Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 1 cup pistachios, toasted until just fragrant
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 vanilla bean
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

Instruction

  • In a food processor, grind the pistachios until finely chopped, taking care not to create a paste.
  • In a small saucepan, combine the heavy cream, vanilla bean, honey, salt, and chopped pistachios. Bring the mixture to a simmer, give it a stir, then let it steep for 30 minutes so that those amazing flavors can infuse with the cream.
  • In a medium bowl, give the egg yolks a gentle whisk.
  • Preheat your oven to 350° F, then place 4 small oven-safe dishes or ramekins in a roasting pan filled with enough water to reach halfway up the sides of the little dishes.
  • Slowly add the warm cream mixture to the eggs while whisking. Use a fine mesh sieve to strain the cream and yolk mixture into a bowl.
  • Divide the custard between the four dishes (about 1/2 cup for each serving).
  • Carefully transfer the roasting dish to the oven and bake until the custard is just set around the edges but still a bit jiggly in the middle, about 20 to 25 minutes
  • Let the custards cool in the pan, then refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.
  • To add that deep, caramelized cap, sprinkle a thin, even layer of sugar on one of the custards. Use a torch to melt the sugar. You don’t want to add color at this point. Add another thin layer of sugar and again melt using a torch. The third round, add a slightly thicker, even layer of sugar, then torch it so that it's deeply caramel in color.
  • Repeat the process to the rest of the custards and serve right away.
  • The custards can be made 3 days in advance, but the torching should be done just before serving. It's a really great way to show-off to your guests and add some entertainment to the evening.