Ginger Custard Recipes

GINGER CUSTARD

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325°F.
• Bring sugar, ginger, and water to a boil in a 1-quart heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add milk, then return just to a boil and remove from heat. Let stand, covered, 15 minutes.
• Whisk together whole eggs, yolks, and a pinch of salt in a bowl, then gently whisk in hot milk mixture. Pour through a sieve into another bowl, pressing on and then discarding solids. Divide custard among ramekins and cover each tightly with foil.
• Bake in a water bath until set around edges but with centers still wobbly, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer ramekins to a rack and cool, uncovered, to room temperature, about 45 minutes, then chill, uncovered, 2 hours.

GINGER CUSTARD DESSERT

Steps:

• To make the syrup, heat the water and 1/4 cup sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
• When the sugar is dissolved, add the fresh ginger.
• Stir to distribute sugar, then bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer the syrup uncovered for 5 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat.
• In another pan combine the milk, 2 tablespoons sugar, and the minced preserved ginger.
• Stir over medium heat until the milk comes to a scalding temperature, just short of a simmer, then remove the pan from the heat. Scrape the fresh ginger syrup into the milk mixture, and stir well to blend.
• Cover and steep 20 minutes to infuse the milk.
• In a small bowl beat the egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar until the mixture is pale yellow, thick, and falls in ribbons from the beater.
• Put the heavy cream in a medium-size bowl. Nest the cream bowl in a larger one lined with ice cubes and place in a large, fine mesh strainer alongside.
• When the steeping time is up, bring the milk mixture to scalding again, stirring. Slowly add 1/4 of the scalded milk to the egg mixture, whisking constantly to temper the eggs, then pour the egg mixture back into the remaining milk, continuing to whisk.
• Cook over moderate heat, whisking slowly but steadily until the mixture reaches the custard stage, thick enough to coat and cling to the back of a spoon, 180 degrees on an instant-reading thermometer.
• Do not let the mixture boil lest the eggs scramble.
• Immediately pour the custard through the strainer and into the bowl of cream set over ice.
• Scrape the pot clean, then slowly stir the liquid trapped in the strainer in order to coax it through the mesh.
• Press firmly and repeatedly on the ginger to extract all the liquid, then finally scrape the bottom of the strainer to claim every last drop for the cream.
• Discard the ginger solids. Allow the cream mixture to cool completely, stirring occasionally.
• Once cool, the mixture may be sealed airtight and refrigerated for 1 - 2 days before freezing.
• Freezing the cream:.
• Just before freezing, adjust the mixture with 1/2 - 3/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, stirring and tasting after every several drops just until the ginger flavor is perceptibly heightened by the lemon.
• Freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• When the freezing process is completed, pack the ice cream into a clean plastic container, poking deep into the mixture, then pressing it with a spoon or spatula to eliminate any air bubbles.
• Press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the ice cream to prevent the formation of ice crystals, then return the mixture to the freezer for at least 2 hours to firm up and "ripen.".
• If frozen solid, allow the ice cream to soften slightly in the refrigerator before serving. For the full flavor and bouquet, it should be eaten slightly soft.

DANIEL SKURNICK'S FRANCO-CHINESE STEAMED GINGER CUSTARD

Steps:

• Set up a steamer. The best choice is a large bamboo steamer over a wok. If you have a smaller collapsible steamer insert that fits into a pot, you'll probably have to make the custard in two batches.
• Add water to the wok or pot, and bring to a boil; keep at a simmer. Set out 6 6-ounce heatproof custard cups, teacups or bowls.
• Place a strainer over a bowl, and using a fine rasp-type grater, grate the ginger into the strainer. Push the ginger through the strainer. You need 2 teaspoons of juice. If some pulp is included, that's fine.
• In a separate bowl, gently whisk the yolks and sugar together until blended. Whisk in the milk, the half and half and the ginger juice. Strain the mixture into the 6-ounce cups or bowls. Seal each with a piece of microwave-safe plastic wrap or foil.
• Place the cups in the steamer, cover the steamer or pot and adjust the heat so that the water is at a steady medium simmer. Steam about 17 to 22 minutes, until the custards are set. Tap the cup lightly to test for doneness; it's O.K. if you have a small wobbly spot in the center.
• Very carefully transfer the cups to a rack, uncover and let rest for about 15 minutes. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or cover and chill for as long as 1 day. Repeat with the rest of the batch, if necessary.
• Serve cold, with or without the spiced caramel syrup poured over.

