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Nigerian custard
Nigerian custard: hot breakfast custard stirred from custard powder and milk
In homes across Nigeria, from Kaduna to Benin City, custard is a breakfast drink-porridge as much as a pudding: custard powder is mixed to a paste, then set in seconds with a kettle of boiling water and finished with evaporated milk and sugar. Bowls of it are eaten hot with akara or moi moi, the sweet custard against the peppery bean cakes. The mistake is using water that has gone off the boil; it must be furiously boiling or the custard stays thin and floury. Custard powder is mostly cornflour, but check the label if you need it gluten-free. Chef's tip: stir the boiling water in with one hand while you pour with the other, in a steady stream, and the custard sets glossy and lump-free.
- Total time
- 8 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp custard powdercheck the label for gluten
- ¼ cup cold water
- 1 ¾ cups boiling waterstraight from the kettle
- ¼ cup evaporated milkor whole milk
- 2 tbsp sugarto taste
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Put 4 tbsp custard powder in a heatproof bowl and stir in ¼ cup cold water to a smooth, lump-free paste.
1 minStep 2: Bring 1 ¾ cups boiling water back to a rolling boil. Pour it steadily into the paste while stirring fast. Within seconds the custard turns from pale and cloudy to thick and glossy yellow.
1 minStep 3: If it stays thin, microwave or stir it over a low heat for 30 seconds until it thickens.
1 minStep 4: Stir in ¼ cup evaporated milk and 2 tbsp sugar and serve hot, with akara or moi moi on the side.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 34 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does nigerian custard take?
- About 8 minutes in total: 3 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of custard powder?
- Cornflour with a drop of vanilla and a pinch of turmeric for colour, same amount.
- What can I use instead of evaporated milk?
- Oat, soy or almond milk, same amount (use unsweetened for savoury dishes).
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