Monday, May 17, 2010

My First Durian


Now some of you might think I'm a fool to try this...especially if you remember my experience with the durian cookies.  Click HERE to read about my durian cookie experience.  If you didn't know durians are the worlds stinkiest fruit, but many people love them.

When I was at the Asian market the other day they had a whole crate of durians in the freezer case.  I couldn't resist.  I just had to buy one.  I know frozen is not the same as fresh, but since there are no durians growing in Alabama I'll just have to take what I can get.  So I left it on the counter to thaw overnight. 


I had planned on cutting it outside, since I know it has such an awful smell.  But, just as I was about to cut it a huge thunderstorm came up and it was pouring rain outside.  So I had no choice but to cut it inside.  


The skin was woody and hard to cut through.  Surprisingly it didn't stink near as bad as those cookies.  I think maybe it being frozen helped tame the smell.  It smelled like fruity rotten onions, but not near as bad as I thought it would be.  Inside there were chambers full of the edible fruit.  The flesh was about the texture of softened butter.  Not very appetizing, but I tried it.  Like I said very unappetizing, but the flavor was not all that terrible.  One spoonful was enough for me.  I hate wasting food, but the durian went into the trash can.  I really want to try a fresh one day.  Its on my bucket list.

41 comments:

  1. I have never even heard of this. Interesting.
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  2. Michael,
    They are sort of hard to find here.
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  3. It smelled like fruity rotten onions.....that description made me snort...you are a brave man trying this:)
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  4. Steven,
    It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
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  5. Very brave of you Bo...but I wouldn't try a frozen durian too...the skin inside has darkened to brown unlike a fresh durian which is white or beige. But it's either you love it or hate it, no 2 ways about it. Bet you hv to struggle to cut it open eh? lol!
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  6. Well done for your first real durian. You'll find the fresh one with texture more like cream cheese than soft butter hehe
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  7. MAN I have to tip my hat to ya. I will try just about anything, but there is NO WAY I would ever entertain the idea of attempting to eat a live durian. LOL

    I have come up-close and personal to a fresh one at "99 Ranch" in SoCal and it made my eyes burn.

    You da man!!
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  8. That is so cool that you tried it. Thanks for sharing it with us!
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  9. I tried it a couple of years ago in Malaysia. I like to try new things, so I was excited about trying the Durian. I didn't like it. I am going back to Malaysia in May and my friends who live there say they will make a dish with the Durian that I will like. I can't imagine how they can make that thing tasty, but I'm game and will try it.
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  10. Oh dear, you actually don't needa cut a durian, haha
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  11. @3HungryTummies- I don't think that there is much of a difference b/w butter and cream cheese as far as texture goes.
    Bo- brave, crazy, whatever. What I can't believe is that you are holding on to a 'non-frozen' fantasy- there should be an intervention group.
    Bucket list- chuckle giggle.
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  12. I have never tried it or heard of it! But going through it twice? You are brave.
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  13. This is a good start, you must visit to Malaysia here, we have very good and fresh durian, if you come, I can bring you to try good durian.
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  14. it tastes nice but smells like S hahahahah
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  15. LOL Seriously you should move to Asia. Which Asian country interests you the most? Thai? Singapore? or China?
    You are a very brave and adventurous foodie. That's good.
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  16. I have never come across a fruit like that... You really are determined huh?
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  17. You're right, it doesn't look as good and attractive as fresh ones. Try again :)
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  18. That is brave! I have issues getting past things that don't smell appetizing. For me, the cookies would have been my one and only taste.
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  19. Thanks for introducing me to this special looking fruit. I have seen it before in the Asian shops here in Brussels. I will try it later,..

    Thanks , Bo!
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  20. I am surprised that you didn't clean faint on the kitchen floor. Lol. I have heard some colorful tales about people's maiden experience with this fruit. I, for one, is not as gutsy as you are. Kudos to you!
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  21. You are the adventurous one, for sure! It looks interesting but not good. It would go right in my bucket along with the potato soup!
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  22. So brave! I gotta say, while I admire your drive, I'm not all that interested in smelling up my own house. If the fresh one is better, though, let us know!!
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  23. I have never seen this fruit in the UK ♥
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  24. I've never heard of this, but from the description of the smell, you are a brave man, Bo!...Have a great week.
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  25. good for you for trying it love the bucket list lol
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  26. Jeannie,
    I'll have to find a fresh one...lol Now I'm learning maybe I didn't have to cut it.