TWO-TONE GINGER CUSTARD PIE

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface and using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out a disk of dough into a circle about ¼-inch thick. Starting at one end, gently roll up the dough onto the rolling pin. Unfurl the dough over a 9-inch pie plate, preferably ceramic, and press it in lightly, making sure it's lining the plate.
• Trim so that there's about ½ inch of excess dough hanging over the edge of the pie plate. (If the dough feels warm, refrigerate it for 15 minutes.) Tuck the excess dough under itself so it is flush with the edge of the pie plate; leave the pie like this for a straight-edge finish, or crimp as desired. Dock the base and sides all over with a fork and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, and up to 2 hours.
• Place a rack on the bottom shelf of the oven, and place a baking stone, if you have one, on the rack. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Use a small brush to evenly paint egg wash on the edge of the crust. Cut a square of parchment paper and use it to line the crust. Fill with pie weights (or dried beans) up to the top edge. Place the plate on a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil.
• Transfer the baking sheet to the oven, placing it directly on the baking stone if using. Bake crust until the outer edge is just starting to turn golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the parchment and pie weights, and continue to bake until the base appears set, 2 to 4 minutes more. If the dough puffs up anywhere, you can puncture it with a fork. Cool the crust completely. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees.
• Make the filling: Whisk the granulated sugar and flour in a medium bowl to combine. Add the brown sugar and whisk to combine, breaking up clumps with the whisk or your fingers. Add the ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and salt and whisk to combine.
• Add the milk, cream and vanilla and whisk well to combine. Transfer the pie plate to the prepared baking sheet. Pour the custard into the crust.
• Transfer the baking sheet back to the oven, placing it directly on the baking stone if using. Bake until the crust is evenly golden brown and the custard appears set around the outer edge, 43 to 48 minutes; the center of the pie may still be jiggly, like pumpkin pie or cheesecake, but it will firm up as it cools. Let pie cool completely at room temperature on a rack.
• Make the topping: Use a food processor to grind the freeze-dried mango into a fine powder, or seal it in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. Transfer to a small bowl, and whisk in 2 tablespoons of confectioners' sugar. Wipe out the food processor or use another plastic bag and repeat with the freeze-dried strawberries. Transfer to a small bowl, and whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons powdered sugar.
• Place an 8 ½-by-11-inch piece of paper over the surface of the pie, leaving half of it exposed. Use a small sifter to sift the mango sugar onto the exposed surface of the pie. Carefully remove the paper, then cover the part of the pie sprinkled with mango sugar. Tap out the small sifter and use it to sift the strawberry sugar over the other side. Carefully remove the paper. If you like, brush any excess powder off the crust. (Save the remaining sugar in airtight containers for another use, such as dusting on baked goods.) It's best to apply the sugar within 2 hours of serving. The pie is best eaten the day it's made; store leftovers in the refrigerator.

GINGER CUSTARD

Steps:

• Heat the half and half in a heavy saucepan over medium low heat just to the boiling point. Add fresh ginger slices and remove from the heat. Cover the pan and set aside for about 30 minutes.
• Divide 1/2 cup of the crystallized ginger among eight 1/2 cup ramekins, just covering the bottoms.
• Preheat oven to 300*F.
• Whisk the whole eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and ground ginger together in a large bowl.
• Heat the half and half just to a boil again. Slowly strain it into the egg mixture(discard the fresh ginger); combine thoroughly. Next, whisk the mixture back into the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the custard just coats the back of the spoon. Be careful not to allow the mixture to actually boil.
• Divide the custard among the ginger lined ramekins, and set them in a baking dish. Pour hot water into the dish until it reaches two thirds of the way up the sides of the ramekins. Place the dish in the oven, and bake until a knife inserted in the center on one of the custards comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
• Serve the custard warm or chilled,with a dab of whipped cream on top, sprinkled with the remaining 1/4 cup crystallized. Enjoy!

GINGER MILK CUSTARD

Steps:

• Peel and grate ginger. Squeeze grated ginger pieces to release juice; measure 2 teaspoons ginger juice and transfer to a bowl.
• Place milk in a saucepan; heat until temperature reaches 160 degrees F to 170 degrees F (71 degrees C to 77 degrees C), about 5 minutes. Add sugar and stir until dissolved; pour into the bowl with ginger juice. Stir mixture immediately and cover with a small plate. Cover the covered bowl with a clean towel; let sit for at least 7 minutes.

GINGER CUSTARD SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan bring cream, ginger, zest, and coriander seeds just to a boil. Remove pan from heat and let mixture stand, covered, 15 minutes.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat yolks with sugar until mixture is thick and pale and forms a ribbon when beaters are lifted. Whisk yolk mixture into cream and heat mixture over moderately low heat, whisking, until a candy thermometer registers 160°F. Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla. Strain sauce through a fine sieve into a bowl.
• Serve sauce, warm or chilled, with fresh berries, poached fruit, or pound cake.