Corn Flan with Zucchini

Makes 8 4-6oz servings

DONNA & JOE AITA

ingredients

1 small onion chopped to fine dice
2 cups milk
2 cups corn kernels (can use fresh, frozen or can – need to cook fresh longer)
1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp ground pepper and 1tsp sugar
4 large eggs lightly beaten
2 TB butter
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fine, dry bread crumbs for corn mixture
1/4cup fine, dry bread crumbs for lining the molds

directions

1
-Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat
2
-Saute onions until softened and not colored– about 5 minutes
3
-Add 2/3 of the corn (about 1 1/3 cups) to the pan
4
-Cook for 2-3 minutes over medium heat (again – get no color)
5
-Add the milk, salt, pepper and sugar and simmer 5 minutes and stirring several times during simmering
6
-Remove mixture from heat and let cool for a few minutes
7
-Transfer mixture to food processor and process until smooth
8
-Transfer mixture to bowl and add remaining corn kernels, break crumbs & parmesan cheese
9
-Whisk eggs in separate bowl and then add and blend them to main mixture
10
-preheat oven to 325 degrees
11
-butter 8 ramekins or molds evenly and coat with dusting of bread crumbs to line the molds.
12
-Fill the prepared molds with the corn mixture (up to 1/4 inch below top)
13
-Place in baking pan half filled with hot water and lay a sheet of aluminium foil over the molds
14
-Bake in lower third of oven until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean (about 30-35 minutes)
15
-Remove from oven and let cool a few minutes and un mold.
16
-If preparing ahead of time, do not unmold – keep in refrigerator 1-2 days
17
-Reheating: Place molds into a large pyrex casserole dish with 1-2 oz of water and cover with plastic wrap & warm in microwave– allow to cool briefly and un mold.
18
-Additional presentation with zucchini:
19
-3 zucchini – use vegetable peeler to form 20 long thin strips
20
-Blanche zucchini strips 1 minute in boiling water,
21
-remove and rinse in cold water,
22
-pat dry and brush with olive oil, salt and pepper lightly and
23
-place in spiral fashion into 3-4 round ramekins to encourage curved shapes for use later
24
-When corn custards are ready for service, warm the ramekins holding the zucchini strips in microwave
25
-Surround unmolded corn flans with zucchini and secure with tooth picks