Japanese Sweet Potato Creme Brulee (Printer-friendly)

Silky custard meets sweet Japanese potato with a caramelized sugar topping for an elegant fusion dessert.

# What You Need:

→ Sweet Potato Custard

01 - 1 large Japanese sweet potato (about 9 ounces), peeled and cubed
02 - 1 cup heavy cream
03 - 1/2 cup whole milk
04 - 4 large egg yolks
05 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
07 - Pinch of salt

→ Caramelized Top

08 - 3–4 tablespoons granulated sugar (for brûlée)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat your oven to 300°F. Place a kettle of water on to boil for the water bath.
02 - Steam or boil the sweet potato cubes until very tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly.
03 - In a blender or food processor, blend the sweet potato with heavy cream and milk until completely smooth.
04 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and salt until pale and smooth.
05 - Slowly pour the sweet potato mixture into the egg yolk mixture, whisking continuously.
06 - Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl to ensure a smooth custard.
07 - Divide custard evenly among 4 ramekins and place them in a deep baking pan.
08 - Pour hot water into the pan to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
09 - Carefully transfer to the oven and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the custard is just set but still slightly wobbly in the center.
10 - Remove ramekins from the water bath and let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until chilled.
11 - Just before serving, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sugar over each custard. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar until golden and crisp (or briefly broil under the oven grill, watching closely).
12 - Allow the brûlée to rest for 3 minutes before serving, so the caramel hardens.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sweet potato adds this incredible nutty depth that regular crème brûlée just doesnt have
  • That first crack through the caramelized sugar into the creamy custard below is absolute magic
02 -
  • Dont skip the straining step, it makes the difference between good restaurant quality
  • The custard should still wobble like Jell-O when you take it out, it firms up as it chills
03 -
  • Roast the sweet potato instead of boiling for an even deeper, sweeter flavor
  • Make these a day ahead, they actually taste better after the flavors meld

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