    3 hungry tummies,
    The texture was very unappealing to me.

    Culinary Alchemist,
    It really wasn't as bad as I was expecting.

    Lyndsey,
    You need to try it too.

    Linda,
    After you get back from the trip I'd love to hear about the dish.

    Kenny,
    I think I needed your help.

    Lady Ren,
    Intervention group...lol...just one more try...a non-frozen one.

    Debbie,
    Brave or stupid...

    Sonia,
    Yes...I may need to plan a trip.

    Ann,
    I'm not even sure it tastes nice.

    Angie,
    Maybe a long couple month vacation exploring Asia would be nice...I don't realy have a favorite.

    Chrissy,
    Actually I wasn't looking for it...I just saw it and had to get it.

    lehuutai,
    I'll keep trying.

    Robin,
    This was actually better than the cookies.

    Sophie,
    Let me know how it is after you try it.

    Cool Lassi(e),
    I'm glad I didn't fall out in the floor...lol

    Pam,
    Your right! Interesting, but not good.

    Katie,
    I'll let you guys know.

    Ana,
    This was my first time seeing one here.
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  27. Jacqueline,
    I'm glad I could share it with you.

    Rebecca,
    It was an experience.
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  28. Why on earth would you want to try such a thing!
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  29. You are so brave! I think it is great and funny too that you still wanted to try it even though you knew it was going to be stinky! I saw this on Bizarre Foods (the Travel Channel show), and not sure if you saw this, but the guy on it who usually eats everything did not like it either.
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  30. LOL! You're brave. I'll have to tell you, if you don't like it frozen, you're probably not going to like it fresh. The pungent flavors and odors will likely deter you, but good for you for trying!
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  31. Heard of this fruit but have never tried it.
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  32. I actually like frozen durian, it's like eating durian ice-cream! But we usually freeze the flesh after opening the durian.
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  33. The dreaded durian, dun, dun, duuuuuun! ;-)

    I've heard about this on "Bizarre Foods." Andrew Zimmern will eat nearly everything, except this.

    How very brave and adventurous of you to give it a second go.
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  34. I've only seen this on cooking shows. I can't imagine how it tastes but I have heard the smell is not so hot. I'll have to be brave and give it a try sometime. :)
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  35. Oh Bo, you're just so cute! hahaha.... I've never thought you're willing to give this thing a try! Of coz, the fresh one is much better and has stronger aroma. I like it bitter sweet as our local durians mostly are in such flavour. The Thai durians are much sweeter and has bigger flesh. I have once introduce it to my Kiwi friends. They actually wanted to vomit. HAHAHA.... Some of my friends like it frozen but not me! They said it tastes like durian ice-cream. Btw, you should have place the durian back to the freezer and try it again after frozen (make sure you cover it!). Anyway, I have an award for you. Please feel free to collect it. Thanks!
    Have a great weekend!
    Cheers, Kristy
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  36. haha. congratulations! Im not really a fan of durian. my husband is... I prefer the candies over the meaty fresh durian.
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  37. Now is the durian season and I had made durian chiffon cake and durian pudding before.(you can check my site for these) And there are many more durian desserts can be made.
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  38. haha! The durian you photographed looked hardly edible - stale? : ) If you eat those fresh from the tree (in Malaysia for example), it would be much better tasting, well, at least, it wouldn't be that unbearable : D
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  39. In some parts of Malaysia and Indonesia - durian is eaten over a bed of hot white rice. Mmm...

    And did you know to combat the strong taste in your mouth - drink some water from the inner shell of the durian then run tap water over exposed inside over your fingers to wash the smell away. Truly it works!

    Very brave of you, to be sure.

    Kys
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  40. Durian is very popular here in the Philippines and among foreigners too. I've never been a fan of it though because it just tastes too sweet for me, and like most people, I cannot stand the smell. My german boyfriend always gets one whenever he visits the Philippines and I always insist that he finish the whole damn fruit right away because it stinks up my apartment.
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  41. I am Vietnamese, so I love Durian. A lot of people do not like it. I do not like eating the fruit by itself. I enjoy it in a smoothie. Put in a blender some durian, milk, vanilla ice cream, and sweetened condensed milk. It's delicious.. sweet and creamy.
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