Delicious, Easy Cuban-Style Flan

Mina the Brat's Note:

I love a good flan, and have experimented with many during the years of my flan-fixation. :) This one is quite lovely- both for ease of preparation, and for taste. It is denser then some I've tasted, not too heavy like some that use heavy cream, but texture-wise, very creamy and smooth. I got this recipe from a dear friend who gave me her mother's recipe from Cuba. Don't hesitate to make this recipe becuause you don't know what to do with the leftover egg-whites. There are lots of things to do with egg-whites! Use them in egg-flower soup, fried rice, egg-white omelettes, meringues, as the egg-binder in meatloaf, meatballs and spinach-artichoke dip, just to name a few. Enjoy. :) Note: prep time does not include cooling.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 10

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon water (optional)
• 1 whole egg
• 5 egg yolks
• 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Equipment: 1 quart flanera or 1 quart round casserole dish with lid AND 1 ovenproof dish or baking pan that the flanera or casserole will fit into.
2. Carmel: Some people like to make carmel by adding water to sugar and then cooking it to a nice dark golden brown, and some just like to melt the sugar to golden without water. Either method will work here. If you are using a flanera, which is a metal pan with a lock-down lid, you can make the carmel right in the flanera. If you are using a casserole dish, make the carmel in a saucepan and pour into the bottom of the casserole dish.
3. Custard: As you prepare the custard, the carmel will cool. In a separate bowl, beat the 1 whole egg and 5 egg yolks together. A whisk works very well here. Add the evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk to the eggs and mix together. Add the vanilla extract, either 1/2 teaspoon or 1 teaspoon depending on what strength you prefer. Pour the custard mixture into the flanera or casserole dish over the hardened carmel. Put on the lid.
4. Put your flan into the ovenproof dish or baking pan and fill with hot water to about half-way up the sides, or as high as you can go and still move the thing without spilling hot water on yourself.
5. Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Turn off the oven and let set for another 15 minutes.
6. Remove from the oven and the water-bath and let cool.
7. Plating: Run a butter-knife around the outside edge of the flan. Place a plate large enough to handle the liquid carmel over the flan and invert. Chill the flan for at least an hour before serving.
8. Enjoy!

Reviews

[Kitty Kat Cook]

Exactly what I was looking for.

[PhoodPhight]

Excellent recipe. I used a souffle dish and skipped the lid (but kept the water bath) and it worked great. We couldn't wait to chill it for an hour so we ate it slightly warm. For those who are new to caramelizing sugar, it's very easy but just takes some patience. Be very careful as it's like molten lava when you pour it in the dish. Absolutely the best flan I've made.

[sharene64]

After reading the reviews I was excited to try this flan. I followed the directi9ons and when I took it out of the oven it was still liquid. Dont know what I did wrong?