Planning on trying to make a key-lime flan...but...?!
6 eggs
1 12oz condensed milk
1 (half can) 7oz Evaporated Milk
6 key-limes sqeezed
Any suggestions on how to prevent curdling and ruining the texture?
Answers: I am planning to make a key-lime flan, but I am affraid that the citrus acid will curdle the cream and ruin the texture. I am planning on using the following for the custard...
6 eggs
1 12oz condensed milk
1 (half can) 7oz Evaporated Milk
6 key-limes sqeezed
Any suggestions on how to prevent curdling and ruining the texture?
I think you'll be fine...I found this recipe with almost the same ingredients you're using..maybe you'd like to follow it, so you're not guessing:
***Vanilla and Lime Flan***
Caramel:
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons water
Base:
2 cups condensed milk
2 cups whole milk
3 limes, zested
1 vanilla bean
6 eggs
Preheat the oven to 360 degrees F
To make the caramel, heat together the water and sugar gently, over a medium flame, until it is golden brown, about 10 minutes, ensuring the mixture does not burn.
Meanwhile, pour the condensed milk and whole milk into a pan. Add the lime zest. Slice the vanilla pod in half and carefully scrape out the vanilla seeds and add these to the milk mixture. Simmer the milk slowly for 15 minutes to let the flavors combine.
Once the caramel is ready, pour into a cake pan and swirl it around to evenly coat the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
In a bowl, crack the eggs and beat together. Slowly pour a little of the warm milk, vanilla, and lime mixture into the eggs. This will temper the eggs and prevent them from scrambling. Once the warm milk has raised the temperature of the eggs (tempered), pour in the rest of the milk. Pour all of the mixture into the cake pan over the caramel. Cook the cake pan in a water bath by placing the pan inside a larger pan that is filled half-way with water. Place in the oven and cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Once ready, allow to cool and place inside a refrigerator overnight. The flan is then ready to be flipped over gently and served.
Add your eggs last, slowly. Also use the zest of the lime for more flavor.
Go to homecooking.com for explicit instructions on what to do. You use only the yolks.
The citric acid provides the necessary denaturing effect on the proteins in the milk and eggs; don't be afraid of curdling. I would strain the whole works into the final baking dish, from the bowl it was mixed in, but you should be fine. Fear no more!