Venezuelan Flan Quesillo Recipe

How to make it

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• Making the Caramel:
• In a small heavy saucepan bring sugar and water to a boil
• Stir until sugar is dissolved
• Boil syrup in high heat without stirring until caramel is gold or light brown in color
• Remove from stove immediately to prevent burning the caramel
• Be very careful not to get burn with the hot caramel
• While the caramel is still very hot pour some into the 6-8 cup enameled cast iron pot to coat the bottom and about 2/3 of the sides
• Let the caramel in the pot cool
• Drizzle any remaining caramel onto a sheet of parchment or waxed paper over a flat surface into decorative squiggles
• Let the squiggles harden and use them as a garnish for the flan
• Making the flan:
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F
• Combine all the flan ingredients in a blender jar except for the eggs and run blender at medium speed for about 1-2 minutes
• Then with the blender still at medium speed add the eggs one by one until finish
• Pour this mixture (liquid) into the pot coated with caramel and place inside larger pot
• Pour in enough hot water into larger pot to reach halfway up the sides of the smaller pot
• Place larger pot in the middle oven rack and cover with the lid
• Bake the flan until just set, but still wiggly in the center (about 60 minutes)
• Transfer the flan still in the pot to a rack and let it cool to room temperature
• Once is cooled place in the fridge for at least 3-4 hours before serving
• When ready to serve, dip the flan pot in a saucepan of hot water
• Using a finger, gently press down the edges of the flan, until the caramel runs up the side, which indicates that it's loosened
• Invert flan onto a plate and decorate (this can be done even a few hours ahead of time)
• Break the caramel squiggles into pieces and insert them into the top of the flan
• May add berries for a touch of color when serving which also contrast nicely with the flavor of the flan
• You could make it a little more exotic by substituting the whole milk for unsweetened coconut milk