Violet Custard Recipes

FROZEN VANILLA CUSTARD

Steps:

• Whisk egg yolks, sugar, and salt together until mixture changes from dark golden to pale yellow becomes fluffy.
• Heat milk and cream in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking to the bottom. Cook just until mixture starts to simmer when little bubbles begin to appear on the surface, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Whisk a ladleful of milk-cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Add another ladleful and whisk thoroughly before adding the next (this will keep the eggs from cooking). Gradually add the remaining milk-cream mixture and whisk thoroughly. Whisk in vanilla. Cool completely (you can place the bowl in a larger bowl with ice water to cool it faster).
• Pour cooled mixture into a pitcher; cover. Refrigerate until ice cold or overnight.
• Pour custard mixture into ice cream maker and process (according to manufacturer's instructions) until custard reaches the consistency of soft ice cream, about 20 minutes. Quickly transfer to a plastic container. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the surface of the custard. Cover container and freeze until custard is firm enough to scoop, at least 3 hours.

CANDIED VIOLETS

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat egg whites with a wire whisk just until frothy. Place sugar in another bowl. Taking one violet at a time, pick it up by the stem and dip into egg whites, covering all surfaces. Gently dip into the sugar, again being sure all of the petals, top and bottom, are covered. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets; snip off stems. Using a toothpick, open petals to original shape. Sprinkle sugar on any uncoated areas. Dry in a 200° oven for 30-40 minutes or until sugar crystallizes. Gently remove violets to wire racks with a spatula or two-tined fork. Sprinkle again with sugar if violets appear syrupy. Cool. Store in airtight containers with waxed paper between layers.

VIOLET CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Divide the violet petals between 8 individual ramekins.
• Beat together the eggs, yolks, and sugar. Blend in the milk, vanilla, and sugar.
• Divide the custard among the ramekins and place them into a large baking dish.
• Add enough boiling water to the large baking dish to reach half way up the sides of the ramekins.
• Place the baking dish with ramekins in the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes.
• The custard is done when a knife inserted in the center comes out almost clean.

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.

VIOLET MUSTARD - TRADITIONAL FRENCH MOUSTARDE AU VIOLETTE

Steps:

• Bring the wine, grapes and port to a boil in a medium saucepan.
• Boil until the liquid is almost gone and the mixture turns syrupy, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Purée mixture in a blender, then pass through a fine sieve.
• Set aside to cool.
• Add the mustards and stir to combine.
• Refrigerate until ready to use.

VIOLET MUSTARD

Steps:

• Bring the wine, grapes and port to a boil in a medium saucepan. Boil until the liquid is almost gone and the mixture turns syrupy, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Puree mixture in a blender, then pass through a fine sieve. Set aside to cool. Add the mustards and stir to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use.

CUSTARD FILLING

Steps:

• Slit the vanilla pod open lengthways and scrape out the seeds. Put both pod and seeds into a heavy-based saucepan with the milk and bring slowly to the boil, to infuse the vanilla.
• Meanwhile put the egg yolks and the 125g sugar in a bowl and mix together for a few secs, then add in the flour and mix again.
• Pour the just-boiling milk over the yolk mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling, then return the mixture to the saucepan. Cook over a medium heat, whisking constantly, for about 10 mins until very thick
• Pass through a fine sieve, discarding the vanilla, and place a sheet of cling film on the surface of the custard to prevent a skin forming. Leave to cool, then chill in the fridge.
• Whip the cream and the 2 tbsp sugar together until thick but not overwhipped, fold into the chilled custard. You can now scoop the the custard into a piping bag and use it as the filling in Justin's doughnut recipe.
• Try different flavours... Brown sugar: Replace the caster sugar with half soft dark brown sugar and half light brown sugar. You can add chopped stem ginger to the finished custard, or some hazelnut praline. Finish with half the quantity of cream. Chocolate: Whisk 150g dark (70%) chocolate into the milk. Finish with half the cream. Coffee: Add 4 tbsp of freshly ground strong coffee to the milk. Malt & vanilla: Mix 2 tbsp of powdered malt into the sugar, and 2 tbsp of liquid malt into the milk. Saffron: Add a good pinch of saffron to the milk. Finish with half the quantity of cream. Violet custard: Add 3 tsp of violet extract and 3 tbsp of violet liqueur to the finished custard. Sprinkle sugared violets and crushed Parma Violet sweets over the top of the filled doughnuts.