Orange Flan with Zest
The same silky caramel custard, carrying the unmistakable scent of fresh orange zest. It is a classic of the pastry shops along the Río Uruguay, in the Argentine littoral.
The trick is the infusion: the milk steeps with the zest and is then strained, so the aroma comes through without a single bitter note.
What decides it is how you zest. Take only the orange layer — the white pith underneath is what turns the whole flan bitter, and once it is in the milk there is no taking it out.
Ingredients
- 500 ml whole milk
- Zest of 2 oranges (orange layer only, no white pith)
- 4 large eggs
- 150 g white sugar (for the custard)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 150 g sugar (for the caramel)
Method
- 1
Zest the oranges with a microplane or a very fine grater, barely grazing the surface so you take only the essential oils. Be careful not to catch any of the white pith — if you do, the flan turns bitter.
- 2
Heat the milk with the zest until it is about to boil. Turn off the heat, cover and let it steep for at least 20 minutes, so the milk takes on all the orange aroma. Strain out the zest before using.
- 3
Make the caramel directly in the mold or in a skillet (frying pan) and coat the base and sides of a 20 cm flan mold.
- 4
Beat the eggs with the sugar and the vanilla — mix only, do not fold in air. Add the infused milk (lukewarm or cold) to the eggs a little at a time, stirring gently.
- 5
Pour into the caramel-lined mold. Cover with foil and bake in a water bath at a low 160 °C for 50-60 minutes. It is done when the center wobbles like jelly as you move the mold but feels firm to the touch.
- 6
Let it cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 6 hours (overnight is better) before unmolding. This is what lets the caramel liquefy again and the flan release cleanly.
Flan Every Which Way
Who said flan always has to taste the same? Here we show how versatile the homemade caramel custard is, with ingredients that turn a simple dessert into something surprising. One technical principle, many versions — find your favorite.
