Fried Cream
- 4 cups milk
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, or more if needed
- 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs, or more if needed
- 3 large eggs
- Pinch of salt
- 1 to 2 cups vegetable oil, or as needed
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- A sturdy wire whisk
- A wide, heavy-bottomed saucepan, 3-quart capacity or larger
- A 9-inch square baking dish or cake pan, or similar-sized container with a flat bottom, to chill the custard sheet
- A heavy skillet, 10 inches or wider, for frying
- Pour the milk in the heavy pan.
- Whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt, to break up any lumps, then whisk the dry mixture gradually into the milk.
- Break up the egg yolks a bit in a bowl, then whisk (and scrape) every bit of yolk into the milk.
- Set the pan over medium heat, and bring the milk near to a simmer, whisking constantly.
- Lower the heat a bit, and cook the custard, still whisking, as it starts to thicken and gradually comes to a slow bubbling boil.
- Cook for at least 15 minutes, to make sure the flour has cooked, always whisking (ask someone to take a turn!).
- When the custard is quite thick and creamyit wont get stifftake the pan off the heat.
- Turn the hot custard into the baking dish, and spread it in an evenly thick layer covering the bottom.
- Let it cool at room temperature, then cover with plastic wrap and chill thoroughly in the refrigerator, for several hours or a day or so.
- When youre ready to fry the cream, spread the flour in a small plate, the bread crumbs in a large plate, and whisk the eggs with the pinch of salt in a wide, shallow bowl.
- Pour vegetable oil into the skillet to a depth of 1/4 inch, and start heating it, slowly.
- Stir together the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Unwrap the chilled custard, dip a sharp knife in warm water, and slice the sheet into squares, rectangles, or diamonds, 1 1/2 to 2 inches on a side.
- (Since larger pieces are more fragile, cut a couple of test portions and lift them from the pan with a spatula.
- Cut smaller pieces if necessary.)
- Working in batches that you can fry without crowding, coat the custard blocks in flour, then eggs, then bread crumbshandle gently; use a spatula or fork to turn and lift them.
- Lay the pieces in the hot oil, and fry for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on each side, until nicely browned (if the crumbs darken quickly, lower the heat).
- Set the fried creams on paper towels to drain.
- Let the creams cool briefly, then sprinkle with cinnamon-sugarto taste.
- Serve while theyre still warm.
milk, flour, sugar, salt, egg yolks, allpurpose flour, bread crumbs, eggs, salt, vegetable oil, sugar, cinnamon, a sturdy wire whisk, a wide, cake pan, heavy skillet
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/fried-cream-384344 (may not work)