Royal Flan De Leche Food

LECHE FLAN

Steps:

• Add about 2 tablespoons of the sugar to a small saucepan over low heat. Allow the sugar to melt, about 15 minutes. Gradually add a tablespoon of sugar at a time, slowly swirling it and allowing it to melt in before adding the next tablespoon. This is a long process, which needs constant attention to avoid burning. When all the sugar is completely melted, it will become a rich, dark caramel color, about 40 to 45 minutes.
• Carefully pour the caramel into a 9-inch cake pan, coating the bottom of the pan. Allow to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Prepare a water bath: Place a large roasting pan on the middle rack of the oven. Bring about 2 quarts of water to a boil, then carefully pour it into the roasting pan in the oven.
• When the caramel is cool, slowly whisk together the egg yolks in a medium bowl, then add the evaporated milk, condensed milk, vanilla extract and lemon zest (if using). Whisk gently to avoid adding air into the custard. Air will cause bubbles, taking away from the smooth and dense texture.
• Pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into the cake pan. Lightly tap the pan on the counter to release any air bubbles.
• Once the oven is at 350 degrees F, carefully place the cake pan in the water bath.
• Bake until the center of the custard is set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Remove the cake pan from the water and allow the custard to cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate for at least 5 hours and up to 5 days.
• To serve, unmold the flan: Allow the flan to come to room temperature (see Cook's Note). Take a sharp paring knife and run it between the edge of the flan and the cake pan. Hold a large plate firmly over the pan and, in one smooth motion, invert the plate and pan. Carefully remove the pan.

FLAN DE LECHE

Steps:

• Make caramel: Pour 1 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons water into a saucepan, preferably one that is white or light-colored inside. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, swirling the pan to combine the sugar and water. Do not stir. Let boil until deep amber in color, swirling the pan occasionally to caramelize evenly, about 10 minutes total. Watch the pan carefully after the mixture starts turning golden; it will quickly become light brown, then amber, then dark amber.
• Immediately pour caramel into a 9- by -5-inch loaf pan and swirl to coat the bottom evenly. Set aside to harden.
• Heat oven to 325 degrees.
• In a saucepan or microwaveable bowl or pitcher, combine milk, lemon zest, salt and remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar. Over low heat or in the microwave, heat through, stirring to melt the sugar. Set aside.
• In a blender (or using a hand blender in a pitcher), combine eggs, egg yolks and vanilla. Blend until smooth.
• Remove the lemon zest strips from the hot milk mixture. With the blender running, gradually pour the milk mixture into the eggs. Go very slowly at first so that the eggs don't cook from the heat of the milk. Blend just until smooth. Pour egg-milk mixture into the caramel-lined pan.
• Place a 9- by- 13-inch baking dish in the lower third of oven. Carefully place the loaf pan in the baking dish. Pour hot tap water into the baking dish until it comes about halfway up the sides of the loaf pan. (Don't worry if the oven seems to be losing heat; the flan will adjust.)
• Bake 55 to 65 minutes, until flan is set but still jiggly in the center. Remove flan from water bath and cool on a rack for 30 minutes. Refrigerate, uncovered, until cold and firm, at least 8 hours or up to 3 days. The caramel will soften as it sits.
• To unmold, run a thin sharp knife around the edges. Center a flat-bottomed platter or serving dish with a rim on top of the pan and, holding both, carefully flip the pan and plate together. The flan will fall onto the plate with a squelch; lift off the pan and let the caramel run all over the top. (If the flan doesn't come out, flip it back over and rest the bottom of the pan on a hot wet kitchen towel for a few minutes, to melt the caramel.) Serve chilled, in slices.

ROYAL FLAN DE LECHE

Steps:

• Heat sugar on low until caramelized; pour into a flan mold or a deep pyrex dish.
• Let harden.
• I like mine a deep brown, but don't let burn.
• Don't let it be too light.
• Put eggs, condensed milk, evaporated milk and water into a blender; blend until smooth.
• Add the vanilla extract to the mixture and blend in with a spoon.
• Pour into mold.
• Make a hot water bath by placing the mold in a larger pan with about 2 inches of water.
• Bake at 250 degrees about 1 1/2 hours until the sides are solid.
• The middle of the flan should be firm but creamy.
• Remove flan from the oven and let cool.
• Refrigerate at least 2 hours or more.

DULCE DE LECHE FLAN

Steps:

• Make dulce de leche:
• Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into a large heavy saucepan and stir in pods, milk, and sugar. Bring mixture to a gentle simmer, then place a small saucer upside down in pot to keep mixture from sticking to bottom or forming a crust. Cook over very low heat, stirring occasionally, until thick and brown, about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Cool.
• Make caramel:
• Preheat oven to 325° F. Place eight 6-ounce ramekins in shallow baking pan. Combine sugar, corn syrup, and water in small saucepan with pouring lip. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil without stirring until deep amber color, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan. Immediately pour caramel into ramekins, tilting and rotating ramekins to coat bottom and rewarming caramel over medium heat if it gets too thick.
• Make flans:
• Whisk together egg and yolks in large bowl. Whisk in dulce de leche. Strain mixture through sieve into large measuring cup and pour into ramekins, diving evenly.
• Place baking pan in oven. Pour enough hot water into pan to come two-thirds up sides of ramekins. Cover pan tightly with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes. Tent foil to vent steam and continue to bake 10 to 15 minutes, until flans are set around edges but still slightly wobbly in centers. Using metal spatula, transfer flans in ramekins to rack; cool 30 minutes. Chill at least 3 hours and up to 2 days. To unmold flans, run a small knife around edges to loosen. Invert onto plates.

LECHE FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Combine sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is thickened and light brown, 7 to 10 minutes. Spread caramel evenly over the inside of a flan mold, tilting the mold to make sure the whole surface is covered.
• Combine evaporated milk, condensed milk, egg yolks, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Stir lightly to prevent bubbles or foam from forming. Strain batter slowly into the caramel-lined flan mold. Cover with aluminum foil. Place mold onto a baking pan filled with water.
• Bake in the preheated oven until firm, about 1 hour. Let cool, about 30 minutes. Invert carefully onto a platter.

FILIPINO LECHE FLAN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Combine 1 cup sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is thickened and light brown, 7 to 10 minutes. Line the inside of a flan mold with the caramel mixture, tilting the mold to make sure the whole surface is covered.
• Combine remaining 1 cup sugar, evaporated milk, egg yolks, and lime zest in a bowl. Gently mix, not beat, until yolks are all broken and blended. Strain the custard through a sieve to remove the zest. Pour mixture into the flan mold. Place flan mold in a larger baking pan filled with water.
• Bake in the preheated oven until firm, about 2 hours.