Crème caramel (), flan, caramel pudding or caramel custard is a
custard dessert with a layer of clear
caramel sauce.
History
The origin of crème caramel (also known originally as flan) can be traced all the way back to the Roman Empire. Originally, this dish was called
tiropatinam and it was made with eggs, milk and pepper and it was seasoned in its savoury version with fish, eel, and spinach, although there was also a sweet version with honey. It was in the early Middle Ages, in
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
, when they started using only the ingredients from which the original recipe is made today, and introduced caramelised sugar into the mixture and to call it flan, which comes from the proto-germanic 'flado'.
In the late 20th century crème caramel was common in European restaurants. The food historian
Alan Davidson speculates that this may have been because the dish could be prepared in bulk, in advance.
Etymology of names
In this context, ''crème'' in French means '
custard'. The names ''crème (caramel) renversée'' (French) and ''crema volteada'' (Spanish) allude to the custard being turned over to be served.
Both ''crème caramel'' ("caramel cream") and ''flan'' are
French names, but ''flan'' has come to have different meanings in different regions.
In
Spanish-speaking countries
The following is a list of countries where Spanish is an official language, plus a number of countries where Spanish or any language closely related to it, is an important or significant language.
Official or national language
Spanish is the o ...
and often in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, crème caramel is known as ''flan''. This was originally a
Spanish-language usage, but the dish is now best known in
North America in a
Latin American context. Elsewhere, including in Britain, a
flan is a type of
tart
A tart is a baked dish consisting of a filling over a pastry base with an open top not covered with pastry. The pastry is usually shortcrust pastry; the filling may be sweet or savoury, though modern tarts are usually fruit-based, sometimes wit ...
somewhat like a
quiche.
The Modern English word ''flan'' comes from French ''flan'', from
Old French
Old French (, , ; Modern French: ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France from approximately the 8th to the 14th centuries. Rather than a unified language, Old French was a linkage of Romance dialects, mutually intellig ...
''flaon'', in turn from
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin was the form of Literary Latin used in Roman Catholic Western Europe during the Middle Ages. In this region it served as the primary written language, though local languages were also written to varying degrees. Latin functione ...
''fladonem'', derived from the
Old High German
Old High German (OHG; german: Althochdeutsch (Ahd.)) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally covering the period from around 750 to 1050.
There is no standardised or supra-regional form of German at this period, and Old High ...
''flado'', a sort of flat cake, probably from an
Indo-European
The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the overwhelming majority of Europe, the Iranian plateau, and the northern Indian subcontinent. Some European languages of this family, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, Dutc ...
root for 'flat' or 'broad'.
Preparation, cooking and presentation
Preparation
Crème caramel is a variant of plain custard (crème) where sugar syrup cooked to caramel stage is poured into the mold before adding the custard base. It is usually cooked in a
bain-marie
A bain-marie (; also known as a water bath or double boiler), a type of heated bath, is a piece of equipment used in science, industry, and cooking to heat materials gently or to keep materials warm over a period of time. A bain-marie is also ...
on a stovetop or in the oven in a water bath. It is turned and served with the caramel sauce on top, hence the alternate French names ''crème (caramel) renversée'' or ''crème renversée au caramel''. The milk may be flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, or lemon peel.
The resulting texture is gelatinous and creamy.
Turning out larger dishes requires care, as the custard easily splits. Larger dishes also require more care to avoid undercooking the interior or overcooking the exterior. Thus, crème caramel is often cooked and served in individual
ramekin
A ramekin (, ; also spelled ramequin) is a small dish used for culinary purposes.
Name
The term is derived from the French ', a cheese- or meat-based bowl baked in a small mould. The French term is in turn derived from early modern Dutch ', whi ...
s. The objective is to obtain a homogeneous and smooth cream on the surface of the ''crème caramel'' with a liquid caramel base. Cooking it in a
bain-marie
A bain-marie (; also known as a water bath or double boiler), a type of heated bath, is a piece of equipment used in science, industry, and cooking to heat materials gently or to keep materials warm over a period of time. A bain-marie is also ...
avoids burning the caramel.
