Ginger Creme Anglaise Recipes

GINGER CRèME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Cut gingerroot into 4 pieces and smash with flat side of a knife. In a small heavy saucepan bring half-and-half and gingerroot just to a simmer over moderately low heat, about 10 minutes (do not let boil). While mixture is heating, in a bowl whisk together yolks and sugar until smooth. Add hot half-and-half mixture in a slow stream, whisking, and transfer custard to pan. Cook custard over moderately low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until a thermometer registers 170°F, about 5 minutes (do not let boil). Pour custard through a fine sieve into a clean bowl and cool. (Crème anglaise may be made 3 days ahead and chilled, covered. Bring crème anglaise to room temperature before serving.)

GINGER CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Whisk cream, milk, sugar, ginger, and salt in a small pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to help sugar dissolve. When mixture begins to bubble around edges of pot, remove from heat.
• Fill a large metal bowl halfway with ice and cold water and set aside. Put egg yolks in a bowl, whisk lightly, and whisk in about 1/2 cup hot cream mixture. Pour egg-cream mixture back into pot and whisk to blend. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring with a heatproof spatula, until mixture reaches 160° to 165° on an instant-read thermometer and thickens a little bit, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Strain crème anglaise through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium bowl and set in a larger bowl of ice and cold water. Stir frequently until chilled, about 10 minutes. Chill, plastic wrap pressed against surface, at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
• Note: Nutritional analysis is per 2-tbsp. serving.

GINGER CRèME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan bring half-and-half just to a boil with vanilla bean and ginger and remove pan from heat. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean with a knife into pan, reserving pod for another use.
• While half-and-half mixture is heating, in a bowl with an electric mixer whisk together eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Add hot half-and-half mixture in a stream, beating, and transfer to a saucepan. Cook custard over moderately low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until thickened (170°F. on a candy thermometer), but do not let it boil and strain through a fine sieve into a metal bowl. Set bowl in a larger bowl of ice and cold water and cool sauce, stirring occasionally. Chill sauce, covered, at least 2 hours, or until very cold. Crème anglaise may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered.

CARAMELIZED PINEAPPLE WITH GINGER CRèME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Heat milk, zest, and ginger until hot and remove from heat. Let stand 25 minutes, then reheat.
• Whisk together egg, sugar, flour, and a pinch of salt until smooth. Pour milk through a sieve into a bowl, discarding solids. Gradually whisk hot milk into egg mixture, then transfer to a small saucepan.
• Cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon and a thermometer registers 170°F, 3 to 5 minutes. (Do not let boil.) Pour custard through a fine sieve into a bowl and cover surface with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming. Chill until cold.
• Preheat broiler.
• Cut 8 (1/4-inch-thick) slices from middle of pineapple, reserving remainder for another use.
• Lightly oil a shallow heavy baking pan and arrange pineapple rounds in 1 layer. Sprinkle with sugar and broil 4 inches from heat, rotating pan if necessary for even browning, until caramelized, 7 to 8 minutes. Cool pineapple.
• Place 1 pineapple round on each dessert plate. Make a cut in each remaining round from edge to center. Working with 1 round at a time and holding round perpendicular to plate, gently twist cut edges away from each other and prop on top of pineapple on plate.
• Spoon crème anglaise around pineapple and sprinkle with crystallized ginger.