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Flan parisien

17/11/2023

The Flan Parisien, also known as flan pâtissier, is a classic French dessert. It consists of a base made of pâte brisée or puff pastry filled with a soft custard cream. Here is how you can prepare it with an Italian touch by using, for example, good Italian vanilla or organic lemon zest to enhance the flavor of the cream.

Ingredients

For the pâte brisée:

  • 200 g of flour
  • 100 g of cold butter, cut into cubes
  • 40 g of powdered sugar
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 30 ml of cold water (about)

For the custard filling:

  • 500 ml of whole milk
  • 1 vanilla bean (or an equivalent in extract)
  • 120 g of sugar
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 50 g of cornstarch (cornflour)
  • A small piece of lemon zest (optional, for an Italian touch)
  • A pinch of salt

Preparation

  1. Pâte Brisée: Start by preparing the pâte brisée by mixing the flour, powdered sugar, and salt. Add the cold butter and work with the tips of your fingers until the mixture becomes sandy. Gradually add the cold water until you form a dough ball. Wrap it in plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

  2. Custard Cream: Meanwhile, bring the milk to a boil with the longitudinally split vanilla bean and the lemon zest. In a bowl, beat the yolks with the sugar until they become light and fluffy, then add the cornstarch and a pinch of salt.

  3. Remove the vanilla bean and lemon zest from the milk and pour some of the hot milk over the yolk mixture, stirring quickly. Then pour the yolk mixture back into the remaining milk in the pot.

  4. Cook the cream over medium heat, stirring constantly until it thickens and begins to boil. Remove from the heat and let cool, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming on the surface.

  5. Roll out the pâte brisée into a thin layer and line a previously buttered tart mold with it. Pour the cooled custard cream over the pastry base.

  6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 40-45 minutes or until the cream has set and the surface is golden.

  7. Allow to cool completely before serving. If desired, you can sprinkle the surface of the flan with a bit of powdered sugar or cinnamon.

Curiosity

The Flan Parisien is often found in French boulangeries as a street snack, eaten with the hands without the need for cutlery. It’s a timeless classic, appreciated for its simplicity and rich creaminess.