Pistachio Caramels Food

CHAI-SPICED CRèME CARAMELS WITH RASPBERRIES AND PISTACHIO PHYLLO CRISPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bring milk, cream, cardamom, peppercorns, fennel seeds, cinnamon sticks, and cloves to a boil in a heavy saucepan over moderate heat. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook granulated sugar in a dry small heavy saucepan over moderate heat, swirling pan (to help sugar melt evenly), until sugar is melted into a deep golden caramel. Immediately pour caramel into ramekins, tilting to cover bottoms evenly.
• Whisk together whole egg and yolk in a large bowl. Bring spiced milk to a boil again, then add to eggs in a slow stream, whisking. Pour custard base through a fine sieve into a 2-cup measure. Add brown sugar and a pinch of salt, then stir until sugar is dissolved. Divide custard between ramekins.
• Bake custards in a water bath in middle of oven until set but still trembling slightly, about 30 minutes. (Custards will continue to set as they cool.) Remove ramekins from water and cool crème caramels on a rack. Chill, loosely covered with plastic wrap, until cold, at least 3 hours.
• Just before serving, run a knife around inside edges of ramekins. Arrange raspberries, open ends up, over entire surface of custards, pressing gently to adhere. Place a pistachio phyllo crisp over each ramekin and invert onto a plate, then carefully remove ramekins.

PISTACHIO CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line an 8" square pan with foil, extending foil over side of pan; heavily butter foil.
• In a 4 quart heavy saucepan, combine brown sugar, corn syrup, 1 cup warm whipping cream and salt.
• Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
• Using a pastry brush dipped in hot water, wash down any sugar crystals on sides of saucepan.
• Attach a candy thermometer to pan, making sure thermometer does not touch bottom of pan.
• Cook, without stirring, 12- 15 minutes or until mixture reaches 232 degrees.
• Stirring gently, slowly add the other 1 cup warm whipping cream.
• Bring mixture to a boil.
• Cook 15 minutes longer, or until mixture reaches 248 degrees.
• Remove from heat, add pistachios and vanilla.
• Immediately pour into pan.
• Cool at room temperature for several hours.
• Lift caramel from pan, using ends of foil; discard foil.
• Cut into 1 inch squares.
• Store in a cool place.

PISTACHIO ICE CREAM WITH THYME-CABERNET CARAMEL

Steps:

• Bring the sugar and 3 tablespoons water to a boil over medium-high heat without stirring. Cook until it reaches a pale amber caramel, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and carefully add the wine and thyme sprigs. Cook, stirring to soften the caramel, until it is reduced to the desired consistency, 5 to 7 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Serve over pistachio ice cream and garnish with chopped pistachios.