Joanna James
Durian is a tropical fruit that looks the same as it's received—with trepidation. The exterior is a prickly case that doesn't smell so great, but inside is the sweet flesh you fall in love with. Taste precedes smell for most people who view the fruit as a delicacy.
Do you love pastry? You are going to enjoy the delicate durian puffs even more. Imagine a soft flaky pastry encasing a rich custard cream made from the sweet flesh of durian. One bite and that crispy crunch is followed by loads of oozing custard that hits your taste buds with a wham. The flavours that explode in your mouth are quite a treat, and you will be craving these delicate pastries long after your holiday in Malaysia has ended. Of course, to make the most of your experiences there, you must schedule plenty of time to explore as a foodie. Places like Desaru in the Johor district are pristine locations for good food and memorable experiences. Plus, among the top things to do in Desaru is exploring the range of local dishes, including durian specialities.
No self-respecting foodie can resist a good cake, and when it comes to exploring with durian, cake seems to have trumped all other dishes. You will find durian cake in many forms; durian chocolate cake, cheese cake, and even soft fluffy sponges. While there are several hot spots for exploring the range of durian delicacies in Malaysia, you may want to visit the more popular restaurants; some are located at places like Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas.
If you want to go local and savour the best traditional meals in Malaysia, Cendol is one local treat not to be missed. This popular traditional dessert is a frozen concoction of pandan jelly, rich thick coconut cream and palm sugar. The alternate version with a twist, contains the sweet flesh of durian, which drives its flavour up by several notches to give your taste buds quite a treat. The durian pairs well with the coconut cream to give you a dessert that's on par with the best creme brule out there. It's a definite must-try when enjoying a holiday in Malaysia.
Lempok is a type of hard gelatine-like candy, better known as a type of dodol in Asia. It's a mixture of durian, coconut milk, and palm sugar that's cooked into a thick consistency and allowed to harden to a gelatinous consistency before being cut into squares. Durian lempak can be found in most supermarkets as they are packed and sold as over-the-counter candy. However, you may want to check out the options at restaurants serving local food at your resort in Malaysia, where the dishes are fresher and made with the finest ingredients.
Of course, ice cream must be included in this list, because who can resist one when exploring a tropical destination? Durian as usual seems to come up tops as an ice cream flavour and is often a menu topper at most resorts in Malaysia. It's one of the best treats to help cool down when out and about exploring and can be found at just about every food outlet selling ice cream. Durian ice cream is a rich, sweet delicacy that is an exotic flavour, different from the usual types of ice cream out there.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
