Apr 2, 2002
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Crème Anglaise

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MAKES 2 CUPS

Keep an eye on this delicate custard sauce: It cooks very quickly.

2 cups milk
1 split vanilla bean
6 egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar

1. Place milk and vanilla bean in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring just to a simmer over medium heat.

2. Meanwhile, whisk together egg yolks and sugar in a mixing bowl. Reduce heat to low and slowly whisk 1/2 cup hot milk into egg mixture, then whisk egg mixture into remaining hot milk. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, about 5 minutes.

3.  Remove from heat, strain through a fine sieve, and transfer to a mixing bowl. Stop the cooking by placing bowl into a larger bowl of ice water. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into custard and discard pod. Cool to room temperature then refrigerate until cold. (Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days.)

This article was first published in Saveur in Issue #12

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