I love Caramel Pudding to bits. In Indonesia, people usually call it Caramel Pudding, but you'd probably more familiar with the name caramel custard or flan. In India, they call it Caramel Custard, in Mexico they call it Flan. It's the same thing, only few differences you can find in the ingredients. Anyway, making this baby takes a lot of patience (especially for me, ha!). After a few weeks of practising in September 2010,i think this one is the most successful caramel pudding i've made so far.
I was using the Indian Caramel Custard recipe, because i think it's more simple than others.
Here's how to make it...
Ingredients:
- 4 cups full cream milk (approx 1 liter)
- 7 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- Prepare a mould/ pudding cups/ ramekin cups for the custard by greasing very lightly with butter.
- Heat 1/2 cup of sugar with 1 tsp of water in a pan till it melts and turns golden brown. Pour this caramelised sugar into the pudding mould/ pudding cups/ ramekin cups and swirl to coat the sides of the mould. Keep aside to cool.
- If baking, preheat your oven now to 350 F/ 180 C/ Gas Mark 4.
- Mix the eggs and remaining sugar together in a large bowl and blend till all the sugar has dissolved. Now add the milk, vanilla essence and nutmeg and blend again.
- Pour this mixture into the mould/ pudding cups/ ramekin cups you are using, to fill them 3/4 of the way to the top.
- If baking: Place the mould/ pudding cups/ ramekin cups in a large, deep baking pan. Pour hot water into the baking pan till it is about 1" below the rim of the moulds.
- If steaming in a pressure cooker: It is advisable to use one mould in this case. Place the mould in the pressure cooker - elevate the mould with a pressure cooker ring (or overturned flat-bottomed metal bowl). Pour water very carefully into the pressure cooker till it is about 2" below the rim of the mould.
- If baking in an oven: Cook for about 45 minutes or till the custard is firm. Test by inserting a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean the pudding is done.
- If steaming in a pressure cooker: Cook for half an hour and then check for doneness as above.
- When cooked, cool the pudding and then chill in the refrigerator for an hour or two.
- To serve, place a plate over the mould/ pudding cup/ ramekin cup, hold firmly in place and turn over gently. The pudding will turn over onto the plate, caramel side up! Pour some of the remaining caramel (if any) over the pudding and serve.
