perfection. The result is a light, delicately flavoured dessert where the durian’s signature taste is softened, making it less intense than its raw form. Served warm and dusted with powdered sugar, these soufflés present durian in a sophisticated and approachable manner, appealing to both fans and sceptics alike.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Pengat Durian
Pengat Durian is a Malaysian dessert, and this is a nice way to have the smooth and filling fruit as a dessert. In order to create a rich, creamy mixture, durian meat is cooked with coconut milk, palm sugar, and pandan leaves. When cooked, the natural sweetness of durian becomes more pronounced while its strong aroma is softened. In dishes like Pengat Durian, the addition of palm sugar deepens the flavor, and coconut milk mellows out the intensity of the durian, resulting in a well-balanced dessert typically served warm. This dish not only offers a delicious blend of sweet and creamy notes but also demonstrates how traditional cooking methods can make durian more approachable, showcasing its potential in a variety of culinary contexts.
Durian Fritters (Cekodok Durian)
Durian is made into a crispy, decadent snack using durian fritters, also called Cekodok Durian in Malaysia and Indonesia. Ripe durian meat is combined with flour, eggs, and occasionally sugar to create a batter for these fritters. After that, this mixture is deep-fried until the outside is golden brown and crispy while the middle is still soft and creamy. For many who might find the raw fruit overpowering, the frying procedure softens the durian's strong scent. These fritters have a more subdued durian flavour and a great texture contrast when served hot.
Image Credit: Freepik
Crispy Durian Apam
An inventive twist on the traditional Malaysian apam balik (turnover pancake) is Crispy Durian Apam. This recipe combines the taste of durian with the concept of a crisp pancake. Made with flour, eggs, and sugar, the batter is fried on a griddle until one side is crispy. After that, it is folded over and filled with a mixture of durian pulp and occasionally sweetened cream corn. The final product is a dessert with a great taste difference between the soft and cheesy durian filling and a crunchy outer layer. This fusion dish is the best example of how durian can replace the key ingredients of well-known recipes to result in unique taste combinations.
Fruit Salad In Crispy Durian Baskets
Serving this in durian edible baskets transforms this recipe from a simple fruit salad into a gourmet dessert. Durian pulp is combined with flour and eggs to make the baskets, which are then shaped over muffin tins that have been inverted and baked until crispy. These baskets with a durian flavour are filled with a vibrant assortment of fresh fruits once they have cooled. The fruit salad absorbs a slight durian taste from the crispy durian basket in which it is served. This meal is suitable for surprising guests at dinner events or special occasions because not only does it taste fantastic, but it also looks inviting.
Spiral Durian Puffs
A delicious pastry, spiral durian puffs are made with layers of flaky, buttery dough wrapping a creamy durian filling. These delicacies are made by rolling out thin puff pastry, spreading it with a mixture of pastry cream and durian pulp, rolling it into a log, and then slicing it. The pastry swells and forms lovely spirals when baked, revealing layers of durian all throughout. The ingredients and preparation of the durian actually make the fruit sweeter and its perfume becomes even better when baked to provide for a deeper contrast. The crisp, flaky outside of these puffs gives way to the rich, creamy durian filling inside, creating the ideal texture balance.
Every one of the recipes highlights both the flavour and thick texture of durian, which makes it fun for both people who adore this fruit a lot and those who have had it for the first time. Invite the King of Fruits to your house and enjoy these tasty items to share good foods with family!
