Creamy Parmesan Flans

Submitted by Shazzie

"From BBC Food's 'Rachel's Favourite Foods'. They looked so simple, few ingredients, yet tasty and elegant. Can't wait to try!"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 25mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup cream
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 garlic clove, whole
• 4 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch black pepper
• 1 cup rocket, drizzled with (optional)
• olive oil, to garnish (optional)

directions

1. Bring the milk and cream to a bubble (do not boil).
2. Add bay leaves and garlic, turn off heat, place lid on saucepan, and leave to infuse (for approximately 1/2 hour or longer).
3. Whisk together the eggs and egg yolks.
4. Pour milk mixture over eggs very slowly while whisking.
5. Strain through a sieve (this removes any left over unconstituted egg "bits" and makes for a smoother, glossier end-product).
6. Add grated parmesan and salt and pepper.
7. Pour into 4 individual ramekin dishes and place in a bain-marie (see note below).
8. Bake at 375°F for 30-40 minutes until set at the edges but still slightly "jiggly" at the centres.
9. Upend onto serving plates and serve with a side garnish of olive oil-dressed rocket leaves.
10. Note: For our beginner cooks, place the ramekins in another container into which you can pour hot water such that the water comes up to about halfway up the ramekin dishes.

Reviews

[Elmotoo]

OH MY. This is spectacular!!! I am going to invest in smaller ramekins so 1. each batch will serve more people because this is worthy of special occasions. and 2. for smaller portions because it is very rich & the kids couldn't finish theirs which disturbed me because it was sooooo good. A HUGE thumbs up on this one. And it is NOT difficult, so nobody be afeard of the word 'flan,' lol. Oh, I sprayed the ramekins with oil. They slipped right out. I couldn't get decent arugula, so you see romaine & radicchio in the photo. Made for Photoless Chefs 6/08.

 

[mummamills]

these are easy to make and very good to eat :) I was surprised by the texture, which wasnt "quichie" but still creamy. I filled my pan with hot water, and they were cooked, (and starting to brown) in 15 mins. all stoves are different, and I did use metal molds, next time I would lower the heat, and cook them slower, as I think if I hadnt checked them they would have been omellettes :) made for aussie swap june '09