It’s not always easy to buy ripe durians that are perfectly ripe. Sometimes, you cut open the fruit and realize that the flesh inside is still underripe and hard, making it unpleasant to eat or even keep.
Why do durians turn hard? During their growth, durians can experience physiological disorders that cause the flesh to become hard or soft, lose their color, or lack their characteristic aroma. The flesh may also turn brown.
There are some tricks to turn hard durians into soft, melt-in-your-mouth treats. (Image: Thestar)
Durians grown in waterlogged soil are also more susceptible to issues. Excess moisture in the soil can disrupt the tree’s nutrient absorption process. Imbalanced or excessive fertilizer application can also lead to hard durians.
Tricks to Turn Hard Durians Soft and Melt-in-Your-Mouth
Instead of discarding the underripe flesh, try these tricks to transform hard durians into soft, creamy delights.
Oven Baking Method
Preheat your oven to 150-160°C. Place the hard durian flesh on a baking tray, spread out evenly, and bake for 5-10 minutes.
Keep an eye on it to ensure the durian doesn’t burn. After baking, let the durian cool down naturally, and the flesh will become softer and easier to eat.
Ripening Durians
If you’re not in a hurry and prefer a more natural ripening process, try ripening your durians using banana leaves or newspaper.
– Wrap the hard durian flesh in banana leaves or newspaper.
– Place the wrapped durian in a plastic bag or airtight container.
– Keep it in a warm, dry place for 24-48 hours. The natural ethylene gas produced by the durian will help it ripen and soften.
Delicious Recipes Using Hard Durians
In addition to the two tricks mentioned above, you can also try these fantastic recipes that use underripe durian as the main ingredient.
Baked Durians
Separate the durian flesh and wrap it in aluminum foil.
Place the foil-wrapped durian in the oven, an air fryer, or directly on charcoal for grilling.
Bake for about 15 minutes until the durian emits a pleasant aroma. If you want a slightly charred appearance on the durian, remove the foil and bake for a few more minutes.
Baked durians will be softer and have a distinctive aroma, but not as strong as naturally ripe durians.
If you’re not a fan of eating durians directly, try incorporating them into other dishes (Image: Danielfooddiary)
Durian Fritters
Durian fritters are a delicious snack that makes great use of hard durians.
Cut the hard durian into small pieces.
Mix flour or banana fritter mix with water to create a thick, smooth batter.
Mix the durian pieces into the batter.
Heat oil in a pan. Once hot, add spoonfuls of the batter-durian mixture (similar to how you would cook banana fritters) and fry until golden brown on both sides.
Durian fritters have a crispy exterior and a soft, melt-in-your-mouth durian center.
Durian Pudding
Cook coconut milk with sugar and a pinch of salt until it boils.
Add the hard durian and simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes until the durian softens.
Add tapioca pearls or jelly if desired, and serve warm or chilled.
Durian pudding combines the creamy richness of coconut milk with the sweetness and aroma of durian, making it a truly indulgent dessert.
Durian Smoothie
Blend underripe durian with condensed milk, sugar, and ice cubes.
Add a little fresh milk if you prefer a creamier texture.
Pour the mixture into a glass and enjoy immediately.
Durians Ice Cream
Blend underripe durian flesh with sugar and condensed milk until smooth.
Whip fresh cream, then mix it with the durian mixture.
Pour the blended mixture into a container and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.
Try out these creative recipes to transform hard durians into soft, creamy delights.
Source: VTC news
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