Cooking, food, menu planning is as much about your culinary upbringing as it is about your instincts.
Sometimes I’m wrong about a recipe or new riff on a classic. Thank goodness I’m right most of the time. Case in point was this Creme Brulee with Mastic.
Although there are some savory applications for mastic, it seems that this unique Greek spice is more at home in liqueuers, desserts and baked items. I had not ever tasted a Creme Brulee with Mastic but I rolled the dice just before Greek Easter.
Based on the aroma alone, when the ground mastc, vanilla extract simmered in the cream, I knew (was confident) this dessert would work but one is never sure until the final taste-test, are ya?
After a long “Ummmmm” and and equally long exhale, the creme brulee with mastic proved to be a tasty success. I am declaring creme brulee to be one of the easiest, still classiest and delicious desserts one can have. Oh sure, it’s all heavy cream but you deserve a decadent treat every now & then. I deserve a decadent treat every now & then.
The great thing about creme brulee is it’s versatility with flavouring. One could easily raid the liquor cabinet and choose any bottle and spike the cream with it to add a new flavour.
Think of a nut flavouring, a spice (I chose mastic this time) or a tea? Find a reliable creme brulee recipe and the rest is up to you for interpretation. As for putting the “brulee” in the “creme”…you have two options:
- Buy a kitchen torch;
- Use your broiler
I finally splurged on a kitchen torch. Most are quite affordable and they do the job rather well. Gather your friends and family and show off your nifty & new little kitchen toy.
How did I do?
Creme Brulee With Mastic
(serves eight)
3 cups of whipping cream
8 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. vanilla extract
4-5 mastic (mastiha) teardrops, ground
extra sugar for brulee
pre-heated 350Foven
- Pound your mastic tears into a powder using your mortar & pestle or place the mastic tears in between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a heavy kitchen instrument until powder form.
- In a medium-sized pot, add your cream, vanilla extract and ground mastc and over medium heat, bring to a steaming hot heat. Take off the heat and cover. Wait a few minutes before whisking into your eggs/sugar mixture.
- In a bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar until incorporated. After you’ve allowed your hot cream to cool a bit, pour into the bowl with egg/sugar mixture while whisking. Pass the mixture through a fine strainer to remove any cooked bits.
- Divide among eight 6.oz ramekins. Place in one large (or two smaller pans) and pour in enough boiling water into the pans to come halfway up the ramekin (this is called a “bain marie”).
- Place on the middle rack of your pre-heated oven for 30-35 minutes or until the centers still jiggle. Remove the ramekins from the water and let cool. Cover and place in the fridge for at least two hours.
- To serve with the “brulee” topping, sprinkle some white sugar on top and using your kitchen torch, melt and caramelize the sugar until a deep brown colour. Allow the ramekins to cool for a couple of minutes and serve with a spoon. Get cracking!
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© 2007-2009 Peter Minakis
53 Responses
That looks so crackly and creamy. I want to bite right into it. Delish!
My son believes that ceme brulee is the perfecr dessert!!
Nice idea creme brulee with mastic!! Delicious:))
I can hear the crack of the brulee:) Interesting use of mastiha.
How did you do? *DYING OVER HERE*
Peter, seriously, I always say I don’t like sweets, but all these years the ONE dessert I would eat is creme brulee and it was because of the crispy top. You have made my day with your photos!
Nice take on it with mastic too. :)
mmm Peter. you always amaze me with your yummy creations!
I haven’t tried mastic before. But I am a huge lover of creme brulee. Congrats on your new torch, so much better that way.
Oh, that last shot. All broken up and creamy and crispy. Oh.
I’m loving the experiment Peter! Bring it on! I can easily see how this would work..great thinking! The brulee looks decadent alright! Bravo!
Your photos are getting better and better kiddo :)
I love the cracked burned sugar on the top of this dessert. I’ve never tried mastic before – have to put that on the list.
YUM!!! The kitchen gadget that still keeps in my dream is kitchen blow torch. I don’t know why I just can’t purchase it while I am mad on purchasing lenses! The brulee looks so velvety smooth and crunchy on top. WOW!
This is my very favorite dessert – yours looks perfect. I love the crunchy sugar coating on top – mmmm good.
These crème brulées look fantastic! I bet they taste wonderful too!
Cheers,
Rosa
Always been intrigued with using mastic. This sounds like a great first mastic recipe to try (if I can find it, that is).
Looks perfect, Peter. Lovely creme topped with a crunchy sugar crust!
