Crema Catalana

By Jessica Swartz April 11, 2023 31 mins read 81 Views

Crema Catalana is a Spanish custard that's flavored with cinnamon and citrus, and finished with caramelized sugar. It's a lighter version of crème brulee. This gluten-free dessert will impress at your next holiday party, dinner party, or special occasion.

Photo credit: Mark Beahm

The menu del Dia is one of my favourite Spanish food traditions. Restaurants offer a fixed-price lunch menu that includes bread, three courses, and a drink on weekdays.

Although the price is moderate, the quality of the meal is exceptional. After two savory courses the final course is Crema Catalana with a strong cup of coffee. This traditional Spanish dessert is well worth the effort!

Crema Catalana is a recipe that dates back at least to the 14th century. Its first published appearance was in a cookbook. It is today the official dessert of Catalonia and Saint Joseph's Day (19 March 19, Spain's equivalent of Father's Day). But, you can enjoy it whenever the mood strikes.

Table of Contents

What is the difference between Crema Catalana & Creme Brulee
What's in Crema Catalana, you ask?
How to make this recipe
How to Cook Crema Catalana
How to make the Caramelized Sugar Crust
What to serve with Crema Catalana
These Delicious Desserts are a Must-Try
Crema Catalana Recipe

What is the Difference between Crema Catalana & Creme Brulee

Crema Catalana is a custard dessert that has a caramelized sugar crust. Creme brulee, however, has subtle differences from its less well-known neighbor, Crema Catalana.

Creme Brulée is a richer French vanilla custard that's made with heavy whipping and baked in a water bath.
Crema Catalana Spanish custard is made with milk and flavored by citrus and cinnamon. Crema Catalana is lighter than creme brutee because it uses milk instead heavy cream.

Crema Catalana, in addition to the above differences, is usually less sweetened and is made on the stove instead of the oven. This makes it easier to know when it's done. You don't have to add a water bath to your Crema Catalana trifle.

What's in Crema Catalana

Crema Catalana uses simple, common ingredients that are easy to find. Because of the simplicity of its ingredients, I would not suggest substituting any ingredient or amount. Otherwise, you could have textural problems with the custard.

Whole milk - For the creamiest texture use whole milk. Do not substitute whole milk with low-fat milk.
Egg yolks - Egg yolks make the custard thicker than whole eggs and are richer than whole eggs. The whites can be reserved for egg white frittatas, meringues, cocktails, and nougat.
Cornstarch - Cornstarch is another thickener which helps prevent egg yolks curdling.
Sugar: Both the custard or the caramel will be best served with regular or extra-fine, granulated sugar.
Zest: Crema catalana is usually flavored with both lemon and orange zest. However, you can also use one or both. To peel a long and wide strip of zest, use a vegetable peeler. Scrape away any pith (the part that is under the zest) with a small knife.
Cinnamon stick One cinnamon stick delicately infuses milk over the stove.
Salt: Salt adds flavor to savory dishes as well as sweet dessert recipes.

How to Make This Recipe

Crema Catalana is surprisingly easy to prepare. After you have separated eight eggs, the hard part is waiting for the four hours to chill. I love to torch the sugar. It's my favorite part. Although it is dramatic, it is also the easiest.

