Flan / Caramel Custard / Creme Caramel

Now this is one such delicacy which is made in almost all parts of the world. The recipe too remains the same and has no variation. I am talking about the famous "Caramel Custard". Taste is the same all over just the names differ...Caramel Custard / Mexican Flan / Creme Caramel. Most of the housewives in India know how to make this pudding. It is so popular because of its easy preparation. I just love the texture, the appearance of this dessert which makes my mouth drool. Ah...whoever invented this, must be a real food genius :)

The preparation is really simple. A custard is prepared with a soft caramel layered at the bottom of a mold which is then oven steamed to set. The custard is then inverted only to get a golden syrup flowing on top of the cooked custard. Absolute Bliss!! This recipe can be made in a pressure cooker too.

Ingredients:

• 1 & 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 & 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla essence

Method:

1. Heat a saucepan and melt 1 cup of sugar with 1/2 cup of water.
2. You need to make caramel out of the sugar so it will take about 10-15 minutes to caramelize. Start stirring frequently when the sugar looks like this image.
3. Wait till the sugar turns brown and when you think its fully caramelized.
4. Immediately, pour the liquid caramel into a baking mold. Keep aside. The caramel would become hard by now. (Caution: DO NOT TOUCH THE HOT CARAMEL)
5. Take a mixing bowl and break 3 eggs, 2 egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar to it. Whisk everything together until smooth foam. Keep aside.
6. Warm the milk in a microwave. Slowly pour the milk into the whisked egg mixture and whisk simultaneously until whole of the milk is poured in. Pour the vanilla essence and whisk again.
7. Gently pour the above custard in the baking mold on top of the caramel.
8. You can make your caramel custard in a pressure cooker or in an oven. You need to cover the mold with an aluminium foil, put the mold in the cooker and cook in medium heat. It should take 20-30 minutes for the custard to cook and set. Do not use whistle.
9. If you are cooking in an oven, Preheat the oven at 325 degree celcius. Put the baking mould in a roasting tray and fill half the tray with boiling water.
10. Cover the entire tray with the mould with an aluminium foil and insert it in the oven and cook for 45 minute until the custard is set.
11. Take out the tray and open the foil to see whether the custard has set or not. For that you need to insert a knife in the custard and if it comes out clean, then the custard is perfectly set and cooked.
12. Leave the mold to cool itself and then invert it into a flat serving plate. The caramel will run all over the custard and it will equally look and taste good. Slice the custard with the caramel and serve your loved ones.

PS: Please do not touch the hot caramel or do not allow any kids around it. It will just burn your finger away. Experience speaks!! :)

- The cooking time can vary according the quantity you put.