Durian Puree Cheesecake

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C).

2. If not using canned or frozen durian purée, cut into husk of durian fruit and remove one segment of pulpy inner flesh. Place in a bowl and use a fork to mash flesh. Reserve 1/4 cup.

3. Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add condensed milk and continue beating until smooth. Beat in puréed durian, eggs, sour cream, vanilla extract, and durian or banana extract. Pour batter into prepared graham cracker crust.

4. Bake 1 hour or until filling is set and edges are lightly browned. Serve warm or chill overnight in the refrigerator.

Tips

Durian, a large fruit from Southeast Asia, has a dark green to brown husk studded with prickly thorns concealing pale yellow to red flesh. Both the fruit and canned or frozen puréed durian can be found in most Asian supermarkets. Some find durian's strong odor offensive, but the reward is its creamy flesh with a nutty, slightly sweet taste.