More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Durian

I have a new goal. I told you in a previous post that I enjoy watching Chopped. As a desire to "continue" my education (i.e., keeping on learning new things!) I have decided that I will research at least one food item on the show that I don't know anything about, or haven't heard of. So last week, one of the mystery baskets contained "durian." I don't remember whether it was for the appetizer, the entree, or the dessert, and I also can't remember what any of the chefs did with it, but I do remember one thing- nobody liked the taste of it. So I thought durian would be a good first food item to research.

Here is a picture of one:

(www.srilankanguardian.org)

As you can see, it's pretty gigantic. According to the ever trusty website Wikipedia, these spiky fruits can get up to a foot long, have a diameter of 6 inches, and weigh 7 pounds!

Now, if it's size and distinct shape and texture (I wouldn't want to hold that thing!) aren't enough, if watching the chef's facial expressions is any indication, these enormous fruits also have an enormous smell- and it's not good. Apparently it smells like death, skunk spray, vomit, and the like. Here is a great video on the durian's smell.

It is an Asian native and has many culinary uses in the Asian cuisine, including Malay candy and ice cream. It's so common in ice cream, in fact, that the popular Indonesian dessert Es durian (meaning durian ice cream), is sold in stalls on the streets of cities (think hot dog stands in NYC). From my research, it looks like it's also mainly used in sauces and commonly used with coconut milk and in soups.

I'm not so sure if I would ever be willing to try this (interesting?) fruit, but I can tell you this: I don't want one of these to ever fall on my head. Ouch. And that is you introduction to durian.

Tell me, would you ever try it?