Air Fryer Half-and-Half Pizza: Sweet Corn
Creamy Durian
Experience the ultimate sweet and savory fusion with this homemade air fryer pizza. It features a pillowy from-scratch crust topped with creamy durian on one half and sweet corn on the other, finished with stretchy mozzarella.
Durian is often a polarizing ingredient, but baking it into a pizza transforms its pungent profile into a rich, sweet, and creamy custard-like topping. Paired with sweet corn kernels on a quick homemade crust, this half-and-half pie is a fantastic way to introduce the king of fruits to newcomers, or just to impress family with a unique homemade treat. Utilizing an air fryer makes the baking process incredibly approachable for kitchen novices.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2.5 g active dry yeast
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tbsp white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup ripe durian flesh
- 1/2 cup peeled sweet corn kernels
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- to taste cooking oil (for brushing)
Instructions
- 1Combine dry ingredients

Add a bowl and a half of flour into a mixing bowl, followed by half of a 5g yeast packet, a little bit of salt, and two spoonfuls of white sugar.
Tip: Make sure to mix these dry ingredients evenly before adding any wet components. - 2Season the flour mixture

Incorporate the salt and sugar into the flour and yeast mixture to ensure a balanced flavor for the pizza dough.
Tip: Adding the sugar helps feed the yeast, which aids in the fermentation process. - 3Add the egg

Crack a fresh egg into the center of the dry ingredient mixture to add richness to the dough.
Tip: Using an egg helps create a tender texture in the finished pizza crust. - 4Add cooking oil

Pour in a small amount of cooking oil to substitute for butter in the dough mixture.
Tip: Regular cooking oil works effectively as a fat substitute when butter is unavailable. - 5Incorporate milk

Gradually add milk to the bowl while stirring the ingredients with chopsticks until the mixture begins to form flakes.
Tip: Stirring until you see flakes helps distribute the liquid evenly before you begin kneading. - 6Knead the dough

Begin kneading the crumbly mixture by hand until it transforms into a smooth and cohesive dough ball.
Tip: Kneading sufficiently is key to developing the gluten structure for a nice crust. - 7Proof the dough

Place the bowl containing the smooth dough ball into a pot filled with warm water to create a gentle, warm environment. This helps the dough ferment and rise faster. Cover the pot and wait for about half an hour until the dough has doubled in size.
Tip: If you dont have a proofing oven, using a pot of warm water on the stove is a great, effective way to speed up the fermentation process. - 8Prepare the durian flesh

After extracting the flesh from a ripe durian, place the chunks into a clear glass bowl. Ensure the durian is sweet and soft, as this will provide a creamy, flavorful base for your pizza topping.
Tip: Choosing a very ripe and sweet durian will significantly enhance the final flavor of the pizza. - 9Divide the dough

Once the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the proofing pot. Use a plastic scraper to divide the dough ball into two equal halves, which will be used to make two separate pizzas.
Tip: Divide the dough evenly so that both pizzas have a consistent size and baking time. - 10Roll out the dough

Take one portion of the divided dough and roll it out on a flat surface using a wooden rolling pin. Shape it into a neat, round flatbread that will serve as the crust for your pizza.
Tip: Aim for an even thickness throughout the circle to ensure the crust bakes uniformly. - 11Shape the pizza base

Place the rolled-out dough into a round paper air fryer liner. Use your hands to press the dough into place and shape the edges to be slightly thicker, which helps contain the toppings and prevents spills during the baking process.
Tip: Make the edges thicker and slightly raised to create a crust rim that holds the durian and corn filling securely. - 12Poke holes in the base

Use a metal fork to poke rows of small holes across the surface of the pizza base, including some diagonal patterns. This step is crucial for fermented dough because it prevents the crust from puffing up excessively while baking.
Tip: Be thorough with the poking, as this ensures a flat, even crust surface perfect for toppings. - 13Mash the durian flesh

Place the extracted durian flesh into a bowl and use a spatula to mash it thoroughly until it reaches a smooth, creamy consistency. This ensures the durian spreads easily over the pizza base and provides an even flavor in every bite.
Tip: If the durian is very soft, mashing is quick. You can adjust the consistency based on your preference for texture. - 14Add corn toppings

Take the prepared pizza base and sprinkle a layer of clean, peeled corn kernels over one half of the surface. Using pre-peeled kernels makes the topping easy for both children and adults to eat.
Tip: Distribute the corn evenly to ensure every slice has a good balance of flavor. - 15Add durian topping

Spread the previously mashed durian paste across the remaining half of the pizza base. Ensure it covers the area well to create a rich, sweet, and fragrant layer.
Tip: Use your spatula to smooth out the durian layer for consistent baking. - 16Place pizza in air fryer

Carefully place the assembled pizza onto the air fryer tray. Ensure the pizza is centered and the oil-absorbing paper is positioned correctly before sliding the drawer into the air fryer.
Tip: Double-check that you have brushed oil on the edges of the crust to prevent them from drying out during the baking process. - 17Brush crust with oil

Using a brush, lightly coat the exposed edges of the pizza crust with cooking oil. This helps achieve a golden color and a better texture, preventing the dough from becoming overly dry.
Tip: If you forgot to do this before the initial preheat, applying it during the process still helps improve the finished texture. - 18Add cheese and finish baking

Once the initial bake is complete, sprinkle a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pizza. Return it to the air fryer for another 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
Tip: Keep an eye on the cheese to ensure it melts perfectly without burning.