Fruit Custard Brulee Ultra Light Food

FRUIT CUSTARD BRULEE (ULTRA LIGHT)

Steps:

• For the custard: In a small saucepan thoroughly combine 2 tbsp of the sugar with the cornstarch. Add the milk and egg. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon over medium heat just until the mixture begins to bubble. Do not overcook. Immediately pour the custard into a small bowl. Let mixture cool about 5 minutes.
• Whisk the sour cream into the custard. Add the vanilla. Cover and chill the custard for up to 24 hours.
• To serve: Divide berries evenly among four goblets or dessert dishes. Spoon chilled custard over the berries. (If necessary, thin the custard with a little milk before spooning over berries.) Set aside and prepare topping.
• Optional topping (I personally would not use): In a heavy small skillet or saucepan heat the remaining 2 tbsp sugar over medium high heat until sugar begins to melt, shaking the skillet occasionally to heat evenly (do not stir). Reduce heat to low. Cook sugar until melted and golden, stirring as necessary with a wooden spoon. Quickly drizzle caramelized sugar over custard and serve immediately. (Note: The problem I found with this topping, is that it hardens to something inedible over the custard and has to be broken off and not eaten. The dessert is very enjoyable without the topping. I've included it, as it was part of the original recipe, but if someone else can find out a way to do this topping that works, let me know).

CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Beat egg yolks, 4 tablespoons white sugar and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl until thick and creamy.
• Pour cream into a saucepan and stir over low heat until it almost comes to boil. Remove the cream from heat immediately. Stir cream into the egg yolk mixture; beat until combined.
• Pour cream mixture into the top pan of a double boiler. Stir over simmering water until mixture lightly coats the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes. Remove mixture from heat immediately and pour into a shallow heat-proof dish.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Preheat oven to broil.
• In a small bowl combine remaining 2 tablespoons white sugar and brown sugar. Sift this mixture evenly over custard. Place dish under broiler until sugar melts, about 2 minutes. Watch carefully so as not to burn.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool. Refrigerate until custard is set again.

LIGHTER CRèME BRûLéE

Steps:

• Stir 2 tbsp of the sugar, the custard powder and cornflour in a medium bowl with 2 tbsp of the milk to make a smooth paste. Beat in the egg yolks with a fork until well combined. Pour the remaining milk into a pan, preferably non-stick, then pour in the cream. Slit the vanilla pod lengthways and scrape the seeds into the milk. Drop the pod into the pan and bring the creamy milk just to the boil - as soon as you see a few bubbles rising to the surface, remove from the heat.
• Slowly pour and stir the hot milk into the cornflour mix, including the vanilla pod, making sure the yolks are well blended in. Transfer to a clean pan. Cook over a low heat, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon, for about 15-20 mins until the mixture is very thick - when you drag the spoon across the bottom of the pan, it should leave a clean line. It should be much thicker after about 10 mins, but keep stirring until the mixture has thickened sufficiently to look like softly whipped cream or mayonnaise. Keep adjusting the heat so that the mixture does not come to the boil or overheat, as it may curdle and become lumpy. If this happens, beat the mixture smooth with a wire whisk.
• Remove from the heat, transfer to a bowl and leave to cool for 15-20 mins, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming. Remove the vanilla pod. Stir in the crème fraîche and divide the mixture between 4 small ramekins (about 125-150ml capacity each). Spread the mixtures level, then chill, uncovered, overnight. By not covering them, a thin skin can form on top of the brûlées, which will help support the caramel layer.
• Before serving, spoon the remaining sugar over the top of each brûlée (allow 1½ tsp per ramekin) and smooth over with the back of the spoon. To caramelise, use a blowtorch. Hold the flame just above the sugar and keep it moving until evenly caramelised (don't take too long or you will heat up the custard too much). If the custard looks as though it has softened slightly, put the ramekins in the fridge for 5-10 mins to firm it up again. Serve while the caramel is still brittle.