Imitations
An imitation of crème caramel may be prepared from "instant flan powder", which is thickened with
agar or
carrageenan
Carrageenans or carrageenins ( ; ) are a family of natural linear sulfated polysaccharides that are extracted from red edible seaweeds. Carrageenans are widely used in the food industry, for their gelling, thickening, and stabilizing properties. T ...
rather than eggs. In some
Latin America
Latin America or
* french: Amérique Latine, link=no
* ht, Amerik Latin, link=no
* pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived f ...
n countries, the true custard version is known as "milk flan" (flan de leche) or even "milk cheese", and the substitute version is known as just "flan".
Regional varieties
Spain
In
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
, Flan is a typical Spanish dessert, where most of the variations exist. It is a homemade dessert of which you can also find many variations in grocery stores and it is usually served as a dessert in most restaurants. The best known version is the typical 'Flan de huevo' (egg flan), but there are many other versions, such as ''flan de queso'', ''flan de leche'', ''flan de vainilla'', etc. In the original version, the flan has a layer of caramelised sugar that is sometimes crystallised to make it hard.
Argentina and Uruguay
In
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
and
Uruguay
Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...
, crème caramel is usually eaten with ''
dulce de leche
''Dulce de leche'' (; pt, doce de leite), also known as caramelized milk, milk candy or milk jam in English, is a confection from Latin America prepared by slowly heating sugar and milk over a period of several hours. The resulting substance, w ...
'', whipped cream, or both (''flan mixto'').
Brazil and Venezuela
In
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
and
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
, it is often made with
condensed milk, milk, eggs, and sugar caramelized on top. The Venezuelan version is known as ''quesillo'' ("small cheese") and in Brazil, it is known as ''pudim'' ("pudding"). It can have variations of flavor, such as chocolate, coconut, paçoca (peanut candy), cheese, and others, being the condensed milk pudding a base recipe.
Caribbean
Also at most equatorial and Caribbean countries the inclusion of coconut, condensed milk and evaporated milk is widespread. The milk base may also be flavored with nuts, fruit, and so on.
Chile
In
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
, ''Leche asada'' or 'roasted milk' is similar to Crème caramel because it is made with the same ingredients, but ''Leche asada'' has a less smooth texture and is baked directly, which creates a toasted layer on the surface.
In Chile, it is often eaten with ''
dulce de membrillo
Dulce may refer to:
Places
*Dulce, New Mexico
* Dulce Base, a supposed American secret military facility
*Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
* Dulce River (disambiguation)
People
* Dulce (Mexican singer) (born 1955), Mexican singer and actress
*Ana Dulce ...
'' (
quince jelly) or
condensed milk.
Costa Rica
Flan in
Costa Rica often features coconut or coffee (''flan de café'').
Croatia
In
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
, ''rožata'', ''rozata'', ''rožada'' or ''rozada'' () is flavored with the Dubrovnik
liqueur rozalin (rose liqueur), which gives the cake its characteristic aroma. Modern variations include vanilla and other flavorings.
Cuba
Cuban flan (''flan de
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
'') is made with the addition of the whites of two eggs and a cinnamon stick. A similar Cuban dish is ''Copa Lolita'', a small caramel flan served with one or two scoops of vanilla ice cream. Other variations include coconut or rum raisin topping.
Dominican Republic
In the
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with ...
, only egg yolks are used, mixed with vanilla, evaporated milk, and condensed milk. Coconut flan is known as ''quesillo''.
India
![CremeCaramelPrd](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/CremeCaramelPrd.jpg)
Caramel custard is popular, especially in the larger coastal cities, and in former
Portuguese
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Portu ...
colonies such as
Goa
Goa () is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is located between the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the ...
,
Daman and Diu
Daman and Diu (; ) was a former union territory in northwestern India. With an area of , it was the smallest administrative subdivision of India on the mainland. The territory comprised two districts, Damaon and Dio island, geographically s ...
. Sometimes,
masala chai
Masala chai (, ; Urdu: مصالحہ چائے, Hindi: मसाला चाय) is an Indian tea beverage made by boiling black tea in milk and water with a mixture of aromatic herbs and spices. Originating in India the beverage has gained worl ...
is added on the side. It is a staple on restaurant menus in the beach resorts along India's coasts and also prepared regularly in the home kitchens of the
Anglo-Indian
Anglo-Indian people fall into two different groups: those with mixed Indian and British ancestry, and people of British descent born or residing in India. The latter sense is now mainly historical, but confusions can arise. The '' Oxford English ...
Goan
Goans ( kok, गोंयकार, Romi Konkani: , pt, Goeses) is the demonym used to describe the people native to Goa, India, who form an ethno-linguistic group resulting from the assimilation of Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Indo-Portuguese, an ...
