Honey Cardamom Custards With Strawberry Orange Compote Recipes

BROWN SUGAR CUSTARD WITH STRAWBERRY COMPOTE, WHIPPED CREME FRAICHE AND ALMOND HONEYCOMB

Steps:

• For the custard: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Combine the cream and vanilla seeds in a small saucepan and cook until it reaches 180 degrees F or tiny bubbles form on the side of the pot.
• Combine the egg yolks, brown sugar and salt in a large bowl and whisk until light and smooth in color. Slowly add the hot cream mixture to the egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent the yolks from overcooking.
• Transfer the custard to a large measuring cup or pitcher, then divide it among four 8-ounce mason jars, filling about two-thirds of the way full. Place them in a deep baking dish. Fill the baking dish with hot water, coming about halfway up the sides of the jars. Cover the jars with aluminum foil and transfer to the oven; bake until the custard jiggles like gelatin when the jars are tapped, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, uncover and transfer to the refrigerator to chill until set, about 1 hour and up to overnight. Alternatively, place in the freezer for 25 to 30 minutes.
• For the compote: Prepare an ice bath and set aside.
• Combine the strawberries, granulated sugar, cloves, salt and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a medium saucepan and cook over medium-low heat until the strawberries are soft, the liquid is syrupy and the bubbles are thick and slow, about 20 minutes. Cool down completely over the ice bath. (The compote will thicken as it cools.) Finish with the lemon juice.
• For the honeycomb candy: Line a baking dish with parchment paper.
• Spread the almonds in an even layer on a second baking sheet and toast in the oven until lightly golden and fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup, honey, salt and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepot. Whisk the solution together gently and wipe the sides of the pot down with water so it does not have any sugar crystals stuck to it. Heat the solution over medium heat until it reaches 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer, 10 to 12 minutes. Fold in the almonds and whisk in the baking soda. Immediately pour the mixture out into the lined baking dish, using a rubber spatula to smooth into an even layer. Let cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• Cut the honeycomb into sticks or break into shards.
• In a medium bowl, whisk to combine the creme fraiche with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
• Place a large spoonful of the strawberry compote on top of each custard and top with a dollop of the whipped creme fraiche. Stick a shard or stick of the honeycomb into each and garnish with the fresh mint.

MAHALABIYA

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the milk, sugar, and cardamom pods and bring to a slow simmer. When bubbles start to form, turn down the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes to steep the cardamom pods.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the cornstarch into the cream until fully incorporated. Slowly whisk the cornstarch mixture into the hot milk, until it's thickened. When the mixture holds the imprint of the whisk's loops, remove it from the heat after about 5 minutes.
• Add the rose water and then pour the warm mixture through a fine-mesh strainer. Transfer into four 6 oz. serving glasses or ramekins. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 4 to 6 hours to firm and chill.
• In a medium saucepan, combine the strawberries, rose water, sugar, and ground cardamom and bring to a boil over high heat. Then turn down to low, cover the pan, and simmer for about 10 minutes to release the fruit's juices. Uncover the pan and simmer until the liquid thickens and the strawberries soften, intensify in color, and start to shrink, another 10 to 15 minutes. Add the lemon juice. Adjust the sugar to taste. Let cool.
• Just before serving, spoon the compote onto each chilled custard and sprinkle with the pistachios and rose petals.

HONEY-CARDAMOM CUSTARDS WITH STRAWBERRY-ORANGE COMPOTE

Steps:

• For Custard:
• Combine 2 cups milk, whipping cream, vanilla bean, orange peel strips, ground cardamom and salt in heavy small saucepan. Cook milk mixture over medium heat until tiny bubbles appear around edge of saucepan. Remove from heat and let steep 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Remove softened vanilla bean from milk mixture. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into milk mixture; add bean. Heat milk mixture again until tiny bubbles appear around edge of saucepan. Remove saucepan from heat, add honey and stir until honey melts. Using fork, beat egg yolks and whole egg in medium bowl just until blended. Gradually mix hot milk mixture into egg mixture. Strain custard into large measuring cup with spout.
• Pour custard into four 1 1/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups. Set dishes in 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Add enough hot water to baking pan to come halfway up sides of dishes. Cover baking pan loosely with aluminum foil. Bake custards until knife inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer dishes to rack and cool completely. Cover custards and refrigerate until well chilled, about 4 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead.
• For Compote:
• Place sliced strawberries in medium bowl. Using small sharp knife, hold oranges over same bowl and cut between membranes to release segments, allowing juice and segments to fall into bowl. Squeeze orange membranes over same bowl to release any juice. Mix in 1 tablespoon honey and ground cardamom. (Compote can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Place custards in dishes on plates. Top with compote and serve.

COCONUT-CARDAMOM FRENCH TOAST WITH RASPBERRY-RHUBARB COMPOTE

Steps:

• Compote
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Gently combine rhubarb and raspberries in a shallow baking dish that will hold them snugly. Scatter sugar over and add cardamom. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into a small bowl and set aside for making the French toast. Add vanilla pod to dish. Cover with foil and bake fruit 15 minutes. Carefully remove foil, stir gently, and roast, uncovered, until fruit is beginning to collapse but is still bright pink, about 10 minutes more. Remove baking dish from oven; pluck out cardamom pods and vanilla pod and discard. Let cool (juices will thicken as compote cools). Do ahead: Compote can be made 3 days ahead. Transfer to an airtight container; cover and chill.
• Filling
• Bring cream, coconut, sugar, and salt to a boil in a medium heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring. Cook, stirring often, until thickened to a paste and pale yellow (sound should turn from bubbling to a faint sizzle and there should be very little liquid remaining), 6-8 minutes. Scrape into a bowl and let cool. Do ahead: Filling can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• French toast and assembly
• Reduce oven temperature to 200°F. Pour sugar evenly into a shallow baking dish large enough to accommodate 4 slices of bread. Using your fingers or a spoon, press pods and seeds into sugar, then scrape in reserved vanilla bean seeds and work into sugar. Add milk. (For the fullest flavor, combine spiced sugar and milk in a heatproof jug or bowl and microwave until steaming, 30-60 seconds. Let sit 5 minutes to infuse, then pour back into dish.) Whisk in eggs, cream, almond extract, rose water, and salt.
• Divide coconut filling among 4 slices of bread (about 3 Tbsp. each). Spread in an even layer, leaving a thin border at edges. Top with a second slice of bread to form sandwiches. Lay sandwiches in custard and let soak 2 minutes. Gently turn over and let sit while you heat the pan.
• Melt enough butter or pour in oil to thinly coat a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook 2 sandwiches until evenly golden, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer French toast to a baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Repeat with remaining 2 sandwiches.
• Bake French toast 5 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to plates. Top with raspberry-rhubarb compote, maple syrup, and other toppings as desired.

HONEY CUSTARD

Steps:

• Beat eggs until light. Add honey and salt. Continue beating until well blended. Scald milk. Slowly pour milk over egg mixture, stirring constantly. Add lemon extract and orange rind. Pour in buttered custard cups. Sprinkle nutmeg on top. Set in a shallow pan filled with an inch of hot water. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 45 minutes or until set.