In the realm of delectable desserts, Crema Catalana stands as a jewel of Catalan cuisine, captivating taste buds with its symphony of flavors and textures. This crème brûlée's Spanish cousin boasts a rich and creamy custard base, infused with the warmth of cinnamon and lemon zest, nestled beneath a golden-brown caramelized sugar crust. As the spoon breaks through the crisp surface, it plunges into a velvety embrace of custard, unleashing a burst of creamy delight. This culinary masterpiece is not merely a dessert but an experience, a dance of flavors that leaves you craving for more. Embark on a culinary journey with us as we present a collection of Crema Catalana recipes, each offering a unique twist on this classic treat. From the traditional method to innovative variations, our recipes cater to every palate and skill level. Indulge in the timeless elegance of Crema Catalana, and let its enchanting flavors transport you to the heart of Catalonia.
Let's cook with our recipes!
CREMA CATALANA
Steps:
- Combine milk, lemon peel, orange peel and cinnamon sticks in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Discard lemon peels, orange peels and cinnamon sticks.
- Using electric mixer, beat egg yolks and sugar in large bowl until light and lemon colored. Beat in cornstarch. Gradually whisk in hot milk. Return mixture to same saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils, whisking constantly, about 10 minutes. Divide custard among six 2/3 cup custard cups. Refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.
- Preheat broiler. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over custards. Broil until brown sugar caramelizes. (Or caramelize with round branding iron). Serve.
CREMA CATALANA
Crema Catalana or Catalan Cream is the Spanish version of the French dessert, crème brulée. Due to the close proximity of Cataluña to France, some believe the famous French dessert actually originated in Cataluña! Wherever it originated won't matter as you eat this dessert, letting it dissolve in your mouth! It is a great dessert for Spring, since it is also called Crema de Sant Josep, or St. Joseph's cream, traditionally prepared on March 19th, St. Joseph's Day, the Spanish equivalent of Father's Day in the USA. This is a great dessert to make ahead of time, since it is very easy and requires 2-3 hours of refrigeration before serving. Make it the day before and leave it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. Then heat the broiler, caramelize the sugar and serve! (Chill times not included).
Provided by Annacia
Categories Dessert
Time 20m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a pot, beat together the egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar until thoroughly blended and the mixture turns frothy.
- Add the cinnamon stick and grated lemon rind.
- Mix the cornstarch with 2 tbsp of the cold milk, when well mixed return it to the remaining 2 cups of milk.
- Pour in the milk.
- Slowly heat the mixture, stirring constantly, just until thickened.
- Remove pot from heat immediately.
- Tip: As soon as the mixture thickens and you feel resistance while stirring, remove the pot from the heat or the mixture may curdle or separate! The texture of the finished crema will be grainy instead of smooth and creamy, this is as it should be.
- Remove the cinnamon stick and ladle the milk mixture into 4 ramekins (individual serving size).
- Allow to cool, then refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours.
- Before serving, preheat the broiler.
- Remove ramekins with the crema catalana from refrigerator and sprinkle the rest of the sugar over each ramekin.
- When broiler is hot, place the ramekins under the broiler on the top shelf and allow the sugar to caramelize, turning gold and brown.
- This may take 10 minutes or so, depending on your broiler. Remove and serve immediately.
- If you'd like, you can serve the crema catalana chilled, but we think it has more flavor when served warm from the broiler.
CREMA CATALANA
Steps:
- Special equipment: 10 (5-ounce) ramekins
- In a medium saucepan, bring the milk, orange zest, cinnamon sticks, and salt to a boil then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 3 minutes to infuse flavors. In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the 1 cup of sugar until pale and fluffy. Whisk the cornstarch with 1/2 cup water to make a slurry and whisk until thoroughly combined.
- Remove and discard the orange zest and cinnamon sticks from the milk. Whisking constantly, gradually add the milk to the egg yolk mixture. Return the mixture to the saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly to thicken, about 3 to 5 minutes. Strain the custard into a large bowl and whisk in the vanilla. Divide the custard between 10 (5-ounce) ramekins and smooth the surfaces. Cool the custards slightly, then cover the ramekins with the plastic wrap and refrigerate them until the custard is cold, at least 8 or up to 24 hours
- To serve the crema catalana, sprinkle each ramekin evenly with 2 teaspoons of sugar. Use a kitchen torch to melt and caramelize the sugar until browned and crusty. Serve immediately.