,
Malayali
The Malayali people () (also spelt Malayalee and also known by the demonym Keralite) are a Dravidian ethnolinguistic group originating from the present-day state of Kerala in India, occupying its southwestern Malabar coast. They are predomin ...
,
Mangalorean
Mangaloreans ( Tulu: ''Kudladaklu''; Kannada: ''Mangaloorinavaruu''; Konkani: ''Kodialkar''; Beary: ''Maikaltanga''; Urdu: ''Kaudalvale'') are a collection of diverse ethnic groups that hail from the historical locales of South Canara ( Tulun ...
and
Parsi
Parsis () or Parsees are an ethnoreligious group of the Indian subcontinent adhering to Zoroastrianism. They are descended from Persians who migrated to Medieval India during and after the Arab conquest of Iran (part of the early Muslim conq ...
communities.
Japan
Packaged crème caramel is ubiquitous in
Japanese convenience stores under the name (i.e., "
pudding"), or ''custard pudding''. The same kind of dessert is sold in convenience stores in
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
.
Malaysia
Caramel custard is a very popular dessert in
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
. First introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th century and sold year-round today, this dessert is popular served in restaurants, cafes, hotels, and even
Ramadan bazaars for breaking the fast.
Mexico
![Flan napolitano](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Flan_napolitano.png)
Flan is extremely popular in
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
, being made at home, found pre-made at grocery stores, served in restaurants, and even vended on the streets. A variation of the dish called ''Flan Napolitano'' is made in some parts of Mexico where cream cheese is added to create a creamier consistency, though it is not as popular or wide spread. Flan's popularity among Mexican-Americans helped the dish become popular in the United States. Another variation is "Flan de Cajeta" which replaces the standard caramel with cajeta (milk caramel with a base of goat milk).
Peru
In
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
, ''crema volteada'' 'flipped cream'
may use
condensed rather than regular milk.
Fruit may also be added, such as
lucuma
''Pouteria lucuma'' is a species of tree in the family Sapotaceae, cultivated for its fruit, the lúcuma. It is native to the Andean valleys of Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.
Description
This evergreen tree is up to 20 m tall, and has greyi ...
,
custard apple
Custard apple is a common name for a fruit and for the tree that bears it, '' Annona reticulata.''
The tree’s fruits vary in shape; they may be heart-shaped, spherical, oblong or irregular. Their size ranges from 7 to 12 cm (2.8 to 4.7 ...
,
soursop, or
granadilla.
Philippines
![Leche flan Filipinas](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Leche_flan_Filipinas.jpg)
In the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
, flan is known as ''leche'' flan (the local term for the originally
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
''flan de leche'', literally "milk ''flan''"), which is a heavier version of the Spanish dish, made with condensed milk and more egg yolks. ''Leche'' flan is usually steamed over an open flame or stove top in an oval-shaped tin mold known as ''llanera'' (also spelled ''lyanera'') which is also used to make
hardinera, although rarely it can also be baked. ''Leche'' flan is a staple dessert in celebratory feasts.
An even heavier version, called ''tocino de cielo'' or ''tocino del cielo'' (Spanish for "heaven's bacon"), is similar, but has significantly more egg yolks and sugar.
''Leche'' flan is also commonly baked into pastries. The most common is the Filipino dessert
flan cake
Flan cake, also known as leche flan cake or crème caramel cake, is a Filipino chiffon or sponge cake ('' mamón'') baked with a layer of leche flan (crème caramel) on top and drizzled with caramel syrup. It is sometimes known as "custard cak ...
or ''leche'' flan cake, a Filipino
chiffon or
sponge cake
Sponge cake is a light cake made with egg whites, flour and sugar, sometimes leavened with baking powder. Some sponge cakes do not contain egg yolks, like angel food cake, but most of them do. Sponge cakes, leavened with beaten eggs, originated ...
with a layer of ''leche'' flan on top. It can similarly be baked into
steamed
Steaming is a method of cooking using steam. This is often done with a food steamer, a kitchen appliance made specifically to cook food with steam, but food can also be steamed in a wok. In the American southwest, steam pits used for cooking hav ...
cupcakes known as ''
puto mamón
Puto may refer to:
* Puto, a Spanish profanity
* Puto (film), a 1987 Filipino teen fantasy comedy
* Puto (food), a Filipino food
* Puto (genus), a genus of scale insects
* Puto (song), by Mexican band Molotov
* Puto (TV series), a 2021 Filip ...
