One of best-known Mexican desserts is flan. This is a dessert that has made its way around the world. It is a sweetened custard baked in caramel sauce. This is a dessert that is popular with young and old; rich and poor. Flan has a long and rich history that stretches all the way to ancient Rome. The ancient Romans began keeping chickens for eggs and meat. As their surplus of eggs grew, they began looking for new ways to use them. When they took a look at the Greeks, they found a recipe that they adapted into what is today a custard. Roman custards were usually savory rather than sweet.
Rome shared this recipe as they conquered Europe. When Rome fell, the custard recipe they developed flourished throughout medieval Europe. As the recipe was adapted, more sweet versions were created. In Latin, this dessert was known as flado, for custard. In French, it became flaon and eventually it came to be called flan.
Eggs were considered to have healing benefits, so flan was served to aid the liver, kidneys, and chest as well as to increase fertility. Flan spread across Europe, satisfying hungry bellies everywhere. Spain developed a sweet version topped with a caramel sauce. The recipe was brought to the New World when the Spanish arrived in Mexico.
Mexican cooking has brought the flan to a level all of its own. Mexican flans are usually made in a pan called a bain marie, which includes a pan for the custard as well as an outer pan for the water bath. Using a bain marie, a flan may be cooked in the oven or on top of the stove. If one does not have this pan, flan can be made in any number of glass, porcelain, Pyrex or other non stick dish that can be set into a pan of water in the oven.
You can also use ramekins to make flan if you want to make smaller, individual servings. A large flan is still pretty impressive, though. They are not too difficult to make. Just be sure to follow all the directions carefully. With a few simple ingredients you can end up with an elegant dessert. What more could you wish for?
Vanilla is the primary flavor used in flan. You can also find them in other flavors, however, such as pumpkin, lime, coconut, lemon, and almond. All these flavors are delicious and they all come with the signature caramel sauce.
Just like several other authentic Mexican desserts, flans give a creamy coolness to the mouth after the heat of your entre. This soothing dessert is also perfect when someone is a bit under the weather. It is easy to digest and nourishing. It also tempts the appetite.
So, try making a flan at home. Go ahead, do not be afraid. This simple dessert can take some practice to truly master, but it is worth it to give your family and friends an elegant dessert. Serve it up on special occasions or just because it sounds good. You will be adding flan to your list of desserts that are tried and true.
Mexican dessert recipes also have low calorie offerings. You can try making some delicious sorbet. It is very refreshing on a hot day. Lime, pineapple, and mango are common flavors to make. For a real kick, make up some pineapple jalapeno sorbet. You will never see sorbet the same way again.