Delicious looking brulee, i made the two weeks baxk ( still have to post) i used the blow torch but didn’t add a lot of sugar so ddin’t get the same caramel top like you.
Looks crackingly delicous.
I have never been the world’s biggest creme brulee fan, but after seeing your first picture I think I just changed my mind. :)
Mastic would add an interesting depth of flavour to this classic Peter:D
Oh, so yummy. Must try this – will be my first attempt at this type of desert delight. Now self and Mum did buy my Dad a kitchen style blow torch following his wonder at seeing them on tv a couple of years back.
Dear Dad has since used his to remove old paint off the window frames!!
Will be up visiting them in a few weeks time. Creme Brulee on my cooking list!
Many thanks for your wonderful cooking temptations, hope your Springtime remains beautiful
Michelle/Mickle in Wellington, NZ
that’s true though, once you smell the flavors cooking together, forming a nice happy balance you can tell by the smell alone that it’s gonna work!
nice!
I’m the universe’s rarebird that doesn’t like creme brulee but I have to give it up to you and your torching ability. The carmelized top looks great.
i’ve been meaning to try this for ages, your photos are really tempting
more of that mastic – maybe tsikoudia could be a good substitute (i’ve noticed in cretan cooking, a dash of reaki goes into most things a northern greek would add mastic or ouzo to)
OMG your crust on top looks so perfect!
oh my. that is, perhaps, the finest creme brulee crust i’ve ever seen, i kid you not.
You did extremely well, Peter!!! I have never used mastic before, oops!!!
another brilliant recipe with a brilliant representation of photos. Culinary is not your only expertise, as I have said before, you have the perfect eye and touch for photography as well! Beautiful!
(Thanks for your wonderful wishes!)
Ooooh – now I don’t really ‘do’ dessert but creme brulee does it for me!
You can’t beat the blow torch either – a great invention!
Love the pictures too Peter.
Be still my beating heart… I think creme brulee is my favorite dessert. When done right. Yours looks amazing! I need a torch. I have done it with the broiler though too.
I was relieved when I read down far enough to discover that mastic in your world is a spice. My dearly beloved having been a general contractor, to me “mastic” is the gooey substance used to hold tile to a wall or floor. I love creme brulee; it may be that I need a torch, too!
Creme Brulee is my favourite dessert and I too have a blow torch, unfortunately I have never gotten around to buying a gas cannister for it :)
Creme Brulee is my favourite dessert and I too have a blow torch, unfortunately I have never gotten around to buying a gas cannister for it :)
Look at that crust! In a restaurant where I worked years ago, we used to call that perfect cracking of the crust the “titanic effect.”
LL
Creme brulee is one of my husband’s favorite desserts. I’ve never attempted to make it, so he orders it when we go out. That system has worked just fine for us (!), but I do like the idea of making it at home so you can vary the flavors.
What a great crust on top of that creme brulee! I really need to get some mastic to try soon.
i love creme brulee and it reminds me i have not made some in ages. love the mastic flavor in this peter!
I adore crème brûlée!!!
I just don’t eat it that often!
Your version looks FABULOUS!!! Great dessert, Peter!
Can I have one now,….please…..?
I finally got a blow torch yesterday and I can’t wait to use it!
That is one gorgeous, perfect crême brulée. I love the way the sugar cracks and I love the creamy, warm interior. Beautiful!
I’ve never tried mastic, I don’t think. How would you describe its flavour? What aroma does it infuse into the baked goods? This creme brule looks fantastic, I’m glad you went with your instincts and certainty, because it sounds like you did a fantastic job! The photos look great too :)
Marta, if you do a quick look in my blog…I introduce and try to describe mastic’s taste and aroma. A talk about it in a few previous posts, enjoy!
That looks decadently delicious!!
Looks like a great experiment, Peter! Isn’t playing in the kitchen fun?
I love Creme Brulee and love to make it using different flavors. I haven’t tried the mastic before, but sounds like another taste adventure.
Love Creme Brulee. Sounds wonderful withthe mastic!
Regarding your last photo: feed me. Now.
Just stunning! Fantastic photos. I’ve been meaning to make creme brulee and I don’t know why I haven’t. I’m in the mood for a decadent treat!
Peter, there’s nothing better than a good creme brulee and nothing worse than a bad one! Yours look amazing.
I saw Mastic the other day in some store. I need to work with this. First I ever heard of it was on Ivy’s site.