Crema Catalana

Crema Catalana

Cinnamon-citrus custard under crackling burnt sugar — Catalonia's original brûlée.

Total
90 min
Serves
4

Catalonia's answer to crème brûlée, and arguably its elder: a stovetop custard of milk, cream and egg yolks infused with cinnamon stick and citrus zest, thickened with corn flour, then chilled and finished with a burnt-sugar crust. The citrus-cinnamon perfume is the giveaway. Crack the caramel, find the silk beneath.

Ingredients

  • 400ml Milk
  • 150ml Double Cream
  • 1 Cinnamon Stick
  • 1 Orange Zest
  • 1 Lemon Zest
  • 7 Egg Yolks
  • 100g Caster Sugar
  • 6 tablespoons Caster Sugar
  • 45g Corn Flour

Instructions

  1. Put the milk, cream, cinnamon stick and all the citrus zest in a saucepan set over a medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until the milk is just steaming but not boiling, about 3-5 mins. Remove from the heat, cover with a plate and leave to infuse for at least 30 mins.
  2. When the cream mixture has infused, whisk the egg yolks, sugar and cornflour together in a separate bowl for 3-5 mins, or until light and pale in colour. Pour the infused milk through a sieve into the egg mixture, whisking continuously. Return the mixture to the saucepan.
  3. Put the saucepan over a medium-high heat and whisk for around 10-12 mins. The mixture should start thickening to a custard-like consistency – you can tell it’s ready by dipping a wooden spoon in the mixture, then running a finger through the mixture on the back of the spoon. If the line holds, it's ready. Sieve the mixture into a jug to remove any froth.
  4. Divide the custard between six 150ml ramekins or small terracotta dishes, then leave to cool for 1 hr at room temperature until set with a slight wobble. Chill overnight.
  5. Just before serving, sprinkle 1 tbsp caster sugar over the top of each ramekin and caramelise using a kitchen blowtorch. Alternatively, slide the ramekins under a hot grill until the sugar turns golden and starts to bubble. Serve straightaway.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories
400
Protein
6.5 g
Fat
25 g
Carbs
35 g

Adapted from bbcgoodfood.com. Rewritten and re-photographed by MealIdeas.

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