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Japanese Milk Pudding

Serves 4 to 6 Dessert vegetarian, Desserts

Japanese Milk Pudding

Japanese Milk Pudding, a comforting staple of home kitchens, is a dish that speaks to the heart of everyday life. Prepared with simple ingredients, it is often made for no particular occasion, just as a sweet conclusion to a family meal. The recipe reflects the intuitive cooking style of Japanese home cooks, where salt and fat are balanced by feel rather than measure, and the table is always set with sharing in mind.

This pudding offers a silky texture and a gentle sweetness that comes from milk and sugar, thickened to perfection with starch. Enhanced by a subtle hint of vanilla, each spoonful is smooth and creamy, with a delicate balance that invites savoring slowly. It's a dish that finds its charm in its simplicity, delighting both young and old alike.

Ingredients

  • 1 Lmilk
  • 100 gsugar
  • 40 gstarch
  • 1 tspvanilla

Method

  1. Start by pouring 1 liter of milk into a medium-sized saucepan. Place the saucepan over low heat and gently warm the milk until it reaches room temperature. This step ensures that the milk is evenly warmed, which helps in dissolving the sugar and starch smoothly without forming lumps.
  2. Once the milk is warmed, add 100 grams of sugar to the saucepan. Stir continuously with a wooden spoon until the sugar is completely dissolved. This ensures that the pudding will have a smooth texture and the sweetness is evenly distributed.
  3. In a small bowl, mix 40 grams of starch with a few tablespoons of the warmed milk from the saucepan. Stir until you have a smooth slurry with no lumps. This step is crucial as it prevents the starch from clumping when added to the rest of the milk.
  4. Slowly pour the starch slurry back into the saucepan with the rest of the milk, stirring constantly. Continue to cook over low heat, stirring gently but consistently, until the mixture begins to thicken. You'll know it's ready when it coats the back of your spoon and leaves a visible trail when you run your finger through it.
  5. Once thickened, remove the saucepan from the heat and add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Stir well to incorporate the vanilla, which will enhance the flavor of the pudding and give it a pleasant aroma.
  6. Pour the pudding mixture into individual serving dishes or a large serving bowl. Allow it to cool slightly at room temperature before transferring to the refrigerator. Chill the pudding until it sets completely, which will be evident when it holds its shape and has a smooth, creamy texture.
  7. Serve the Japanese Milk Pudding chilled. You can finish it with a light dusting of sugar on top for a touch of sweetness and a bit of contrast in texture. Enjoy this delightful dessert as a refreshing treat, perfect for sharing at the table.
Cover of Authentic Japanese Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Japanese Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Japanese Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Japanese volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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