CHOCOLATE PUDDINO

Chocolate Puddino image

Perfect for Valentine's Day, this rich and delicious chocolate pudding is made with a classic Italian method that they call "budino." The pudding has a glorious texture--firm enough to stay on the spoon and hold its shape, but at the same time, soft, smooth, and silky. It's a perfect balance between intense chocolate flavor, with just the right amount of sweetness, topped with a soft whipped cream topping that elevates it to a whole new level of amazingness!

Provided by Chef John

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

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Ingredients

8 ounces dark chocolate chips
1 pinch salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper
6 large eggs
⅓ cup white sugar
1 cup whole milk
1 ¼ cups heavy cream
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
¼ cup heavy cream, or to taste
⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract, or to taste
2 tablespoons shaved dark chocolate, or to taste

Steps:

Combine chocolate chips, salt, and cayenne in a heat-proof measuring cup; set aside.
Separate eggs by cracking one egg into your hand over a bowl. Open your fingers slightly and gently jiggle your hand until the egg white falls into the bowl below. Transfer the yolk to a skillet. Repeat with remaining eggs. Reserve egg whites for another use.
Add sugar, milk, and cream to egg yolks. Whisk thoroughly, breaking egg yolks first, until well combined.
Place skillet on the stove over medium or medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly with a silicone spoon, until very hot and thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, about 5 minutes. An instant-read thermometer should read at least 175 degrees F (79 degrees C). Remove from the heat.
Set a fine sieve over the bowl of reserved chocolate. Strain the custard sauce into the chocolate and let sit for 2 minutes. Whisk until chocolate has melted and custard sauce is smooth and shiny, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla and butter; stir until butter has melted, about 1 minute.
Pour warm custard sauce into 6 serving glasses. Tilt each glass and rotate it around so the warm chocolate coats another 1/2 inch of the glass. Cover with plastic and place in the refrigerator until completely chilled, at least 3 to 4 hours.
Combine cream and vanilla extract for topping in a metal bowl and whisk until thickened; make sure no peaks form. Spoon cream into the glasses, then tilt and twirl to coat the sides a bit.
Garnish with shaved chocolate and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 561.3 calories, Carbohydrate 42.7 g, Cholesterol 276.9 mg, Fat 41.7 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 9.1 g, SaturatedFat 24.9 g, Sodium 137.8 mg, Sugar 28.1 g