{"id":530,"date":"2011-09-28T15:40:26","date_gmt":"2011-09-28T19:40:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theasiangrandmotherscookbook.wordpress.com\/?p=530"},"modified":"2011-09-28T15:40:26","modified_gmt":"2011-09-28T19:40:26","slug":"how-to-open-a-durian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/picklesandtea\/how-to-open-a-durian\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose a Durian and Open it"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Whole durians available in the U.S. are often wrapped in netting so you can carry them without hurting yourself!<\/p><\/div>\n

The durian is one of my favorite fruits, although at 357 calories and 13g of fat per 1 cup serving, it isn\u2019t exactly as nutritious or as good for you as say, an apple.<\/strong> Hence, I don\u2019t have it very often.<\/p>\n

Plus, I can\u2019t finish an entire durian by myself, at least not anymore. When I was younger, I could never have enough. I always wished my dad would buy me an entire fruit to enjoy all by myself. \u00a0How things have changed. Now, I need company and that company isn\u2019t my husband, although he claims that he really isn’t a durian wuss (that’s his opinion , of course). I have to give him credit though, he has actually eaten two seeds worth of durian at one go, and without scrunching his face up into a still-life-in-origami.<\/p>\n

So when my folks were visiting last week, we took a trip to an Asian market and bought me some durian.<\/p>\n

In Southeast Asia, durian stalls are ubiquitous. And if you eat on-site, the durian seller will usually select his best specimens for you. Some places explicitly offer a money-back guarantee but most of the time you can try the fruit first and have the option to deny it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

When we were in Asia last spring, we visited a durian shop in Bandung, Indonesia where several different varieties of durians were available. We bought one "bitter" and one "sweet" durian<\/p><\/div>\n

Here in the U.S., you can only find durians at Asian markets where the durians come frozen whole or already popped from their shells and prepackaged in plastic containers<\/strong>. They are usually of the Thai Mornthong variety. My mom prefers durian-in-the-box (as I call the prepacked ones) because for one, there\u2019s no need to open the durian up and risk poking yourself, and two, she says they are fresher and have a more full-bodied fragrance.<\/p>\n

While we were at the market, I asked my dad how to choose a tasty durian at its peak.<\/strong> If the fruit is too ripe, the flesh may be overly bitter or have a taste that is too \u201calcohol-y.\u201d Unripe, and the seeds will be covered in leathery, chewy flesh that is often tasteless. Here are some tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
      \n
    1. Look for slight irregularities in the shape of the fruit<\/li>\n
    2. Seek out thick thorns<\/li>\n
    3. Take a whiff. Assuming the odor doesn\u2019t already put you off, learn to distinguish the smells. A docile \u201craw fruit\u201d smell that is so mild you have to sniff several times means the fruit isn’t ripe; if the smell is overpowering even to a durian lover, then it is probably too ripe. With practice, you\u2019ll be able to identify the just-right, sweet but not sickly sweet, fragrance of a perfect durian. Note: The previously-frozen whole fruits available in the U.S. have lost most of their pungency so this pointer may be moot.<\/li>\n
    4. I\u2019m skeptical but it seems you can shake the durian to see if it\u2019s ripe too. Read about it\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

      Backing up a little to point #3 about smell, I don\u2019t find the frozen durians available here in the U.S. very satisfying because of their lack of fragrance. To me, the fragrance and the flavor go hand-in-hand and without the latter, durian tastes bland and flat.<\/strong> That being said, if you want to give it a go, tasting a frozen durian may not be as much of a shock to your system as a fresh one.<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/a>

      With years of experience, the durian seller easily splits the durian and removes the seeds. Note the bolder, brighter colors of the fresh durian shell compared to the previously-frozen durian we bought locally in the U.S. below in the video<\/p><\/div>\n

      In this video below, my mom demonstrates the technique for opening a durian.<\/strong> If you are not as brave as she is, do wear a thick glove on the hand that is not holding the knife.<\/p>\n\n\nARVE<\/abbr> Error: need id and provider
      <\/span>\n\nP\/s we later discovered a fifth pocket! So be sure to explore the entire fruit to find all the seeds.<\/p>\n

      Here are some yummy durian recipes:<\/p>\n

      Sweet Sticky Rice with Durian and Coconut Milk Sauce<\/a>
      \n      Durian Puree Cheesecake <\/a>
      \n      Durian Ice Cream\u00a0<\/a>
      \n      Durian Puffs<\/a><\/p>\n

      Chime in if you have more durian tips or have an experience to share!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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