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Durian candy
Durian candy (Davao): chewy durian and milk fudge, cut into bars and wrapped
Davao City on Mindanao is the Philippines' durian capital, and its roadside stalls sell the fruit by the kilo next to boxes of durian candy for travellers who can't carry a whole one home. Ripe durian pulp is cooked slowly with condensed milk, sugar and butter until it becomes a dense, chewy fudge that tastes of caramel, custard and that famously strong fruit. Chef's tip: frozen durian pulp works perfectly; thaw it fully and pick out any seeds and fibrous bits before you start.
- Total time
- 65 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 24
Ingredients
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Mash 14 oz ripe durian pulp with a fork or blitz it smooth. Grease a 15 cm square tin.
5 minStep 2: Put the durian, ¾ cup condensed milk, 2 ⅞ oz sugar, 1 oz butter and 1 pinch salt in a heavy non-stick pan over a medium-low heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves and it starts to bubble.
5 minStep 3: Keep cooking over a low heat, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula, for 35–45 minutes, until it turns a deeper caramel colour, becomes very thick and clears the pan in one sticky mass. Common mistake: stopping too soon; undercooked candy stays soft and never sets.
45 minStep 4: Press into the tin, smooth the top and leave to cool and firm for at least 3 hours or overnight.
5 minStep 5: Cut into 24 small bars with an oiled knife and wrap each in 24 baking paper or cellophane squares. Keep in a sealed box in a cool place for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 75 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 13 g
- Fat
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does durian candy take?
- About 65 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 24 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of condensed milk?
- Oat, soy or almond milk, same amount (use unsweetened for savoury dishes).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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