Hey all you durian fans – the season of the thorny fruit is upon us, and with it comes all sorts of decadent durian delicacies, from the fancy to the wacky. So push aside your diet for the month and embrace the heaty treat in desserts like bean curd tarts, cheesecake and even chee cheong fun. It’s the best way to enjoy durian without stinking up your fingers for the rest of the day.
Chilled durian purée shaved ice
$12 at Blue Lotus Chinese Eating House
For a melt-in-your-mouth sweet treat, get this bowl of flaky shaved ice with a dollop of D24 purée.
Crispy king of durian ice cream with maple syrup
$10 at Majestic Restaurant
Think Mao Shan Wang durian mixed with custard and frozen before being dipped in flour batter and deep fried till golden.
Durian bean curd tarts
$12/a box of eight at L.E. Café Confectionery & Pastry
Picture this: Velvety smooth soya bean curd blended with Mao Shan Wang durian purée, nestled in a buttery crust and topped with more durian purée. It’s the bakery’s famed bean curd tarts in durian form.
Durian chee cheong fun
$5.90 at House of Rice Roll and Porridge (89 Killiney Rd)
This odd combination has been around for a few years in a chilled version featuring thin rice roll skin enveloping globs of fleshy durian, with sugared peanuts sprinkled on top. It’s like the local version of durian crepes. You’ll either love it or hate it.
Durian cheesecup
$3.30 at Jara Petit Cheesecups
If you’re hankering for just a little taste of the spiky fruit, treat yourself to a whipped cream-covered mini cup of durian pulp mixed with cream cheese on a crumbly cookie base. The durian cheesecake flavour is subtle, which makes for an afternoon snack that doesn’t overwhelm your palate. Pretty packaging is an added plus.
Durian cake
$12/slice, $96/1.1kg whole cake at CreatureS
Layers of fluffy pandan sponge with creamy durian paste in between — all of which is slathered in a light Chantilly cream. Simple, but oh-so-tasty.
Durian crème brulee
$8.50 at The Quarters
Luscious Mao Shan Wang durian whipped into custard form and covered with a blanket of crisp, caramelised sugar. ‘Nuff said.
Durian crêpe
$10/piece, $69/8 pieces at Goodwood Park Hotel
The hotel’s famed durian buffet is always a treat (not taking into account its recent health scandal), and one of its must-try items is the durian crêpe, which is basically a whole lotta D24 durian pulp wrapped in an ultra thin skin.
Durian soup
$9 at Candlenut
Okay, so the ‘soup’ is made out of durian ice cream and purée. But there’s an added crunch, thanks to the crispy feuilletine flakes. It’s neat mix of textures, for sure.
Durian waffle
$9.50 at Dessert First
For a super indulgent Sunday brunch, satiate your waffle addiction with these pillowy ones featuring globs of rich durian purée and vanilla ice cream.
Fried durian balls
Adults $42-$45, children $25-$28 at the Durian High Tea Buffet at Marriott Café in Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
Here, the King of fruits gets the deep fried treatment, with gooey durian pulp oozing out of a crispy shell. If that’s not enough for you, gorge yourself on durian strudel, mochi, donuts and more at the high tea buffet in town.
Mao Shan Wang cheesecake
$51.70/15cm cake at Emicakes
The non-bake cheesecake by the self-proclaimed ‘Singapore’s No. 1 durian cake maker’ comes stuffed with Mao Shan Wang durian and covered in a chocolate coating. Eat this only if you’re not watching your weight.
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