Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL HomeSam Choy's Kitchen recipe: New Orleans Bread Pudding

Sam Choy's Kitchen recipe: New Orleans Bread Pudding

Sam Choy's Kitchen recipe: New Orleans Bread Pudding with Chantilly Cream

Makes 8 servings

3 large eggs
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 cup milk
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans, dry roasted
5 cups very stale French or Italian bread cubes, with crusts on

In a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat the eggs on high speed until extremely frothy and bubbles are the size of pinheads, about 3 minutes (or with a metal whisk for about 6 minutes)  Add sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and butter and beat on high until well blended.  Beat in the milk, then stir in the raisins and pecans.
(During the preparation of this dish, the milk and egg mixture might come across as being too sweet and the rest of the ingredients as being too strong but it will all be absorbed by the bland bread.  After baking, the results is a magnificent bread pudding)
Place the bread cubes in a greased loaf pan or baking dish.  Pour the egg mixture over them and toss until the bread is soaked.  Let sit until you see only a narrow bead of liquid around the pan's edges.  Soak for about 45 minutes or if possible 3 hours, patting the bread down into the liquid occasionally.  Place in a reheated 350 degrees oven.  Immediately lower the heat to 300 degrees and bake 40 minutes.  Increase oven temperature at 425 degree and bake until pudding is well browned and puffy about 15 to 20 minutes more.

Chantilly Cream

Makes about 2 cups

2/3 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon brandy
1 teaspoon Grand Marnier
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoon dairy sour cream

Refrigerate a medium size bowl and beaters until very cold.  Combine cream, vanilla, and grand marnier in the bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for one minute.  Add sugar and sour cream and beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes or until soft peaks form.  Do not over beat (over beating will make the cream grainy, once the cream becomes grainy, you can't return it to its former consistency). Add the chantilly cream to your bread pudding and serve.