Monday 2 August 2010

Ginger & Spice Crème Brulee


This crème brulee recipe is inspired by the ginger brulee tarts at the Bourke St Bakery in Sydney. Their tarts are so good!

*** French cuisine purists beware - this brulee recipe does not follow the orthodox method of creating the brulee custard... you have been warned! ***

This recipe makes 6 small brulees (I used 1/4 cup capacity ramekins)

Ingredients
2 cups (500ml) pouring (pure) cream
4 egg yolks
1 inch piece ginger, peeled and finely sliced
1/2 small, thin cinnamon stick
2 green cardamom pods, bruised
1/4 cup caster sugar
demerara sugar, for sprinkling
chopped pistachios, for decoration

Method
1. Place the cream, ginger, cardamom pods and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan over low heat. Simmer for 3 minutes, then set aside for 20 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 150 degrees celsius.

2. Remove the ginger and spices by straining the mixture into a bowl, then return the cream to the saucepan.

3. Return the saucepan to very low heat (important because we don't want to scramble the yolks) and add the yolks and caster sugar and stir continuously for 6-8 minutes until the custard thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon.

4. Transfer custard to a jug (you can strain out any lumps with a sieve) then pour into ramekins. Place the ramekins in a baking dish and pour enough boiling water into the dish so that it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

5. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until the custards set. Remove from the baking dish and cool to room temperature before refrigerating for an hour, or until cold.

6. When ready to serve, sprinkle the tops of the custards with demerara sugar. Caramelise with a torch, or under a hot grill, then repeat. Two layers of caramelised sugar makes for a beautiful crisp top to crack through, yielding delicious creamy custard beneath.

Yum! :)


Ladybird x

11 comments:

  1. ohhh the caramelized sugar layer on your creme brulee looks to die for!

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  2. Delicious! I'm yet to try this recipe! It looks simply beautiful with the pistachios.

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  3. Wow, ginger in creme brulee, it sure sounds and looks so yummie! Beautiful picture!

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  4. I agree the pistachios really add a nice touch!

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  5. Mmmm sounds like a wonderful combo! will have to try it out... thanks for the recipe!

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  6. Such a nice wintery twist on this classic! Looks beautiful!

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  7. This looks so good! I love the ginger brulee tart so this is definitely a hit with me!

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  8. I love the sound of the first crack into the creme brulee. its the stuff that makes me go nuts!

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  9. They look perfect! Creme brulee is a dessert I have yet to make, thanks for the motivation!

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  10. still, if you didn't follow the recipe's requirements, your creme brulee looks delicious!! (and I'm French ;-)) the spice mix you used is terrific!

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  11. Thank you for your comments, lovelies. I hope to bring you other creme brulee variations soon! x

    Laetitia, your comment was very touching :)

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