Leche Frita

A firm yet melting milk custard protected by a thin golden crust. The infused cinnamon aroma releases at the first bite while the sugar coating crunches under the teeth.

• Prep time: 20 min
• Cook time: 15 min
• Difficulty: Medium
• Calories: 352
• Protein: 9 g
• Carbs: 54 g
• Fat: 11 g

Ingredients

• 500 ml Whole milk ( divided into two parts )
• 50 g Corn starch ( for thickening )
• 100 g White sugar ( plus for coating )
• 1 piece Cinnamon stick ( for infusion )
• 1 piece Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. ( zest only )
• 50 g Wheat flour ( for breading )
• 2 piece Egg ( beaten )
• 500 ml Sunflower oil ( for frying )
• 1 tsp Cinnamon ground ( for final coating )

Instructions

1. Milk infusion

   Heat 400 ml of milk with the cinnamon stick and lemon zest. When the milk simmers and the citrus scent fills the air, turn off the heat and let infuse for 10 minutes.

2. Preparing the base

   In a bowl, dissolve the cornstarch with the remaining 100 ml of cold milk. Whisk to remove all lumps; the mixture must be perfectly smooth.

3. Thickening the cream

   Remove the cinnamon and lemon from the hot milk. Pour in the starch-milk mixture and sugar. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until the cream thickens and heavily coats the spoon.

4. Resting and setting

   Pour the cream into a buttered rectangular dish to a thickness of 2 cm. Smooth the surface. Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface and chill for at least 4 hours until firm to the touch.

5. Breading and frying

   Cut the cream into squares. Dredge each piece in wheat flour then in beaten egg. Fry in hot oil until the crust is golden brown and crispy.

6. Final coating

   Drain on paper towels. Immediately roll the still-hot squares in a mixture of white sugar and ground cinnamon.

Chef's tips

• The cream must be cooked until it almost pulls away from the sides of the pan.
• Cold resting is crucial: if the cream is too warm, it will fall apart during frying.
• The oil must be smoking hot to sear the breading without further cooking the center.

Storage

Best consumed fresh. Can be kept for 24h in the refrigerator, but will lose its crispness.