Elegant Vanilla Bean Banana Custard With Pastry Food

CREAMY BANANA PUDDING RECIPE

Steps:

• Infuse the Milk: Combine milk, sliced banana, and empty vanilla bean pod (if using) in 3-quart stainless steel saucier and bring to simmer over medium heat, stirring from time to time with flexible spatula to prevent scorching along bottom. When dairy comes to simmer, remove from heat, cover, and let stand until cooled to room temperature, about 4 hours. Proceed to next step or refrigerate up to 24 hours to extract stronger banana flavor. The exact timing will depend on both personal preference and convenience.
• Make the Custard: Return banana milk to simmer over medium heat, stirring as before; then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into medium bowl. Press gently on banana pulp to release liquid, but don't allow pulp to pass through sieve. The pulp can be refrigerated to use in muffins, pancakes, or smoothies, but it will not benefit the custard. If using vanilla pod, scrape out the flavorful milk inside each half with flexible spatula before discarding.
• Using same 3-quart saucier as before (no need to wash), whisk sugar, cornstarch, salt, and cloves together until well combined, followed by egg yolks. Whisk in infused milk. Return to stovetop and warm over medium-low heat, whisking gently until custard is steaming hot, about 5 minutes.
• Increase heat to medium and continue cooking until custard thickens, about 5 minutes longer. When it begins to bubble, set timer and continue whisking for 90 seconds. This step is important to neutralize starch-dissolving protein found in egg yolks. Off-heat, stir in vanilla extract and season to taste with additional vanilla, salt, or cloves, as needed. If desired, strain custard through same sieve as before (again, no need to wash) to remove bits of chalazae that may remain or any accidentally curdled custard.
• Portion warm custard into parfait dishes and serve immediately, plain or topped with toasted nuts, cocoa nibs, fresh fruit, unsweetened whipped cream, or whatever toppings you desire.

ELEGANT VANILLA BEAN BANANA CUSTARD WITH PASTRY

Steps:

• Make the pastry by sifting the flours and salt together in a mixing bowl. Add in the seeds, and husks.
• Cut-in half of the shortening with a fork or pastry blender until you have pea-sized pieces. Cut-in the remaining half.
• Add in the water, just a tablespoon at a time, and gently mix until blended. Don't over mix, but do get it nice and moist.
• Roll the dough out onto a floured surface or floured pastry mat. Cut into strips, place on a baking sheet and bake at 415 / 200 for about 10 minutes or until just starting to turn golden.
• Meanwhile start the pudding.
• In a small bowl, mix the egg yolks up with a fork and set to the side.
• In a medium saucepan mix the cornstarch, salt. Slice the vanilla bean lengthwise, and add it and the milk and begin heating over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• Once the mixture reaches a boil, let it boil for one minute.
• Then slowly add at least half of the mixture to yolks while whisking, being careful not to scramble the eggs. Carefully add it back into the pot and boil for one minute longer. At this point, if you didn't use a vanilla bean add in the vanilla extract.
• Allow pudding to cool for a few minutes, stirring so as not to get pudding skin. Add the bananas in and serve warm or refrigerate if you prefer to serve cold.
• Serve with the strips of pastry crisscrossed at the back and top with whipped cream.

CARAMELIZED BANANAS AND VANILLA CREAM IN PHYLLO CUPS

Steps:

• Make phyllo cups:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter every other cup in 12-cup muffin pan. Place 1 phyllo rectangle on work surface; cover remaining phyllo with damp cloth to prevent drying. Brush rectangle with melted butter; sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon sugar. Place second phyllo rectangle atop first; brush with butter and sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon sugar. Repeat 3 more times; top with 1 more rectangle and brush with butter, making stack of 6 rectangles. Using small sharp knife and 6-inch-diameter plate as guide, cut out two 6-inch round stacks. Press each stack into 1 buttered muffin cup. Repeat entire procedure 2 more times, making 4 more phyllo cups (6 total). Bake cups until golden and crisp, about 15 minutes. Carefully lift cups, twisting slightly to loosen; place on rack. Cool completely. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)
• Make pastry cream:
• Whisk 1/2 cup sugar and cornstarch in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Gradually whisk in milk, then yolks. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Whisk over medium heat until pastry cream thickens and boils, about 6 minutes. Strain pastry cream into small bowl; press plastic wrap directly onto surface. Chill until cold, at least 3 hours and up to 2 days.
• Preheat broiler. Place phyllo cups on small baking sheet. Spoon 1/3 cup pastry cream into each cup. Overlap 5 or 6 banana slices atop pastry cream in each cup. Sprinkle bananas with additional sugar. Broil pastries until sugar topping caramelizes, turning sheet for even browning, about 2 minutes. Transfer cups to plates. Scoop sorbet alongside.

