Garlic Custards Recipes

GARLIC CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Butter six 4-ounce ramekins.
• Combine the cream and garlic in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the garlic is very soft, about 15 minutes.
• Strain the liquid through a strainer placed over a bowl. Press the garlic through the strainer and into the cream. Whisk to combine. (Let cool to luke-warm before adding the egg yolks.).
• Add the egg yolks one at a time, whisking continuously. (The egg yolks can be whisked together, and slowly drizzled into the garlic-cream sauce under constant whisking; this step is much easier with a helper.).
• Add the cheese, salt and pepper.
• Pour into the prepared ramekins. Place the ramekins in a baking dish and fill with water half way up the ramekins. Bake until set, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Let cool slightly before unmolding.
• Serves 6.

GARLIC CUSTARD

Steps:

• Place the stock in a saucepan with the garlic, bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer until the stock is reduced by half, about 20 minutes. Set aside to cool. Strain and discard the garlic; you should have 1 cup. (Add water to equal 1 cup if necessary.)
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. In a medium saucepan over low heat, bring the cream and stock to a simmer. Place the eggs and sherry in a blender, and with the setting on high, slowly drizzle in the warm cream mixture. Add the salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and skim off the foam.
• Butter 4 2/3-cup ceramic ramekins or custard dishes. Place the ramekins in a baking dish; pour boiling water in the dish until it comes halfway up the side. Carefully ladle the custard into the ramekins, filling each to 1/4 inch from the top. Bake until the custard is just set, about 40 minutes. The custard may be served warm from the ramekins or chilled and unmolded onto serving plates. (To unmold, run a knife around the edge of each ramekin, place a plate upside down over the top and quickly flip so that the plate is right side up. Tap or gently shake the ramekin to release the custard.)

GARLIC CUSTARDS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degree F.
• Brush a whole garlic head with olive oil. Wrap it in foil and bake for 2 hours. Let garlic cool enough to handle, then cut off the top of the garlic head and squeeze the soft cloves out onto a cutting board. Using the side of a broad knife, mash the cloves slightly. (This may be done up to a week in advance. Refrigerate roasted garlic.)
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Butter 8 (4-ounce) ramekins. Blend the custard ingredients together thoroughly. Pour into the ramekins and place them in a baking pan. Place the pan in the oven and carefully add hot water to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, but you may leave the custards in the water bath to keep warm for up to 20 minutes. You may wish to prepare the Salsa Fresca and the Vinaigrette while the custards bake, and the Herbed Hazelnuts while the custards stay warm after baking.
• To serve, turn the custards out of their ramekins onto plates. Spoon warm Vinaigrette over each one and sprinkle with warm Herbed Hazelnuts.
• Whisk the vinaigrette ingredients together in a small saucepan and heat gently. Set aside to keep warm.
• Melt the butter in a skillet and saute the hazelnuts with their seasonings until the nuts are well coated. Chop coarsely.
• Mix all the ingredients together. For best results, let salsa stand at least half an hour before serving or incorporating into recipe. Use within 24 hours. (The Vinaigrette calls for 1 cup. Enjoy the remaining 2 cups in Tortilla Soup or just with chips.)

FRESH SPINACH AND ROASTED GARLIC CUSTARDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F Butter six 3/4-cup ramekins or custard cups and place in 13x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Fill large bowl with ice and water.
• Bring cream to simmer in medium saucepan. Remove cream from heat. Add spinach, salt, and white pepper and stir until spinach wilts, about 1 minute. Place saucepan over ice water; stir to cool mixture quickly.
• Pour cooled spinach mixture into blender; add eggs and roasted garlic. Blend until spinach is pureed and custard is smooth. Divide custard among prepared ramekins. Pour enough hot water into pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins.
• Bake custards until gently set in center, turning pan after 30 minutes, about 55 minutes total.
• Do ahead: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool custards in water. Remove from water, cover, and chill. Rewarm custards 2 at a time, uncovered, about 1 minute in microwave at 50 percent power.
• Cut around custards to loosen and turn out onto plates. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and serve.