Flan With Bananas Recipe
Description:
Indulge in the delightful combination of creamy custard and sweet bananas with this timeless dessert recipe. Originating from Bon Appetit’s February 1986 edition, this flan is adored by both kids and adults alike, making it a perfect treat for any occasion. While it may require a bit of time and effort, the end result is well worth it!
Cook Time:
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
Servings:
- Yield: Approximately 6 servings
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1 | Butter |
| 3 | Bananas |
| 1 | Sugar |
| 2 | Lemon juice |
| 3 | Brandy (optional) |
| 3 | Vanilla bean |
| 1 | Sugar |
| 8 | Egg yolks |
| 5 | Brown sugar |
| – | Cream |
| – | Milk |
Instructions:
-
Prepare Banana Mixture:
- Start by melting butter in a skillet over medium-low heat.
- Add sliced bananas and 1 tablespoon of sugar to the skillet.
- Mix well to coat the bananas with butter, then cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Mash the bananas against the side of the pan with the back of a wooden spoon until they form a chunky puree.
- Stir in lemon juice. If desired, add brandy, increase the heat to high, and cook for an additional minute before removing from heat.
- Divide the banana puree evenly into six 1-cup custard dishes or ramekins.
-
Prepare Custard:
- Preheat the oven to 300°F.
- In a saucepan, bring cream (or milk combined with cream) and vanilla bean to a boil. Once boiled, turn off the heat and set aside.
- In a double boiler over simmering water, combine egg yolks and 5 tablespoons of sugar, stirring constantly for about 15 minutes or until the mixture coats the back of a spoon.
- Gradually mix in the vanilla cream, stirring until the mixture thickens to a light cream consistency (approximately 5-10 minutes). Remove the vanilla bean.
- Spoon the custard mixture over the banana puree in the custard dishes.
-
Bake:
- Place the custard dishes in a roasting pan and pour hot water into the pan until it reaches a depth of about 1/2 inch.
- Bake the custards for 50-60 minutes, or until they are set. To test, insert a knife into the center of one custard; it should come out clean.
- Once baked, remove the custard dishes from the oven and allow them to cool slightly.
-
Caramelize Sugar Topping:
- Preheat the broiler.
- Place cracked ice in a broiler pan and arrange the custard dishes in the pan.
- Sprinkle each custard with 2 teaspoons of brown sugar.
- Broil the custards about 4 inches from the heat source until the sugar caramelizes. Keep a close eye on them, as this process happens quickly.
-
Serve:
- Once the sugar has caramelized, remove the custards from the broiler.
- Allow them to cool slightly before serving. Optionally, refrigerate them beforehand if you prefer them chilled.
- Enjoy the creamy goodness of flan with bananas, a perfect blend of tropical flavors and rich custard!
Nutritional Information:
- Calories: 629.6
- Fat Content: 51.6g
- Saturated Fat Content: 30.6g
- Cholesterol Content: 419.9mg
- Sodium Content: 72.8mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 39.2g
- Fiber Content: 1.5g
- Sugar Content: 28.9g
- Protein Content: 6.3g
Recipe Keywords:
- Tropical Fruits
- Fruit
- Weeknight
- Oven
- Less than 4 Hours
Recipe Notes:
- This flan with bananas can be prepared up to one day in advance, up to the point of refrigerating them before broiling the sugar topping.
- Ensure to keep an eye on the custards while broiling to prevent the sugar from burning.
- Customize the recipe by adjusting the sweetness according to your preference, and feel free to omit the brandy for a non-alcoholic version.