VANILLA BEAN CUSTARD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300 degrees. Place an oven rack one-third of the way up from the bottom. Choose a small roasting pan large enough to hold four 6-ounce custard cups, and fill it with enough water to go halfway up the sides of cups. Place pan without cups in the oven. Meanwhile, combine cream, milk, and vanilla bean in a medium saucepan; bring to boil.
• Whisk together the yolks and sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Slowly whisk in the hot milk until completely combined, then pour into custard cups, and place them in the pan of hot water. Bake on the lower shelf until the custard has set and is no longer liquid when lightly touched in the center, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove pan from the oven, remove custard cups from the water, and place on a wire rack to cool. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

N'DIZI NO KASTAD (BANANA CUSTARD, ZANZIBAR STYLE)

Steps:

• If a mix is used, prepare the vanilla pudding or custard.
• Slice the bananas and heap in 6 to 8 champagne or other wine glasses.
• Spoon the custard over the bananas.
• Chill and permit the custard to set.
• Mix the topping ingredients together; place a heaping tablespoonful of the topping on each pudding.
• Serve.

BANANA CUSTARD PUDDING

Steps:

• Combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt in saucepan.
• Over medium heat, slowly add milk, stirring until mixture comes to a boil.
• Cook for 2 minutes.
• Temper egg yolks by adding a small amount of hot liquid, then return all to the saucepan.
• Cook until thickened, then remove from heat.
• Stir in vanilla and chill custard for 1 hour.
• Just before serving, fold in banana slices.
• Garnish with mint if desired.

BANANA CUSTARD ECLAIRS

Steps:

• Put the butter in a saucepan with 225ml water. Weigh the flour in a large bowl and set aside. Bring the butter and water to a fast boil with a pinch of salt, simmer until the butter has melted, then tip in the flour and beat like mad with a wooden spoon until the mixture is pulling away from the sides of the pan and is lump-free. Tip into the bowl and spread the thick paste up the sides a little to help it cool quickly, then leave for 10 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and cut 2 pieces of baking parchment to fit 2 baking sheets. Using a ruler and a pen, mark 12 lines about 9cm long over each piece, leaving plenty of space between the lines. Flip the parchment over. Fit a piping bag with a large round piping nozzle, about 1.5cm wide. When the flour paste has cooled but is not cold, start adding the egg, bit by bit, beating well between each addition until you have a smooth batter, which will reluctantly drop off the end of your spoon. You may not need to use all the egg, so add it slowly. Transfer to your piping bag and use a little of the mixture to stick the parchment to your trays.
• Pipe the choux onto the baking sheet, using the lines as a guide. Place the trays in the oven and bake for 30 mins until the choux is puffed and golden. Swap the trays around for the final 5 mins. The choux should be crisp and hollow-sounding when tapped. You may wish to sacrifice 1 eclair to make sure that the inside is completely dried out; if it is still moist, the eclairs will sink when cooling. Once baked, leave to cool completely. Can be made 1 day ahead - store in a sealed container, and reheat in the oven for 5-10 mins to crisp up before filling.
• Now make the banana custard. Put the bananas, sugar and lemon juice in a food processor and whizz to a purée. Pour into a saucepan and bubble for a few mins until thickened. Mix the custard powder with 2-3 tbsp of the milk to make a smooth paste, then add the remaining milk, cream and vanilla, and stir well. Pour the custard mixture into the banana purée and continue cooking, whisking, until very thick and smooth. Pour into a bowl, cover with cling film and chill for 2 hrs, or until cold.
• Pick out 24 nice banana chips and place on a tray lined with parchment. Spray with edible gold spray or cover with a little gold leaf, if you like. When you're ready to assemble the eclairs, split each one along one side. Transfer the banana custard to a disposable piping bag and snip off the corner. Fill the eclairs generously with the custard, lining up on a tray as you go. Melt the chocolate in a bowl in the microwave, stirring every 20 secs or so to prevent it from burning. When the eclairs are filled, carefully dip the top of each one into the chocolate, letting any excess drip back into the bowl. Place a gold banana chip on each eclair and set back on the tray for 30 mins or so to set. Serve within 3 hrs.

VEGAN VANILLA - BANANA CUSTARD

Steps:

• Whisk cornstarch, sugar, and salt together in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.
• Add milk and egg replacer or banana and whisk until lumps disappear.
• Heat over medium heat, whisking, until the custard thickens.
• To test whether the custard is thick enough, dip a wooden spoon into the mixture and run your finger through the coating.
• When the custard is thick enough, the trail will not close back up.
• Take the custard off heat. Whisk in butter, vanilla, and nutmeg.
• Cool with a plastic sheet pressed to the surface to prevent a skin from forming.
• Bon Appetit!