Milk puddings and custards are slowly replacing chocolate as my favourite kind of dessert. While I used to always order anything with the word chocolate written on the menu when eating out, I have recently discovered that I prefer different flavoured creamy desserts. One that I have always loved (even during my chocoholic years) is Crema Catalana and I like it much more than Crème Brûlée. Part of it must be because it reminds me of Barcelona, one of the cities I love the most in the world and where I have always had a great time (and amazing food), but it also has to do with the fact that Crema Catalana is made with milk infused with lemon zest and cinnamon. No “boring” vanilla in here… and no cream at all, so it is also a “lighter” dessert. Besides, it is much easier and faster to make than its French cousin. I love the fact that you cook it on the stove and not in the oven, so the risk of it curdling is close to zero. I made a batch of these beauties to serve for my Spanish themed New Year’s Eve dinner and we had no leftovers… Enjoy!
Crema Catalana
Crema Catalana - the Catalan version of the French crème brûlée with hints of lemon and cinnamon and a crusty burnt sugar top.
Ingredients
- 6 egg yolks
- 120 gms – 2/3 cup sugar + 4 tbsp
- 1 lt. – 4 cups milk
- 40 gms – 1/3 cup corn starch
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 cinnamon bark
Instructions
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Put the milk, lemon zest and cinnamon bark in a pot. Bring to a boil, then put the fire off and let the lemon zest and cinnamon infuse the milk for 30 to 60 minutes. Then sieve the mixture.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and corn starch until white and fluffy.
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Put the egg yolk mixture on the fire and slowly add the milk, while whisking constantly.
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Cook on a medium flame until it boils and the cream thickens. It will be quite frothy at the beginning, but the foam will disappear once it starts to boil (at this point, the crema catalana will be ready).
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Divide the cream between 8 ramekins and let it cool down. When at room temperature, put it in the fridge until you are ready to serve it.
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Just before serving, sprinkle ½ tablespoon of sugar on each crema catalana and brûlée it using a torch.
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Serve immediately.
Yes I agree it is a wonderful desert and we make them a few times a year, only with some small changes, we use
8 egg yolks (but some they use only 4 yolks and some up to 12 yolks)
200 gms of sugar
50 gms of corn starch
I use fresh pasteurized milk that has not been homogenized when ready I served then with some small strawberries (or other berries in season from the garden) and some very small leaves from a chocolate mint plant from home, and after burning the sugar sometimes I just pour a bit of grapa (or grappa in italian) and served with a small fire.
In other parts of Spain it is called Leche or Crema Quemada (Burned Milk or Cream)
Manu, I LOVE egg yolk desserts and especially crème brûlées – this one is delicious with the hint of cinnamon and lemon. Haven’t made this in a while so thank you for the inspiration! Sharing with macaron readers for yolk recipes! Merci x