Flan wins Best Dessert

Congratulations to Tapastry Restaurant in Montclair, New Jersey for winning the Taste of Essex "Best Dessert" award with their own tasty flan recipe.

Argentine Flan Casero Recipe

Here's a recipe from Argentina they call flan casero or "homemade flan."

We recommend you read the recipe instructions thoroughly before you begin, and be sure to note our recipe tips at the end.

Ingredients: 1-1/2 cups whole milk 6 eggs (3 yolks, 3 whole eggs) Strawberry preserves (or other jam of choice) 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup half-and-half Hot water for the baking/roasting pan	Kitchen Tools: Large measuring cup Sauce pan and stirring spoon 6 ramekins Baking or roasting pan (large enough to hold the ramekins) Fine mesh strainer Mixing bowl Whisk or mixer Small knife Severing plate, larger than the ramekin
Time:
About 1 hour to prepare and cook, 1 hour to cool

In a sauce pan blend the 1-1/2 cups of milk, 1 cup half-and-half, teaspoon vanilla and 1/2 cup sugar
Place the stove on medium-low heat and bring to a simmer then set aside
Crack and separate three eggs, placing the yolks in a mixing bowl
With a whisk or mixer, whip the yolks as you add the other three whole eggs
In the bowl, add about 1/2 a cup of the simmered milk
Blend until slightly thick
Pour the bowl mix into the sauce pan to blend with the remaining simmered milk
Mix thoroughly
Take the strainer and place it over a large measuring cup
Pour the mix from the sauce pan through the strainer into a large measuring cup to remove any over cooked egg or milk particles
Pour the strained mix evenly into the ramekins over the jam
Carefully pour hot water into the baking pan so it provides a water bath around the outside of the ramekins that is even with the mix inside

Place the baking pan in the oven
Cook for 40 minutes
To check for readiness, slide a knife in and out of a near-center ramekin, if it comes out clean the flan is done
Remove the pan from the oven

Remove a ramekin from the refrigerator and slide a small knife around the inside wall to loosen the flan from the dish
Place a plate on top of the ramekin and then flip them both over so the ramekin is upside-down on top of the plate
Remove the ramekin, add additional jam on top if needed, and enjoy

When pouring the mix into the ramekins use a little at a time to ensure the mix is distributed evenly among all the ramekins.
For the topping you can use jams, preserves, or crushed fresh fruit but it should be a shallow layer along the bottom of the ramekin.
Once cooked, you may want to use tongs to remove the ramekins from the baking pan.