Prepare:A fine mesh sieve should be placed over a large mixing bowl or measuring cup with a spout. Six 6-ounce ramekins are needed.
Beat the eggs: In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon salt until you have a pale, smooth mixture. Set aside.
Heat the milk: Bring 4 cups milk, 1 teaspoon each of orange and lemon zest and 1 cinnamon stick to a boil in a large saucepan. To prevent the milk from scorching, stir it occasionally while it heats.
Heat the milk to a simmer. Toss the cinnamon stick and zest with a pair of tongs. Slowly pour the hot milk into the bowl of eggs. Use your other hand to whisk the yolks. Slowly stirring the hot milk into yolks tempers them and heats them without curdling.
Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes. Continue to cook on medium heat for 5 minutes, whisking continuously, until the custard thickens. Continue cooking for 1 minute, whisking constantly, until the custard reaches a bubble.
Strain the custard and pour: Take the custard out of the heat and pour through the sieve in a large measuring cup. Divide the custard between the six ramekins. Each ramekin should be covered with plastic wrap. Place the wrap directly on top of the custard. Allow to chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours, or overnight.
Start!: Sprinkle 2 teaspoons sugar on top of each custard when you are ready to serve. Hold the flame at 4 inches from the sugar layer. Keep moving the flame around until the sugar is melted and caramelized to a deep brown color.
Serve: Serve the custards immediately. Sugar is hygroscopic. This means it absorbs moisture from the surrounding environment. The caramel topping will absorb water and soften before eventually becoming liquefied.

Tips to Cook Crema Catalana

Overcooking is the main problem with custard. Cornstarch is used in this recipe and it doesn't need to be baked in the oven. These are some tips to make the best Crema Catalana.

Do not add the milk to the eggs too quickly. The eggs could curdle if you add too much hot milk to them. If this happens, you should start over. Make sure to slowly incorporate the milk and to whisk continuously.
Let the custard simmer for 1 minute. You can also overcook it if the custard thickens on a stove. When the custard starts to bubble, reduce the heat and take it off the stove. You need to cook the cornstarch thoroughly so that it doesn't become a loose custard. However, if it is cooked too long, it will cause the yolks to curdle. A sieve can be used to remove any lumps if the cornstarch has not been cooked too long. Although lumpy custard can still be eaten, the texture might not be as appealing.
Always stir. Keeping the eggs from curdling will be prevented by a constant stirring, whether you are tempering them or cooking on the stove.

How to Make Caramelized Sugar Crust

Crema Catalana's sugar crust is traditionally made using a Pala, an iron disk with handle that has been heated on the stove or over a fire. Although they are easy to use, palas can be difficult to clean.

If you don't have a kitchen torch, it is possible to order one online. You will find it just as satisfying as a pala and you can see how the caramelization progresses.

To brulee the custard: Hold the flame at 4 inches above the sugar, and move the flame in slow circles to heat evenly. First, the sugar will melt and then caramelize. If the sugar turns a dark brown, but not burnt, it's time to stop using the torch.

You can also use the oven's broiler if you don't own a kitchen torch. However, it is very easy to burn sugar.

What to serve with Crema Catalana

Crema Catalana is a Spanish dessert that can be enjoyed anywhere you like in Spain. Crema Catalana is more celebratory in my kitchen, which is far from Spanish restaurants. This recipe is great for parties. You can make the custard up until 4 days ahead and leave the flaming theatrics to your guests when they are captive audiences.

Crema Catalana, a traditional Spanish dessert that can be served after any meal, is great for special occasions.

A simple starter like Pan Con Tomate is enough to make a huge festive dinner party. The centerpieces such as Easy Seafood Paella and Oven Roasted Whole Mackerel are the real stars of the show.

Enjoy these Delicious Desserts

Baklava: How to Make It
Red Wine Poached Pears Recipe
Flaky Phyllo crust and Easy Apple Strudel
Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

Explore all Mediterranean recipes

Visit Our Shop

The Mediterranean Dish Cookbook

120 Bold, Healthy Recipes You Will Make Again

Buy Now

Crema Catalana

Crema Catalana is a lighter version than creme brulee. It's scented with cinnamon, citrus zest, and has a caramelized sugar crust. It can be made the night before your next special occasion or dinner party.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Spanish

Diet Gluten Free

Prep time 10 HTML4_ minutes

Cook Time 10 Minutes

Chill time HTML4 Hours

Total Time 4 hours 20 mins

Servings

Calories 292 292 kcal

Author Mark Beahm

Ingredients

3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar, divided
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 egg yolks
4 cups whole milk
1 strip lemon zest
1 strip orange zest
1 cinnamon stick

