Coconut Flan

Most Vietnamese people are familiar with the French dessert, flan, which is custard made with egg and milk. It sounds simple, and yes it easy to make as well. You can make this dessert as simple as it sounds, or you can make it more elegant by adding different flavors: mango, avocado, strawberry and coconut milk. Let your imagination run wild, so your guests will be very impressed when you serve them. A few years ago, I learned how to prepare flan from Nicole Routhier, author of The foods of Viet Nam, However, as you know me, I always improve and change the recipes to make them simpler, so you can make it yourselves.

Ingredients:
The caramel sauce:
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons of hot water
The custard:
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
1 cup coconut milk
1cup milk (skim or whole milk your choice)
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Make the caramel by putting the sugar in a heavy sauce pan and heat until it is dissolved, and the sugar starts to caramelize. You should tip the pan from side to side to prevent the sugar from burning and also makes the color more even.Add the hot water and continue to cook for a few more minutes. Immediately pour the mixture into five 4oz. ramekins, and put inside the baking pan lined with a paper towel.

Make the custard by combining milk, coconut milk, and sugar and heat until just before boiling. In a bowl, whisk the eggs, egg yolks, and vanilla. Gradually whisk hot milk into the egg mixture thoroughly. Strain the custard through a fine sieve into a bowl, and ladle the custard into the ramekins. Pour enough hot water into the baking pan until half way up the sides of the ramekins.

Preheat oven to 350° and bake the custard for 30 or 40 minutes or until firm to the touch. During the baking time, do not disturb the custard because this is a secret to have smooth custard. Remove the ramekins from the hot water immediately and let cool slightly before refrigerating.

The taste of the custard improves after complete chilling. Using the small knife to unmold the flan from the ramekin, and the flan should place upside down on the place.

* Add 1 tablespoon of Grand marnier, replace 1 cup of coconut milk with whole milk if you just want to make plain flan.