Photo credit: www.gardenista.com
Have you ever encountered a durian? If you have, or even if you’ve simply passed one by, the notorious aroma of this spiky fruit might be lingering in your mind. Personally, I find that durian ice cream stands out as one of the finest desserts I’ve had the pleasure of making or tasting (right alongside pawpaw ice cream, derived from Asimina triloba). Living in a vibrant and diverse city like New York grants you the unique opportunity to explore and savor a multitude of global cuisines. Durians can typically be found frozen at various Asian grocery stores, available either whole or in packaged segments, with freezing being a common method to maintain freshness while mitigating the fruit’s strong scent.
Are you ready to embark on a culinary adventure? Here’s a delightful recipe for durian ice cream that you won’t want to miss.
Photography by Marie Viljoen.
Interestingly, imported durians mainly hail from Malaysia, Vietnam, or Thailand, as the tree itself is indigenous to regions such as Indonesia, Borneo, and Malaysia. However, you don’t necessarily have to go to a store to enjoy this fruit, as many vendors now offer it online, delivering straight to your doorstep. For those living in Hawai’i, the possibility even exists to cultivate your own durians.
Residents and tourists in Southeast Asia often share anecdotes about how durians are prohibited in public transportation, hotels, and various public spaces. In fact, even in New York City, certain parks on the Lower East Side have banned this fruit, a measure that might seem overly stringent to some. But how can one describe the smell of durian to someone who has never encountered it? The experience is deeply subjective. To me, it evokes a fusion of vibrant tropical fragrances, while my husband likens it to the scent of waste. This spectrum of reactions could be akin to the cilantro debate, which scientific studies suggest may be connected to genetic variations in our taste receptors, influencing how individuals perceive flavors. Therefore, this discussion is for those already enamored with durian, as well as the curious souls contemplating a taste. Unfortunately, those firmly against it—dubbed “Camp Appalled”—might never be swayed, and that’s entirely understandable.
Before you indulge, ensure your durian has thawed to room temperature; this makes it much simpler to open.
Source
www.gardenista.com