How to Open a Durian

Durian is a fruit native to Southeast Asia. It has a very thorny outer shell. The fruit emits a very strong smell. It is either you love it or you hate it. Personally, I love it. Beneath the thorny cover is a very rich, velvety soft and fleshy edible part. The cream cheese texture and custard-like flavor is to die for. This fleshy part covers the seed. But before you get in to the luscious fruit, you need to crack open the thorny shell.

Here is how we open this:


1. Locate the bottom of fruit where all the lines dividing the sections of the fruit converge. Poke it with the kitchen knife to crack open the bottom. We need the initial crack for the next step.




2. Step on the fruit until the crack is slightly bigger. This looks funny and unsanitary but this works for us. Position your foot near the crack but not over it. You do not want the shoe dirt on the edible part. Make sure also that you have a clean floor. (Fancy slippers are optional. Hehehe!)




3. On the large crack, pry open the sections to reveal the fleshy fruit.







4. Scoop out the fruit.







Every single person in my family eats this fruit. When there is durian in the house, I cannot hoard it for myself. Its distinctive smell is like an alarm for everybody else. Besides, it is fun sharing it with everybody. Two or three seed parts are enough for one serving. The fruit is calorific. More than 3 helpings would get you drunk. When eaten in large amount, this generates body heat. Be careful. Don't say I did not warn you!