Instructions

Prepare: Place a fine mesh sieve on top of a large measuring cup. Six 6-ounce ramekins are needed.
Mix the eggs in a large bowl. Add 1/2 cup (100g), of the sugar, cornstarch and salt. Mix the egg yolks with the sugar until it becomes pale and smooth. This takes about 1 minute. To prevent the bowl from sliding during the next steps, place it on a damp tea towel.
Infuse milk: Heat the milk and lemon zest, orange zest and cinnamon in a large saucepan over medium heat. To prevent the milk from scorching, stir it occasionally.
Temper the egg mixture. Heat the milk to a simmer. To remove the cinnamon stick and zest, use tongs. Slowly pour the hot milk into a bowl of yolks. Continue whisking with the other hand.
Mix the ingredients together and let them simmer for a few minutes. Over medium heat, whisk constantly until the custard thickens. This should take approximately 5 minutes. Continue cooking for one minute, whisking constantly, until the custard begins to bubble.
Strain, pour and chill: Remove the custard from the heat. Pour it through a sieve into a large measuring cup, or a bowl with spout. The custard should be poured into the ramekins. Wrap each ramekin in plastic wrap and place the custard on top. Allow to chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours, or overnight. The custards can be kept in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Ignite! Serve immediately. Light your kitchen torch. Place the flame at 4 inches from the sugar layer. Keep moving the flame around until the sugar is melted and caramelized to a deep brown color.
Serve immediately, before caramel softens.

Notes

You can make the custard up to four days ahead and store it in plastic wrap in your refrigerator.
When the eggs are heated, whisk them constantly to prevent curdling.
To browse high-quality Mediterranean ingredients such as olive oils, honey and jams, visit the shop

Nutrition

Carbohydrates: 38.1g

The Mediterranean Dish first published the post Crema Catalana.

By: Mark Beahm
Title: Crema Catalana
Sourced From: www.themediterraneandish.com/crema-catalana/
Published Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mediterranean Diet expensive?

The Mediterranean diet is generally inexpensive, with affordable and accessible ingredients. Many staple foods are found in local grocery stores or farmers' markets. But, it can be more expensive to shop for organic products or high-quality protein, as well as special items such extra virgin olive oils. It is important to set aside a budget for your meals so that you can plan your meals accordingly. Also, you can save money by using leftovers from other meals and bulk-freezing foods like fish and grain.

What should I eat every day on a Mediterranean diet to stay healthy?

A Mediterranean diet is based on healthy fats, proteins, and plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. A Mediterranean diet should have seven to 10 portions of fruits and vegetables each day and at least two to four 3-ounces of lean meats such as fish and chicken. Moderate amounts of healthy fats such as olive oil and nuts should be encouraged. Each day, aim to eat at least three portions of whole grains like quinoa, barley and oats.

Consuming unhealthy foods regularly can make it difficult to avoid them. Reduced-fat dairy products should be avoided if possible. Fish should not be consumed beyond three times per week because of potential mercury contamination issues affecting its nutritional value if overlooked during meal planning stages.

It's important to plan meals so that you can reap the benefits of the Mediterranean diet.

A Mediterranean diet is a great way to enjoy a healthy and delicious lifestyle. You can eat high-quality protein such as wild-caught and grass-fed fish, organic eggs, and meat, in order to have the best meals. You should also include heart-healthy fats such as nuts, olives and avocados, extra virgin oil, coconut oil, and extra virgin olive oil. Make sure to include plenty of fresh and/or frozen fruits and vegetables in your meals and whole grains such as quinoa, barley, and oats. Reduce unhealthy fats, added sweetness, processed food, starches, red and processed meats.

Can the Mediterranean Diet also be vegetarian?

