Why it works: Evaporated milk and condensed milk match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 168 recipes. Both carry ethanol, which smells alcoholic, ethereal. The science ↓
Leche Flan
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Mix eggs and milks together.
Make a brown syrup of the sugar and hot water in a flan pan.
Steam and serve
Add the egg mixture and steam in a wok for 30-40 minutes.
Cool and invert onto a plate.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 3 of 4 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 3 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | 1 cup (244ml) whole | 149 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Syrup | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
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Evaporated milk + condensed milktop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together168 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
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Condensed milk + syruptop 2% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together118 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Evaporated milk + syruptop 4% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together59 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Sugar + syruptop 6% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together5,842 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
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Evaporated milk + sugartop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together804 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Egg yolks
- Set the custard into a firm, smooth texture as they cook.
- Evaporated milk
- Adds moisture and creaminess to the custard base.
- Condensed milk
- Adds sweetness and body, giving the custard a rich, smooth texture.
- Brown sugar
- Melts into a caramel syrup that coats the pan and becomes the flan's topping.
The step that matters
Steam gently for 30-40 minutes. Egg proteins set best at moderate heat. Too much heat or steam that boils hard can make the custard puff, pit or turn grainy, so keep the steaming gentle and check for a set centre.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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