Coconut flan

Making coconut flan . The egg custard  is one of those recipes for dessert homemade that, surely, are not lacking in any recipe.

It is, in my opinion, one of the most versatile desserts in our cuisine. Its origin is supposed to go back to Roman times when it was served sprinkled with pepper. Later this was replaced by a layer of caramelized sugar that persists today.

Although the base is egg, milk and sugar, we can prepare flans with endless flavors and textures. Based on the original recipe, we perfume it with lemon or orange, cinnamon or vanilla, making custards that most visitors have in the blog,  chocolate or nougat , the classics are also an option, that of cheese flan , of chestnuts or orange , or tell us about  a good English-style pudding . Improvise with compotes or juices and even nuts, although among all these options there is one that I love that is the coconut flan .      

The ingredients we use are slightly different from the classic recipe but the concept is the same. Instead of using whole milk and sugar, we add coconut milk and condensed milk. Which will give us the coconut flavor we want and the creaminess of the che with the sugar already incorporated.

It is a matter of cooking in a bain-marie until the egg sets, with this we will achieve its characteristic gelatinous and smooth texture, which accompanied with the grated coconut will give us a tasty, soft and light sweet.

Preparation of the caramel for the coconut flan

1. We put a saucepan or a frying pan on the fire at medium temperature so that it reaches temperature. We add the ingredients in the following order: 100 g. white granulated sugar and a little water (2 tablespoons).
2. Leave over medium heat without stirring (at first we should not move the sugar with a wooden spoon because it will weigh down). We will see how little by little small bubbles begin to form and the sugar changes color. When this happens we stir, now yes, with a wooden spoon. This way we help to mix everything.
3. We remove from the fire. We keep stirring until it reaches that roasted honey caramel color.
4. We add a few drops of lemon juice, these will give shine and will not crystallize quickly.
5. We let it temper for a minute.
6. We put the caramel in the bottom first. We are turning or tilting little by little through the walls of the molds until it is all impregnated with caramel.
7. Let the caramel cool until it is medium hard.

Preparation of the coconut flan

1. In a small saucepan, heat the coconut milk with the condensed milk and the grated coconut.
2. We stir well until the condensed milk has been diluted with the rest of the ingredients and the coconut has been hydrated with the liquids. Just tempering the mixture will suffice, you don’t need to overheat it.
3. We beat the eggs and add the rest of the ingredients already warm. Stir well and reserve.
4. We distribute the flan cream in each mold and place them in a tray that we fill with water up to half the height of the molds.
5. With the oven preheated to 170º C we place the source with the molds in water so that they cook in a bain-marie.
6. If we use individual molds, with 15 or 20 minutes of oven it will be enough. If the mold is unique, it will take 35-40 minutes for the flan to be completely set. Remember that it depends on the oven you have at home, the times are approximate.
7. We remove the flan from the oven and let them temper at room temperature.

In such an easy and fast way we can enjoy a rich coconut flan. With a matchless flavor and an aroma reminiscent of holidays, a yummy flan. Take advantage!

You can see all the photos of the step by step in the next album.  

Tips for a yummy coconut flan

• We keep the custards in the fridge until they have cooled, that is, when it is time to serve them.
• At the time of serving the flans we remove them from each flanera.
• We can accompany it with a little whipped cream and decorate them by sprinkling the flan with colored shavings, grated coconut, cocoa powder or whatever we have at home that can give them a fun and colorful touch.
• Encourage you to prepare this coconut flan, it is prepared in a plis-plas, you just have to mix the ingredients and let the oven finish the job.