A Basque Custard Natillas Recipes

A BASQUE CUSTARD (NATILLAS)

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the cream and cinnnamon sticks, and bring them to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low, and cook gently for about 10 minutes, until the cream is infused with the cinnamon. Set the pan aside so the cream can cool.
• In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla until they are well mixed. Add the cream and cinnamon sticks, and whisk well.
• Heat 1 to 2 inches of water in the bottom pan of a double boiler, and transfer custard mixture to the top pan, or set the bowl over a saucepan containing 1 to 2 inches of hot water. Bring the water to a boil, and cook the sauce, stirring constantly, for about 30 minutes or until it thickens, adding more hot water to the bottom pan if necessary. Remove the top pan or the bowl from over the hot water, and let the custard cool.
• Strain the cooled custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a glass or ceramic container (do not use plastic), and refrigerate the natillas for at least 4 hours, until it is cool. Stir before serving, adding a little more heavy cream if necessary to smooth the natillas. Divide it among six custard cups or transfer it to a pitcher to use as a sauce. Serve the natillas sprinkled with cinnamon.
• This is also delicious served as a sauce for almond cake, and also with fresh raspberries -- !
• Enjoy!

SWEET BASQUE CREAM (NATILLAS)

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the cream and cinnnamon sticks, and bring them to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low, and cook gently for about 10 minutes, until the cream is well infused with the cinnamon. Set the pan aside so the cream can cool.
• In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla until they are well mixed. Add the cream and cinnamon sticks, and whisk well.
• Heat 1 to 2 inches of water in the bottom pan of a double boiler, and transfer custard mixture to the top pan, or set the bowl over a saucepan containing 1 to 2 inches of hot water. Bring the water to a boil, and cook the sauce, stirring constantly, for about 30 minutes or until it thickens, adding more hot water to the bottom pan if necessary. Remove the top pan or the bowl from over the hot water, and let the custard cool.
• Strain the cooled custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a glass or ceramic container, and refrigerate the natillas for at least 4 hours, until it is cool. Stir before serving, adding a little more heavy cream if necessary to smooth the natillas. Divide it among six custard cups or transfer it to a pitcher to use as a sauce. Serve the natillas sprinkled with cinnamon.

NATILLAS (CUSTARD)

Steps:

• Combine 1 cup milk and egg yolks in a large bowl. Whisk until well combined and set aside. Set up a large bowl with ice cubes.
• Combine 3/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium over medium-high heat; gradually add remaining 1 3/4 cups milk, whisking constantly. Stir in whipping cream.
• Scrape seeds from vanilla bean; add seeds and bean to the milk mixture. Bring mixture to a boil and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly with a whisk. Remove from heat.
• Gradually add half of the hot milk mixture to the egg yolk mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk. Return milk mixture to pan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add butter to milk mixture and stir until well combined.
• Place pan in the prepared ice-filled bowl and allow to cool, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Discard vanilla bean. Spoon custard into a bowl. Cover surface of custard with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator.
• Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until foamy. Gradually add remaining 1/4 sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, and continue to beat at high speed until stiff peaks form. Beat in vanilla extract. Gently fold 1/2 cup of beaten egg whites into the cooled custard.
• Spoon about 1/2 cup custard into each of 8 bowls or footed glasses; top each serving with 1/4 cup remaining egg white mixture. Garnish with nutmeg.

BASQUE CREAM (NATILLAS) DESSERT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the cream and cinnnamon sticks, and bring them to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Reduce the heat to low, and cook gently for about 10 minutes, until the cream is well infused with the cinnamon.
• Set the pan aside so the cream can cool.
• In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla until they are well mixed. Add the cream and cinnamon sticks, and whisk well.
• Heat 1 to 2 inches of water in the bottom pan of a double boiler, and transfer custard mixture to the top pan, or set the bowl over a saucepan containing 1 to 2 inches of hot water.
• Bring the water to a boil, and cook the sauce, stirring constantly, for about 30 minutes or until it thickens, adding more hot water to the bottom pan if necessary.
• Remove the top pan or the bowl from over the hot water, and let the custard cool.

NATILLAS (MEXICAN CUSTARD)

Steps:

• Dissolve 3/4 cup sugar and cornstarch in 1 cup of milk. Beat egg yolks. Add beaten egg yolks, 1 tablespoon nutmeg, and salt. This makes a thick paste.
• Put the rest of the milk in a heavy pan over low heat. Add the paste mixture and stir constantly. Cook until mixture comes to a boil and thickens or coats a spoon.
• Beat egg whites until stiff and then add 1 tablespoon sugar as you continue beating. Fold this mixture into hot custard.
• Pour into individual ramekin serving dishes (sometimes I use thick martini glasses if I want to get fancy).
• Chill for a minimum of 5 hours and sprinkle remaining nutmeg over chilled dessert for presentation.