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December Cooking Challenge: Custard

6K views 50 replies 16 participants last post by  morning glory 
#1 ·
I love this topic. Get 5 people who cook in a room together and bring up the subject and get ready for opinions to fly. So all the people who have spent parts of their lifetime to perfecting and to those who aspire to make a better one.... everybody.... lets talk custards! These can be baked, cooked on the stove, finished in the freezer if you prefer. Lets stretch out and think of savories along with sweets, interesting combinations in between. I'm hoping we all get to learn a little from this. Good luck!!!


I got a job at a place where they needed help in the dessert dept.

I knew very little about desserts. Like every line cook I had my stable of half a dozen tried and true never fail no-fuss desserts.

That and my willingness to do the Chefs' half dozen tried and true desserts landed me the 'pastry chef' position (I'm NOT a pastry chef).

So I filled the dessert menu with 5 items I knew how to make or that the chef showed me, and left one slot to teach myself something new. And I decided to get over my fear of cheesecakes. So I practiced, made a few bad ones; made a few good ones; and finally made one serveable at the restaurant. They turned out great. I wish I had a better photo.
 
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#6 ·
Chinese Steamed Custard

I did a Mushroom version of this in the mushroom challenge. Today is shrimp and just a single serving because no one else wanted any with me.

Start your steamer.

Some chopped green onion, chopped shrimp, whole shrimp. In with the egg, there is a little bit of fish sauce to build a briny shortcut stock with some water, and knife point of mexican dried ground shrimp. The Chinese often use the small dried shrimp and use the hydrating liquid as the stock. Some soy sauce, rice wine, hot sauce, white pepper and salt. I was looking a version with oyster sauce, but I'll save that one for another day.


Beat the eggs with some of the onion and chopped shrimp. Yes, the shrimp will settle. Cover with plastic to help keep condensation out. Steam. Timing varies with your dish and the amounts you're making. At 7 minutes, I removed the ramekin and added the whole shrimp. It was still runny in the center, but would support the weight of the shrimp. Steam a few minutes more


Missed the timing and overcooked it a bit. Anyway, garnish with some soy sauce, sesame oil and some more chopped green onion


Yep, it was curdled at the edges and just starting too further in. Was still a nice brunch while reading SPQR.

 
#11 ·
I like the definition for custards and creams out of "On Food And Cooking" by Harold McGee:

To paraphrase:

'A mixture of eggs and liquid cooked that sets into a solid gel."

Technically a frozen custard and pastry cream are the same thing, and neither of them is a custard since a custard is a mixture of eggs and liquid cooked without stirring and results in a solid gel. Custards are also cooked and served in the same container. So pecan pie and a pumpkin pie are... a custard.
 
#12 ·
I like the definition for custards and creams out of "On Food And Cooking" by Harold McGee:

To paraphrase:

'A mixture of eggs and liquid cooked that sets into a solid gel."

Technically a frozen custard and pastry cream are the same thing, and neither of them is a custard since a custard is a mixture of eggs and liquid cooked without stirring and results in a solid gel. Custards are also cooked and served in the same container. So pecan pie and a pumpkin pie are... a custard.
Its quite a loose definition - that would include a quiche filling. Would that meet the brief? I have a few ideas on those lines...
 
#13 ·
Yep, a quiche is a custard. :) See? We're learning more by the minute! You all make me so proud!!!

And as of this moment...phatch has taken the commanding lead with the albeit imperfect but still perfectly delicious Chinese Steamed Custard.....

This is gonna get good.

Cheers and Good Luck to you all!
 
#15 ·
I like the definition for custards and creams out of "On Food And Cooking" by Harold McGee:

To paraphrase:
'A mixture of eggs and liquid cooked that sets into a solid gel."
Technically a frozen custard and pastry cream are the same thing, and neither of them is a custard since a custard is a mixture of eggs and liquid cooked without stirring and results in a solid gel. Custards are also cooked and served in the same container. So pecan pie and a pumpkin pie are... a custard.
In the same container? I unmold my flan, is it not a custard? I really hate when we semantics get in the way of cooking.
 
#24 ·
I've eaten maybe 2 souffles in my life and certainly have never made one. This is goat cheese and thyme souffle. I didn't fill the ramekins enough so while they rose, that just got them to the top of the ramekin not the overflowing look I wanted. Also I put in big chunks of goat cheese and the pockets of goat cheese were delicious but I think they were detrimental to the structure. Next time I'll just do parmesan.


 
#26 ·
I've eaten maybe 2 souffles in my life and certainly have never made one. This is goat cheese and thyme souffle. I didn't fill the ramekins enough so while they rose, that just got them to the top of the ramekin not the overflowing look I wanted. Also I put in big chunks of goat cheese and the pockets of goat cheese were delicious but I think they were detrimental to the structure. Next time I'll just do parmesan.
[justify] [/justify]
Wow, this is wonderful for a first try! I want to try my hand at a cheese souffle too, I just have to find the time. Of course big chunks of anything will weigh it down and not allow it to rise. But think about how much you learned and let's face it, the flavor is going to be just as good regardless of the rise so I'm sure it was delicious.
 
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