Steamed Palm Sugar Custards Recipes

STEAMED LEMON CUSTARD WITH RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl with an electric mixer or wire whisk, beat the egg whites until frothy. Add the cream of tartar, lemon juice, zest, and vanilla extract; continue to whip until the whites hold soft peaks. Sift the cake flour, sugar, and salt, together; gently fold the dry ingredients into the whites with a rubber spatula.
• Take 2 (6-ounce) ramekins and put 10 raspberries in the bottom of each. Spoon the batter into the ramekins and set them in a bamboo steamer with a lid. Heat 2-inches of water in a wok over medium flame, set the steamer in the wok and steam the custard for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Run a thin knife around edges of the ramekins and turn upside down onto plates. Garnish with raspberries, mint, and a dusting of confectioners' sugar.
• VARIATION: To steam the custard at the same time as the Black Bass in Miso Soup entree, simply prepare the batter before assembling the steamers. Wrap the ramekins in plastic wrap (so they won't smell of fish) and put them in the top tier of the bamboo steamer. Steam everything together as directed in the recipe.

LITTLE STEAMED GINGER PUDDINGS WITH COCONUT CUSTARD

Steps:

• Lightly butter 4 (8-ounce) pudding basins. In the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer or in a medium bowl using a hand held mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until the mixture is pale and creamy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, a little at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the crystallized ginger. Fold in a few spoonfuls of the sifted flour into the bowl, alternating with spoonfuls of the milk, until both ingredients are used up and you have a smooth batter. Divide the pudding among the basins.
• Quarter a sheet of parchment paper and fold a thin pleat down the middle of each mini-sheet. Place a piece over each basin and tie them down with string. Place the puddings in a steamer over a saucepan of gently simmering water and steam for 40 minutes or until the puddings are cooked through. Check the water level in the saucepan from time to time, adding more as needed. Switch off the heat and serve the puddings with the coconut custard and a sprinkling of crystallized ginger.
• In a small pan, whisk together the coconut cream, egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. Stir, without boiling, over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the custard has thickened enough to coat the back of your wooden spoon.

STEAMED CORN CUSTARDS WITH CRAB

Steps:

• Make custard:
• Cook corn in a 1-quart saucepan of boiling salted water until very tender, 3 to 5 minutes, and drain in a sieve.
• Purée milk and hot corn in a blender until almost smooth, then force through a very fine sieve into a bowl, discarding solids. Whisk in egg and salt and divide custard among ramekins.
• Steam custards in a steamer set 1 inch above simmering water, covered with lid, until centers are set and a thin knife inserted into center of 1 custard comes out clean, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove ramekins from steamer with tongs and cool custards slightly.
• Make crab topping while custards cool:
• Coarsely chop 1/4 cup crabmeat and reserve remainder for another use. Heat butter in a small heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then cook crab, stirring constantly, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir in chives.
• Serve custards topped with crab.

SIMPLE CUSTARD

Steps:

• Cook and stir milk, vanilla extract, and butter in a saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Remove mixture from heat before it comes to a boil.
• Whisk eggs, sugar, and cornstarch together in a bowl until sugar dissolves.
• Set saucepan back over low heat. Pour in egg mixture slowly, whisking constantly, until custard thickens enough to coat the bottom of a spoon, 5 to 10 minutes.

DANIEL SKURNICK'S FRANCO-CHINESE STEAMED GINGER CUSTARD

Steps:

• Set up a steamer. The best choice is a large bamboo steamer over a wok. If you have a smaller collapsible steamer insert that fits into a pot, you'll probably have to make the custard in two batches.
• Add water to the wok or pot, and bring to a boil; keep at a simmer. Set out 6 6-ounce heatproof custard cups, teacups or bowls.
• Place a strainer over a bowl, and using a fine rasp-type grater, grate the ginger into the strainer. Push the ginger through the strainer. You need 2 teaspoons of juice. If some pulp is included, that's fine.
• In a separate bowl, gently whisk the yolks and sugar together until blended. Whisk in the milk, the half and half and the ginger juice. Strain the mixture into the 6-ounce cups or bowls. Seal each with a piece of microwave-safe plastic wrap or foil.
• Place the cups in the steamer, cover the steamer or pot and adjust the heat so that the water is at a steady medium simmer. Steam about 17 to 22 minutes, until the custards are set. Tap the cup lightly to test for doneness; it's O.K. if you have a small wobbly spot in the center.
• Very carefully transfer the cups to a rack, uncover and let rest for about 15 minutes. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or cover and chill for as long as 1 day. Repeat with the rest of the batch, if necessary.
• Serve cold, with or without the spiced caramel syrup poured over.