SIDES GORGONZOLA & LEEK CREME BRULEE

By BobD

Ingredients

• You can assemble it in advance and bake at the last minute, or bake it ahead and reheat to serve. Finish the dishes with Parmesan cheese for a sharp bite, or sugar for a sweet touch.
• Yield: Makes 6 servings
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 medium-large leeks (about 12 ounces total), split lengthwise, washed thoroughly, and sliced crosswise
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 5 large egg yolks
• 1 cup heavy (whipping) cream
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 5 ounces Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill or tarragon, or 3/4 teaspoon dried dill or tarragon
• 3 tablespoons minced Italian parsley
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 24 teaspoons or 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, or 9 or 6 teaspoons sugar for topping

Details

Servings 6
Adapted from epicurious.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 275F. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the leeks and onion, and saute for 7 to 10 minutes, or until soft.

In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until pale in color. Whisk in the cream and half-and-half. Mix in the leeks, onions, Gorgonzola, dill or tarragon, parsley, salt, and pepper.

Place six standard-size flan dishes in a baking pan. Divide the custard mixture among the dishes. Pour warm water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the dishes. Bake in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the center of each custard still jiggles slightly. Remove from the oven and lift the dishes from the hot water. Place the dishes on a baking sheet.

Evenly sprinkle 4 teaspoons grated cheese or 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar over each custard. Using a hand-held blowtorch, brown the cheese or caramelize the sugar (see note below). Serve hot.


Oven-Dried Brown Sugar:
Due to the moisture content of brown sugar, it recommended to dry it before caramelizing. Spread light or dark brown sugar out on a baking sheet in a 1/8-inch layer and bake in a preheated 275F oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until browned a shade darker. Let cool, place in a small resealable plastic bag, and crush it thoroughly with a rolling pin or flat metal mallet to make fine crystals. Brown sugar treated in this manner has an excellent flavor when caramelized.