Asher Blue Cheese Flan

Asher Blue Cheese Flan
4.5 (2 ratings)
This distinctive variation on a traditional flan is the brainchild of Chef Mark Lietzke, the Executive Chef of the Country Club of Hilton Head on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. It makes great use of Sweet Grass Dairy’s incredible Asher Blue cheese. The Asher Blue Cheese Flan was originally served on top a wood-grilled rib eye steak and paired with a Donna Laura Ali Sangiovese di Toscana wine, but it is flavorful enough to enjoy on its own.
Servings
8
Ingredients
  • 2 cup blackberries
  • 1 orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 pound local honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 cup blue cheese (preferably asher blue, if available)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 8 eggs
Directions
  1. RINSE BERRIES AND PAT DRY. MIX WITH ORANGE ZEST AND SUGAR. RESERVE.
  2. MIX THE HONEY, WATER AND LEMON JUICE IN A SAUCE PAN.
  3. HEAT TO A SIMMER, STIRRING CONSTANTLY. THE HONEY WILL BEGIN TO CARAMELIZE AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES.
  4. ONCE CARAMELIZED, SPOON CARAMELIZED HONEY INTO 8 INDIVIDUAL 8-OZ SERVING DISHES.
  5. IN A DOUBLE BOILER, HEAT CREAM TO 180. STIR IN BLUE CHEESE AND CONTINUE COOKING UNTIL DISSOLVED.
  6. IN A SEPARATE BOWL WHISK TOGETHER THE EGGS, SUGAR, SALT AND VANILLA. TEMPER EGG BY ADDING A LITTLE OF THE HEATED CREAM MIXTURE TO THE EGGS.
  7. ADD EGG AND CREAM MIXTURE BACK TO THE CREAM AND BLUE CHEESE.
  8. REMOVE FROM HEAT AND PORTION INTO THE INDIVIDUAL SERVING DISHES ON TOP OF THE CARAMELIZED HONEY.
  9. PLACE DISHES INTO A HIGH-SIDED BAKING PAN. FILL WITH WATER A QUARTER OF THE WAY UP THE SIDE OF DISHES.
  10. BAKE AT 300 FOR 45 MINUTES OR UNTIL A KNIFE COMES OUT CLEAN.
  11. CHILL THE FLANS. WHEN SET AND READY TO SERVE, SLIGHTLY WARM THE BOTTOM OF THE FLAN AND RUN A KNIFE AROUND THE EDGES.
  12. INVERT ONTO SERVING PLATES. GARNISH WITH THE BLACKBERRIES.
  13. MAKES 8 7-OUNCE SERVINGS.