French 'Flan'
One of my favourite French desserts, which you find in most French Patisserie shops and supermarkets, is a 'flan'. It's like our custard tart but with flour added to the custard mixture, which makes it more solid, just like a set custard. I've never made one, but browsing on the web I found a few recipes. Apparently, French pastry chefs use a 'Flan' powder. Some recipes used sweet shortcrust pastry, others puff pastry, but the method was usually the same. Some added seeds from a vanilla pod, others vanilla extract. I decided to make some sweet shortcrust pastry - these ingredients make 250g of pastry. 125g plain flour 80g cold butter cut into cubes 25ml milk pinch salt 10g caster sugar 1 small egg yolk Put the butter and flour onto a working surface and rub the butter in till it's fine breadcrumbs. Make a well in the middle and pour in the milk, then add the salt and sugar and dissolve them in the milk with your fingertips. Add the egg yolk and...