Saturday, May 25, 2013

"Crème brûlée"



Some of my family members had been craving and asking for it for some time so I had to give in!



Ingredients (yield 6 ramekins)
  • 320 ml heavy cream (35%)
  • 1 vanilla bean, or 1,5 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 egg yolks, room temperature
  • 50g white sugar
  • 60g white sugar







Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 150°C (300°F) 
  2. In a saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring the cream and the vanilla bean and seeds to the almost to a boil. Remove from heat and remove the vanilla bean.


  3. Meanwhile in a heatproof bowl beat the egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale (about 1-2 minutes). Gradually pour hot cream into the egg yolk mixture, making sure you keep whisking constantly so the eggs don't curdle. (Stir in vanilla extract, if using.) 


  4. Strain into a large measuring cup or pitcher and then evenly pour the custard into the ramekins. 


  5. Prepare a water bath (bain marie) by carefully pouring enough hot or boiling water so that the water comes halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
  6.  Bake for about 30 - 40 minutes or just until the custards are set (a slight wobble is okay). Immediately remove the custards from the water bath and cool to room temperature on a wire rack (about one hour). Refrigerate (uncovered) for at least 4 hours or until cold and firm. At this point they can be stored (covered) in the refrigerator for about three days.


  7. To serve, remove the custards from the refrigerator. Sprinkle an even, not too thick, layer (about 1 tblsp (15 grams)) of white sugar over the custards. Using a hand held kitchen torch, or under a very hot preheated broiler, caramelize the sugar until it is golden brown and bubbly.


  8.  Let sit a few minutes so the sugar can harden then serve.




Review: The taste was very nice, not overwhelmingly sweet and delicate.

Tip
 I made caramel using my oven. I did the job but some of the sugar didn't crystalize properly. It didn't bother me personnaly but I'm just saying...Use hand held kitchen torch if you have it!

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