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Custard Sauce

3.8

(2)

Cooks' note:

•Sauce may be chilled, covered with plastic wrap, up to 3 days.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    2 1/2 hr

  • Yield

    Makes about 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups whole milk
1 (4- by 1-inch) strip fresh orange zest
3 large egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring milk with zest to a simmer in a small heavy saucepan over moderate heat. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 20 minutes.

    Step 2

    Whisk together yolks, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Whisk in milk with zest, then transfer mixture to cleaned saucepan.

    Step 3

    Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until custard thickens enough to coat back of a wooden spoon (170°F on an instant-read thermometer). Immediately pour through a fine sieve into a bowl. Discard zest and stir in vanilla. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Chill custard, its surface covered with wax paper (to prevent a skin from forming), until cold, at least 1 hour.

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