Orange Natilla Custard Pie Recipes

ORANGE AND AVOCADO NATILLA (MEXICAN CUSTARD PUDDING)

Steps:

• Pour the orange juice into a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Add the sugar, stir and, once it comes to a gentle simmer, 4 to 5 minutes later, cook for 5 minutes. Let cool.
• In another saucepan, pour in the milk and place over medium-low heat. Once it comes to a simmer, remove from the heat.
• In a medium bowl, beat together the cream, cornstarch, egg yolks and salt until thoroughly combined. Gently pour the warm milk in a thin stream into the egg yolk mixture, beating well with a whisk or fork. Once mixed, pour the orange mixture into egg yolk-milk mixture in a thin stream, whisking as you do. Return the entire mixture to a saucepan and place over medium-low heat, bring to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until it coats the back of a wooden spoon, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat. Mix in the avocado, whisking thoroughly with a whisk or fork until thoroughly combined. Strain the mixture, using a fine strainer, onto a bowl.
• Chill the mixture by placing the bowl over an ice bath. Cover the natilla with plastic wrap placed directly onto the custard so it will not create a film. Place in the refrigerator and let completely chill. Serve by spooning the natilla into bowls and garnish with cacao nibs.

NATILLAS (SPANISH CUSTARD)

Steps:

• Combine milk, cinnamon stick, and lemon zest in a saucepan over low heat. Cook for 10 minutes without letting it boil.
• Meanwhile, beat egg yolks and sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until light and creamy. Beat in cornstarch. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and lump-free.
• Remove and discard cinnamon stick and lemon zest from milk. Gradually add egg yolk mixture to the milk, and beat with a whisk over low heat until mixture starts to thickens, about 10 minutes. Bring custard to a boil and immediately remove from heat.
• Pour custard into individual serving dishes and chill in the fridge until set, about 2 hours.

PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS (PASTEIS DE NATA)

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, and cold water in a bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon until dough just comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Dough should be sticky; adjust with more flour or water to achieve what's shown in the video.
• Transfer dough onto a well floured surface. Dust a little more flour over the top. Knead for a minute or two to form a round. Cover and let rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Roll dough into a square about 1/8 inch thick, dusting with flour as necessary; dough should still be sticky.
• Spread 1/3 of the butter over 2/3 of the square using a silicone spatula, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Flip the unbuttered side over the middle of the square and fold the opposite end over it like a letter. Straighten the edges as needed.
• Turn dough with a bench scraper to unstick it from the counter; dust with flour. Flip and sprinkle more flour on top. Roll dough into a 1/8-inch-thick rectangle, carefully stretching edges as needed. Spread another 1/3 of the butter over 2/3 of the dough. Fold into thirds. Transfer onto a lined baking sheet and freeze until butter is slightly chilled, about 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle dough with flour and roll into a square a little over 1/8 inch thick. Spread remaining butter over the dough, leaving a 1- to 1 1/2-inch border on the top edge. Dip your finger in water and lightly moisten the unbuttered edge. Roll dough into a log starting from the bottom edge. Dust with more flour and polish the ends as needed. Seal with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
• Combine sugar, 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon water, cinnamon, and lemon zest in a pot. Boil over medium heat, without stirring, until syrup reaches 210 to 215 degrees F (100 degrees C). Remove from heat.
• Preheat oven 550 degrees F (288 degrees C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
• Whisk flour, salt, and cold milk together very thoroughly in a cold pot. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until milk thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for at least 10 minutes.
• Whisk egg yolks into the cooled milk. Add the sugar syrup and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. Strain custard into a glass measuring cup.
• Unwrap the dough and trim any uneven bits on the ends. Score log into 12 even pieces using a knife; cut through.
• Place a piece of dough in each muffin cup. Dip your thumb lightly in some cold water. Press thumb into the center of the swirl; push dough against the bottom and up the sides of the cup until it reaches least 1/8 inch past the top. Fill each cup 3/4 of the way with custard.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is browned and bubbly, and the tops start to blister and caramelize, about 12 minutes. Cool tarts briefly and serve warm.

VANILLA ORANGE TART

Steps:

• In a food processor, process the vanilla wafers to crumbs. Pour in the melted butter and pulse until the crumbs are moistened.
• Press the crumbs into a 10-inch deep-dish tart pan to line the bottom and sides. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, 1/4 cup of the sugar and the cornstarch. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, mix the gelatin with 2 tablespoons cold water. Set aside.
• In a medium saucepot, combine the milk with another 1/4 cup of the sugar and the vanilla bean. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking occasionally.
• A ladleful at a time, slowly pour the heated milk into the egg yolk mixture, whisking to temper the yolks. When half of the milk has been added, pour the hot egg mixture back into the saucepot, whisking constantly. Heat over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and bubbles start appearing on the surface.
• Whisk the bloomed gelatin into the custard. Pour the custard through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any lumps or overcooked yolks.
• Pour the strained custard into the tart shell and refrigerate for 1 hour, until set.
• In a small saucepot, bring the orange juice and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar to a boil. Add the dried orange slices and simmer until syrupy, 10 minutes. Set aside to cool; the orange slices will continue to soften.
• Remove the tart from the refrigerator and decorate with the orange slices in a fan pattern. Drizzle the tart with some of the orange syrup.
• Place the tart back in the refrigerator for another hour, or until the candied oranges are set.

NATILLA (CUBAN CINNAMON AND VANILLA CUSTARD)

Steps:

• Place the milk, cinnamon stick, salt and lime peel in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and allow to cool, letting the spice and lime steep in the milk.
• In a bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar and the dissolved cornstarch until blended well.
• Discard the cinnamon stick and lime peel and combine the infused milk with the egg yolks in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. When the mixture thickens to soft-custard consistency, turn the heat off and add the vanilla. Pour into a large dessert dish (like a 7-inch souffle dish) or 4 individual 1/2-cup dessert ramekins and chill.
• Serve sprinkled with ground cinnamon.