Yes, vegetarians can follow the Mediterranean Diet. Vegetarians can omit animal proteins such as poultry, fish, and red meat to follow this eating style. You can choose from a variety of plant-based protein sources, such as legumes, nuts and seeds. These are all staples in the Mediterranean Diet. Healthy fats like olive oil, avocados, and olives can be added to compensate for any sourced protein. Alternate dairy sources, such as soy yogurt or tofu, can be used to supplement the diet. Other ideas include adding nuts and seeds to salads or bowls, mashing beans on toast, substituting ice cream for frozen banana slices, or serving hummus with vegetables throughout the day.

How can I get started with the Mediterranean diet?

Get started on the Mediterranean diet by stocking up your kitchen with fresh fruits and veggies. This could involve preparing different vegetables or proteins every week that can then be used as a base for recipes in the coming days. Whole grains like quinoa or oat grattas and millet make great substitutes for refined grain. In order to enhance flavor and nutrition, it is important to include healthy fats such olive oil and sesame in your meal prep. Garlic, oregano or basil, turmeric and other seasonings are excellent additions to meals.

Are Bananas allowed in the Mediterranean diet

Yes, banana is allowed on the Mediterranean diet. Bananas are a low-calorie and nutritious fruit that can provide dietary fiber, potassium and vitamin B6. It can be used as a side dish or added to meals such as porridge, smoothies and salads. This can be eaten as a snack or with nut butter, such as peanut or almond. For those following the Mediterranean diet, bananas can be paired with healthy fats like nuts or seeds to aid digestion and promote fullness.

Is it safe to drink milk on the Mediterranean Diet?

Yes, milk is allowed on the Mediterranean diet. Dairy products such as low-fat yogurt and cheese are an important part of this diet, providing calcium and other key nutrients. The nutritional benefits of milk are also worth considering. It should be enjoyed in moderation, with other beverages such as coffee or tea. You can also make your own smoothies or oatmeal with it. When shopping for milk, make sure to choose organic varieties. This will encourage sustainable farming and promote more sustainable agriculture. For a healthy start to your day, add milk to breakfast options such as avocado toast or smoothie bowls.

Statistics

Benefits of Replacing foods high in saturated fats (like butter) with plant sources high in monounsaturated fatty acids, like olive oil, may help lower the risk of heart disease by 19 percent, according to research. (everydayhealth.com)
Other components in tomatoes may help reduce the risk of blood clots, thereby protecting against cardiovascular disease, according to a March 2019 review in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. (everydayhealth.com)
In one study, the healthiest eaters at age 50 had a nearly 90% lower risk of dementia than those with the least healthy diets. (heart.org)
The research suggested that the diet reduced the risk of cardiovascular issues, including stroke, heart attack, and death, by about 30 percent compared with the control group. (medicalnewstoday.com)

External Links

How To

How does the Mediterranean Diet support brain health?

Mediterranean diet is a lifestyle that includes eating lots of fruits, vegetables (legumes), whole grains, nuts, healthy fats, and low amounts of red meat. It has been linked with many health benefits including better brain health. Research has found that following the Mediterranean Diet can reduce the risk of dementia and slow age-related cognitive decline. It can also be used to treat mood disorders and protect against oxidative damage caused by aging.

Numerous aspects of the Mediterranean Diet support brain health as well as cognitive decline. Consuming large amounts antioxidant-rich food items like fruits and veggies, which are rich in vitamins and minerals, has the greatest benefit. Monounsaturated fats from olive oil, for example, help to maintain adequate levels of omega-3 in the body. This is a crucial component in maintaining a healthy brain. Limiting processed carbohydrates could also improve mental clarity. It can stabilize blood glucose levels throughout your day and reduce inflammation associated chronic diseases like Alzheimer's disease or stroke.

A Mediterranean diet that includes lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean protein like poultry or fish; whole grains; plenty of healthy fats from olive oils; occasional red wine; moderate dairy intakes such as yogurt and cheese will help to maintain adequate nutrition over time. This will help reduce cognitive decline. Furthermore, engaging in regular physical activity on an average vigorous level will further strengthen serotonin production, which supports mental well-being. These tips combined can help increase your chances of maintaining a good mental and physical health throughout life.