Article: BACK TO BASICS Plan on flan for lusciousness

It's called flan, creme caramel or caramel custard. And if you follow these basic cooking techniques, this creamy smooth dessert drenched in a clear golden syrup will be muy bueno, tres bon or very good.

The caramelized syrup must be made by slowly heating granulated sugar until it melts and turns golden brown. Most reference books tell you to stir the sugar, which causes it to become lumpy before liquefying. This technique works, but it takes a long time for the lumps to melt.

We prefer spreading the sugar evenly in a skillet with a well-insulated bottom (do not use an iron skillet) and setting it over medium-low heat.

Watch carefully as the sugar begins to liquefy. If it doesn't melt ...

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