brulee – bFeedme

This dish takes very little time to prepare, but the results are outstanding if you leave them overnight to chill.

If you have a blowtorch, use it to caramelise the Sugar on top, failing that, use a very hot Grill, before leaving to set a little bit.

To Serve 4
500ml Double Cream
1 Vanilla Pod, split
6 Egg Yolks
120g Caster Sugar
100g Good Quality Plain Chocolate

1. Preheat an oven to 170C.
2. Begin to gently heat the Cream in a heavy-based saucepan, along with the Vanilla Pod.
3. Whisk the Egg Yolks and the Sugar together, then break the Chocolate into small pieces and add it into the Egg mixture.
4. When the Cream comes to the boil, pour it over the Egg and Chocolate mix, whisking it all the time so that the Eggs don’t become scrambled.
5. Pass the mixture through a sieve, then pour it into four or five ovenproof ramekins, then place in a baking tray. Fill the Baking tray halfway up with boiling water, then place in the oven for fifteen to twenty minutes – the time may vary, but that’s okay, each oven is different! You’ll be able to tell they’re done because they’ll be set on top, with a slight wobble.
6. Remove from the Oven, allow to cool then chill them in a refrigerator overnight.
7. When you’re ready to serve, sprinkle the tops with a small amount of Caster Sugar, then caramelise the tops with a Chefs Blowtorch or under a hot Grill. Leave to set for a couple of minutes so that it’s not going to burn your mouth.

Photo Courtesy of: avlxyz

Using Fresh Cherries will give a stronger, fresher flavour, however, it will mean that you’ll need stone them. Cherry Stoners are inexpensive, and saves a great deal of time whilst also damaging the Cherry very little – which will give a very good presentation as well.

Try to use some of the brighter coloured Cherries for decoration.

To Serve 8
350g Fresh Cherries
1tbsp Kirsch
4 Egg Yolks
50g Caster Sugar
450ml Double Cream
125g Granulated Sugar

1. Stone the Cherries, reserving eight of them with stems for decoration. Pour the Kirsch over the rest of the Pitted Cherries.
2. Whisk the Egg Yolks with the Caster Sugar until they have thickened and are much lighter in colour. Pour the Cream in, stirring all the time. Place into a heavy-based saucepan, and cook over a low heat, stirring all the time to make sure it doesn’t boil. After around ten minutes, the Mixture should be similar in consistency to Double Cream.
3. Divide the Cherries amongst eight Ramekins or heatproof cups, then strain over the Custard mixture. Bake at 150C and cook for thirty to thirty five minutes, until very lightly set. Cool and refrigerate until firm.
4. Place the Granulated Sugar into a small, heavy based saucepan, and heat until the Sugar dissolves and turns a golden Caramel colour. Place a Pitted Cherry on top of each Ramekin, then pour over some of the dissolved Sugar, and chill for at least an hour, but no more than six hours.

Serve fresh from the refrigerator.

Photo Courtesy of: snowpea&bokchoi

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