CREMA CATALANA (CATALAN BURNT CREAM)
I haven't tried this, but it looks like a tasty dessert. From The Essential Mediterranean Cookbook.
Provided by Heydarl
Categories Dessert
Time 35m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place the milk, scraped vanilla bean, cinnamon stick and lemon and orange zests in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes, then strain and set aside.
- Whisk the egg yolds with the caster sugar in a bowl for about 5 minutes, until pale and creamy. Add the cornflour and mix well. Slowly add the warm milk mixture to the egg and whisk continuously. Return to the saucepan and cook over low to medium heat, stirring constantly, for 5-10 minutes, or until the mixture is thick and creamy. Do not boil as it will curdle. Pour into six 1 cup ramekins and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.
- When ready to serve, sprinkle evenly with brown sugar and grill for 3 minutes or until it caramelises.
CREMA CATALANA
Make and share this Crema Catalana recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Charlotte J
Categories Dessert
Time 50m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 140°C.
- Put cream, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and peel in a pan over medium heat.
- Bring just to boiling point, then remove from heat.
- Whisk together yolks and caster sugar in a large bowl.
- Strain cream and pour slowly over yolk mixture, whisking constantly.
- Skim off any foam.
- Put six 1/2-cup (125ml) ramekins in a large roasting pan and spoon mixture into ramekins.
- Pour hot water into pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins, then cover the whole pan with foil.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until just set.
- Lift the ramekins out of the pan and leave to cool before chilling in the fridge for 2 hours.
- When ready to serve, preheat the grill to high.
- Place ramekins on a baking tray, sprinkle brown sugar over chilled creams, then place under the grill (oven broiler) for 2-3 minutes until sugar is melted and dark golden.
- Leave for a few minutes for sugar to cool and harden before serving.
CREMA CATALANA ICE CREAM SUNDAES
Categories Dairy Dessert Freeze/Chill Frozen Dessert Bon Appétit Kidney Friendly Vegetarian Pescatarian Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Serves 8
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- For Ice Cream:
- Cook 1 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber color, occasionally swirling pan and brushing sides of pan with pastry brush dipped into water, about 10 minutes. Add whipping cream (mixture will bubble vigorously) and whisk until smooth. Whisk in half and half and bring to simmer. Whisk egg yolks in medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot cream mixture. Return mixture to saucepan and stir over low heat until custard thickens and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 4 minutes; do not boil. Strain custard into bowl. Whisk in crème fraîche and vanilla extract. Refrigerate custard until well chilled.
- Transfer custard to ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer's instructions. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Freeze in covered container.)
- For sauce:
- Cook both sugars, apple juice and butter in heavy medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil until reduced to 1 cup, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes. Cool sauce to lukewarm, about 20 minutes. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Before using, rewarm sauce over low heat just until liquid.)
- Spoon ice cream into parfait glasses, wineglasses or bowls. Drizzle sauce over. Sprinkle with raspberries if desired.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: Fresh eggs, full-cream milk, and pure vanilla extract are essential for the best flavor.
- Follow the recipe carefully: Crema Catalana is a delicate dessert, and it's important to follow the recipe carefully to avoid curdling the custard.
- Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan: This will help to distribute the heat evenly and prevent the custard from scorching.
- Stir the custard constantly: This will help to prevent the eggs from curdling and ensure that the custard is smooth and creamy.
- Don't overcook the custard: The custard should be thick and creamy, but it should not be too firm. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Chill the custard thoroughly: This will help to set the custard and make it easier to slice.
- Serve the custard immediately: Crema Catalana is best served immediately after it has been made. The sugar topping can be torched just before serving for a dramatic presentation.
Conclusion:
Crema Catalana is a delicious and elegant dessert that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With its creamy custard center and caramelized sugar topping, Crema Catalana is sure to impress your guests.
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