Me and custard, we’re BFFs.
I like it so much and it’s no surprise that my favorite desserts contain it in some way shape or form.
FROZEN CUSTARD.
Me, at Anderson’s custard in Buffalo, NY. Yes, I’m eating ice cream wearing my puffy down coat. The contradiction is not lost on me.
I mean, frozen custard > ice cream> slow churn > froyo.
Froyo? Get that outta my face.
If I’m going to have a frozen, milky (or, now in my case, non-dairy milky) concoction it’s going to be ice cream grade or higher. Yes, I’m a snob. I’m also an August birthday. Ice cream might as well run through my blood.
How did I start talking about ice cream? Custard. Right. So today, we have another custard. Despite my love, attempts here on the blog have been moderately successful. Crème brulee was okay, but the coconut pudding was a big fat fail. Let’s try again.
Rutabaga presented me with two desserts of choice: a sort of mango-whipped-coconut cream-thing and a straight-up baked custard thing (aka Vahalappam). I couldn’t choose. I had to choose. I chose to combine them. So, we have mango baked custard, a non-dairy, tropical twist on my favorite sick-kid meal (Mama Buddha used to spoon custard down our sick throats when we didn’t feel like eating anything else).
I altered the original recipe a bit to add the mango, obviously, but I also made it non-dairy. Coconut and cashew milk make this oh-so-creamy.
Preparation notes:
- Take the time to strain the liquids and mango puree. I’m usually anti-straining because I’m lazy, but I didn’t really want mango chunks in this. So, take that 30 seconds to make it nice and smooth.
- The original recipe didn’t mandate a water bath, but I did one just in case. I also had extra liquid enough to make one ramekin that did not fit into my water bath. It’s ugly (though still tasty), but here is the top and side comparision.
Without the water bath
With the water bath
So, water bath for beauty points.
So, this was good. Way good. Good enough to attempt a frozen variety this summer perhaps…
Oh, and I’m not sure why there is that caramelized sugar look on top. It’s not, but that would be good. You can do that if you like.
Mango Custard
Ingredients
- 4 eggs large
- 5 oz palm sugar or sub dark brown sugar
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup lite coconut milk
- ¼ cup cashew milk
- 1 whole mango pureed and strained
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- ⅛ tsp ground cloves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F
- In a small saucepan, add the water and sugar, and heat over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Set aside to cool slightly.1/2 cup water, 5 oz palm sugar
- Beat the eggs slightly. Add the coconut milk and cashew milk and spices. Slowly add the sugar mixture and mango puree.4 eggs, 1/2 cup lite coconut milk, 1/4 cup cashew milk, 1 whole mango, 1/2 tsp ground cardamom, 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- Pass the whole mixture through a strainer. Pour liquid into 4 ramekins.
- Place the ramekins in a bigger roasting pan, and fill the pan with water until the water level goes halfway up the ramekin.
- Bake in for about 1 hour, 15 minutes until the center of each custard bowl jiggles. Immediately place in the fridge to cool and set, at least two hours.
