Classic Crème Brûlée

Ingredients

• 
• Preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F). Fill your kettle with water and put onto the boil.
• Pour the cream into a small saucepan. Add the seeds from the vanilla pod and the pod itself and heat gently (it doesn’t need to be stirred) until it scalds, just short of boiling. Take off heat and put aside.
  
• Place the egg yolks, first measure of sugar and salt into an electric mixing bowl and beat until the mixture is thick and pale.
  
• Using a whisk now, pour the hot cream mixture into the egg mixture – add just a little at first to temper the mixture so the eggs don’t curdle, then whisk gently for about 5-10 seconds.
  
• Pour the remainder of the cream in carefully as you continually whisk – don’t over-whisk though, as it will aerate the mixture and create foam. Pour the mixture through a sieve into a pourable jug to remove any lumps (and the pod).
  
• Put 6 ramekins into a roasting pan. Carefully pour the custard into the ramekins, leaving about a centimeter at the top of each. You may need to scoop off any surface foam.
  
• Now put the roasting pan into the oven (middle rack), but just before you push it all the way in, carefully pour in the jug of boiled water to fill to about halfway up the sides of the ramekins (take care not to splash water into the ramekins themselves). Now push the roasting pan fully into the oven.
• Cook the custards until, when lightly shaken they jiggle in the middle (depending on the oven and the size of the ramekins, this can take anywhere from 35-45 minutes, even more).
  
• Remove the roasting pan from the oven, carefully remove the ramekins and place them on a wire rack to cool.
• Once completely cooled, put the custards into the fridge (you can lightly place a piece of silver foil or plastic wrap over top, but it’s not necessary) and chill for at least four hours (but preferably overnight).
  
• When ready to serve, sprinkle each custard evenly with 1-2 teaspoons of caster sugar (the more the sugar, the thicker the crust) and spread it evenly with the back of a teaspoon. Using a blow torch, and one ramekin at a time, work from the outside to the inside using small circular motions (one or two inches from the surface).
  
• Let it rest for a minute, then come back for a second or third grilling. Don’t be shy about letting the sugar burn in places – it’s meant to!
  
• Let the caramelized sugar cool and harden to form a crisp layer (at least 5-10 minutes) then serve immediately.