'', a combination known as ''
puto flan
''Puto'' is a Filipino steamed rice cake, traditionally made from slightly fermented rice dough ('' galapong''). It is eaten as is or as an accompaniment to a number of savoury dishes (most notably, ''dinuguan''). ''Puto'' is also an umbrella t ...
''.
Portugal
![Abade de Priscos](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Abade_de_Priscos.JPG)
Known as ''Pudim flan'', made with milk, eggs, caramelized sugar, and vanilla. Variations include orange or lemon
zest
Zest may refer to:
Common usage
* Zest (ingredient), the outer peel of a citrus fruit
** Zester, a tool for preparing zest
** Twist (cocktail garnish), a piece of zest
* Zest (positive psychology), a component of character
Brands
* Zest (brand ...
,
cinnamon, pineapple,
Port wine
Port wine (also known as vinho do Porto, , or simply port) is a Portuguese wine, Portuguese fortified wine produced in the Douro, Douro Valley of Norte, Portugal, northern Portugal. It is typically a sweetness of wine, sweet red wine, often ...
, or even
bacon as is the case with
Pudim Abade de Priscos
Abbot of Priscos pudding ( pt, Pudim Abade de Priscos) is a typical Portuguese dessert, a rich crème caramel pudding created by Father Manuel Joaquim Machado Rebelo, the Abbot of Priscos, in the 19th century. The pudding is unique in that it c ...
. It characteristically has a hole in the center.
Puerto Rico
Most Puerto Rican flans are based on eggs and milk. Egg white and egg yolks are beaten separately with sugar to achieve a light flan.
Flan cake
Flan cake, also known as leche flan cake or crème caramel cake, is a Filipino chiffon or sponge cake ('' mamón'') baked with a layer of leche flan (crème caramel) on top and drizzled with caramel syrup. It is sometimes known as "custard cak ...
is known as ''flancocho'' and has
cream cheese
Cream cheese is a soft, usually mild-tasting fresh cheese made from milk and cream.Oxford English Dictionary Stabilizers such as carob bean gum and carrageenan are often added in industrial production.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration de ...
added.
Spanish lime
''Melicoccus bijugatus'' is a fruit-bearing tree in the soapberry family Sapindaceae, native or naturalized across the New World tropics including South and Central America, and parts of the Caribbean. Its stone-bearing fruits are edible. It is ...
,
piña colada
The piña colada (; es, piña , "pineapple", and , "strained") is a cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut or coconut milk, and pineapple juice, usually served either blended or shaken with ice. It may be garnished with either a pineapple we ...
, ''flan de
calabaza
Calabaza is the generic name in the Spanish language for any type of winter squash. Within an English-language context it specifically refers to what is also known as the West Indian pumpkin, a winter squash typically grown in the West Indies, t ...
'',
sesame seed milk, and
breadfruit. All are uniquely Puerto Rican.
Vietnam
Crème caramel was introduced by the French and is common in
Vietnam
Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
. It is known as ''bánh lăng'', ''caramen'', or ''kem caramel'' in northern Vietnam or ''bánh flan'' or ''kem flan'' in southern Vietnam. Variations include serving with black coffee poured on top, or browning the caramel past typical caramelization point to make a darker, more bitter "burnt caramel".
See also
*
Crème brûlée
''Crème brûlée'' or ''crème brulée'' (; ), also known as burnt cream or Trinity cream, and virtually identical to the original crema catalana, is a dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped with a layer of hardened caramelized sugar ...
, custard with a hard caramel layer on top
*
Leche asada
*
Pudim Abade de Priscos
Abbot of Priscos pudding ( pt, Pudim Abade de Priscos) is a typical Portuguese dessert, a rich crème caramel pudding created by Father Manuel Joaquim Machado Rebelo, the Abbot of Priscos, in the 19th century. The pudding is unique in that it c ...
, a rich Portuguese variant
*
Rožata
References
External links
*
Alan Davidson, ''The Oxford Companion to Food'', 1999. .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Creme Caramel
Custard desserts
World cuisine
French desserts
Spanish desserts
Portuguese desserts
Italian desserts
Croatian desserts
Latin American cuisine
Caribbean cuisine
Indian desserts
Malaysian desserts
Vietnamese desserts
Philippine desserts
Japanese desserts and sweets