Vanilla pods

Chef: Brainard Cocaco, Corporate executive chef of Mocha

His pick: vanilla pods

French vanilla pods are quite famous around the world. It gives you the pure vanilla flavour. Also it is very smooth in nature and gives a very good character to any dessert.

You can stack up the pods in sugar and use them in your coffee, desserts and also to add flavour to your regular vodka.

Crème Caramel Recipe

Serves 6

Ingredients
Granulated Sugar 60 gms
Milk 700 ml
Eggs 4
Granulated sugar 60 gms
Vanilla Pod 1

Method

Preparation Butter 6 custard cups. Melt 60 gms of sugar in a small heavy pan, stirring constantly, until a caramel syrup forms; pour immediately into prepared custard cups. Add a small amount of the hot milk to beaten eggs, stirring briskly.

Add remaining milk; add 60 gms sugar and the vanilla pod ; blend well. Pour mixture into custard cups. Set cups in a large, shallow baking pan in a 170°C oven. Pour hot water into the large baking pan to a depth of about 1 inch.

Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Unmold into shallow dessert dishes to serve. Caramel custard recipe serves 6 You can get these pods from the fresh fields of Kerala or from abroad.