Catalan Custard ~ Crèma Catalana
This Catalan custard, or crèma Catalana, is a classic Spanish dessert made with lemon and vanilla-infused milk, egg, and sugar.
Equipment
- A 3-quart glazed or unglazed earthenware or ceramic flameware saucepan or casserole, or 6 earthenware cazuelitas or very shallow porcelain or stoneware baking dishes, 6 ounces (170 g) each, and about 5 inches (13 cm) in diameter. If using an electric or ceramic stovetop, be sure to use a heat diffuser with the clay pot.
Ingredients
- 1 quart (4 cups) whole milk
- 1 piece (2 inches) vanilla bean, split lengthwise
- 1 long strip lemon zest, preferably organic
- 1/2 cup egg yolks, (7 or 8 large yolks)
- 1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 6 tablespoons turbinado sugar
Instructions
- Pour the milk into the earthenware saucepan and place it over low heat. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the milk and throw in the pod as well. Add the lemon zest, raise the heat to medium-low, and cook until bubbles appear around the edge of the pan.
- Remove from the heat and let the flavorings steep in the milk for about 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 210°F (99°C).
- Reheat the milk over medium heat until hot but not boiling. Scoop out and discard the vanilla pod and the lemon zest.
- In a bowl, combine the egg yolks, granulated sugar, and cornstarch. Beat until smooth, creamy, and pale in color, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in about 1 cup hot milk. Scrape the egg yolk mixture into the remaining hot milk in the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring, until the custard is creamy and thick enough to thickly coat the back of a spoon thickly. Do not allow the mixture to boil.
- Arrange the cazuelitas in a jelly roll pan or roasting pan. Ladle the custard into them, dividing it evenly. Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, or until the custard is set around the edges but still slightly jiggly in the center.
- Let cool to room temperature. Cover each dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
- About 20 minutes before serving, remove the cazuelitas from the refrigerator and discard the plastic wrap. Use a paper towel to gently blot any surface moisture from the top of each. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar evenly over each custard. Caramelize the sugar on the surface in any of the 3 ways described below the recipe.
- Serve at once.
Notes
Foolproof Strategies For Caramelizing Sugar
To caramelize using an iron salamander Place the salamander over a high flame on a gas stovetop, on the coil of an electric burner set to high, or on a flat glass-topped electric stove. Heat for at least 5 minutes. Working with a single crema at a time, apply the hot round portion directly to the sugar and hold until sizzling and smoking. The moment you lift the salamander, the sugar topping will turn glassy. Wipe the salamander with a damp cloth, then return it to the heat for a few minutes before glazing the next crema. The cremas will retain their glassy crust for about 20 minutes, so you should have enough time to finish them all off prior to serving. To clean your salamander, let it cool down completely, rinse under hot water, and scrub with a pumice stone until smooth, then rinse again and dry thoroughly. To caramelize using a kitchen blowtorch Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for igniting your blowtorch. Hold it about 3 inches above the sugar topping. You want the end of the flame to just touch the sugar. Using a slow rotating movement, allowing the flame to “lick” the entire surface until evenly glazed and dark brown. To caramelize using a gas broiler Preheat the broiler. Set the well-chilled custards about 5 inches below the flame and broil until the sugar surface turns deep brown. (Using an electric broiler to caramelize is not recommended since by the time the sugar has glazed, the custards will lose their chill.)Nutrition
Serving: 1portion | Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 235mg | Sodium: 78mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g