Buzz
When durian is turned into street snacks in Saigon, it offers a taste that is both novel and familiar.
Crispy Fried Durian
A piece of golden durian will be wrapped in a thin layer of rice paper, then coated with flour. Particularly, this flour layer is infused with durian extract, giving it a beautiful color and aroma. The flavored durian piece will then be deep-fried in hot oil.
After frying for about 5 minutes, you will notice the durian piece expanding and emitting a rich, enticing fragrance. Fried durian resembles fried bananas but is much more fragrant and flavorful.
Some places selling fried durian also provide customers with boxes lined with oil-absorbing paper and vents to prevent the cakes from becoming soggy. Thanks to this, even after buying the cakes for about 1-2 hours, they still feel crispy and delicious.
Price for one piece of fried durian ranges from 8,000 to 10,000 dong/piece. You can purchase cakes at small shops along Nguyen Chi Thanh, Nguyen Van Cu, Ngo Tat To streets...
Refreshing Coconut Durian Jelly
Combining coconut jelly with firm, golden durian rice will make you fall in love. One of the key factors contributing to the wonderful sweetness of this snack is the rich coconut cream.
Coconut durian jelly becomes even more fantastic when paired with egg flan. The richness of durian, the deep sweetness of flan, and the cool, chewy texture of the jelly will help you beat the summer heat.
In addition to enjoying it on a plate, you can also indulge in coconut durian jelly inside a coconut. The refreshing taste of coconut rice helps you feel less full. Price for a plate of coconut durian jelly is 10,000 dong/plate. Adding egg flan is 20,000 dong/plate. And the price for a coconut filled with durian jelly is 30,000 dong/coconut.
You can find delicious coconut durian jelly at a small shop on Chau Van Liem Street, along 3 Thang 2 Street, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia...
Crispy Crunch Durian Sandwich
Durian sandwich is an upgraded version of grilled rice paper. The rice paper crust made from flour, maltose, and honey, when grilled properly, creates a crispy texture and pleasing golden color.
The best place for you to try this dish is at White Rabbit Park (District 10, Ho Chi Minh City).
*Eating durian also requires skill
Durian is praised as the king of fruits. The renowned English naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) described the flavor of durian perfectly: “The composition and flavor of durian's aroma are truly indescribable. It is a mixture of egg, butter, milk, seasoned with almond and mixed with hints of cream cheese, onion sauce, sherry…”
Nevertheless, it is still perfect, and the more one eats, the more reluctant they are to stop. Indeed, eating durian brings a novel sensation, worthy of embarking on an oriental adventure”.
In terms of nutrition, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in 100g of durian, the protein, carbohydrate, lipid, minerals, and energy value are much higher than other fruits.
Durian rice is adored for its delicious aroma and nutritional benefits, stimulating fertility, purifying blood, and expelling worms.
However, it is advisable not to consume too much (over 150g of fruit rice/day) as it can cause heatiness, leading to discomfort and acne.
People with excessive internal heat symptoms, such as thinness, dry skin, restlessness, warm palms and soles, thirst, insomnia, night sweats, reduced urination, yellow urine, constipation, or restless sleep, should limit durian consumption. Pregnant women, diabetes patients, hypertensive individuals, or those with fever should avoid durian.
Doctor Din Cong Bay
***
Source: Mytour Travel Guide - By: iHay
MytourNovember 3, 2014
