Elegant Vanilla Bean Banana Custard With Pastry Recipes

BASIC VANILLA CUSTARD

Steps:

• Have eggs ready in a bowl, and set aside where it will be within reach.
• Using a whisk, combine milk, sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan over medium heat on stovetop. Allow milk to scald (heat to the point when tiny bubbles form around edges of pan). Whisk occasionally to prevent cornstarch from clumping on bottom edges of pan.
• Remove milk mixture from heat, preferably to a burner that's turned off.
• Mix about 2 tablespoons of scalded milk mixture into eggs using whisk, then introduce eggs into milk mixture in a slow stream, whisking milk mixture constantly.
• Immediately return pan to heat and whisk gently until custard thickens, another two or three minutes. Do not allow to boil. (If you find that you have egg white strands in custard, feel free to pass it through a fine-mesh sieve into a different bowl now.)
• Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla.

VANILLA BEAN PASTRY CREAM

Steps:

• Place whole egg and 2 egg yolks into a mixing bowl. Add sugar, corn starch, and salt. Whisk together completely until mixture turns from yellow to a very page creamy color and is slightly thickened, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Place milk in a saucepan. Split vanilla bean lengthwise. Scrape the cut side with a paring knife to extract the seeds (paste). Add the seeds to the milk. Heat over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until milk just barely starts to simmer and a few small bubbles appear on the surface. Remove from heat. Whisk hot milk into egg mixture, starting with a small splash then incorporating the rest. Pour mixture back into saucepan.
• Place pan over medium-low heat and continue to whisk until mixture begin to thicken, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool 5 minutes. Add chunks of butter and whisk until butter melts into the warm milk mixture. Pass mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove and chunks of cooked egg or vanilla seeds. Cover surface with plastic to keep it from discoloring; refrigerate until thoroughly chilled 2 to 3 hours.

VEGAN VANILLA - BANANA CUSTARD

Steps:

• Whisk cornstarch, sugar, and salt together in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.
• Add milk and egg replacer or banana and whisk until lumps disappear.
• Heat over medium heat, whisking, until the custard thickens.
• To test whether the custard is thick enough, dip a wooden spoon into the mixture and run your finger through the coating.
• When the custard is thick enough, the trail will not close back up.
• Take the custard off heat. Whisk in butter, vanilla, and nutmeg.
• Cool with a plastic sheet pressed to the surface to prevent a skin from forming.
• Bon Appetit!

VANILLA EGG CUSTARD

Steps:

• Dissolve flour and cornstarch in 1/4 cup of milk to prevent lumps.
• Pour into the top of a double boiler over simmering water OR a saucepan over a low flame. Whisk in the rest of the ingredients (one at a time) except for 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning the bottom. Then whisk for an additional 1-2 minutes off the stove before adding the remaining vanilla. Chill for 3 hours.

VELVETY VANILLA CUSTARD

Steps:

• In a heavy medium saucepan, use a wooden spoon to combine yolks, milk and sugar. DO NOT PREHEAT SAUCEPAN.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously, until the custard just coats the back of a clean metal spoon. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
• Place saucepan in a large bowl of ice water for about 2 minutes to cool. Keep stirring!
• Pour custard into a bowl (or individual serving bowls) and cover surface with plastic wrap to keep a skin from forming on the surface. Chill for at least 2-3 hours. Sprinkle with fresh berries if desired, and serve.