The Pan de Calatrava (Calatrava's bread) is a delicious dessert originally from the southeast of Spain. It's very easy to make and uses very few ingredients . It's called 'bread' but is not real bread cause no raw flour is used in its preparation. Instead bread, ladyfingers and even cupcakes are used.
You will find many recipes of this bread. Some recipes incorporate flavorings, others liquors, and even the shape changes according the shape of the mold. Calatrava's bread made with bread is usually rectangular in shape , the round ones are made with cupcakes while ladyfingers could be rectagules or round . This dessert accepts many variations in its preparation but the way to serve it is always the same , very cold and after a not much heavy meal.
In any case the preparation is always the same : eggs with milk and sugar in a pan with the bakery product - as said, ladyfingers , muffins etc. - are soaked in this mixture . The mold is brought to the oven and does curdle . Cool it and ready to eat.
INGREDIENTS:
- 500 ml (2 cups and a half) of milk
- 4 eggs
- 5 tablespoons sugar (if you use ladyfingers or cupcakes, with plain bread use 6-7 tbsp)
- Ladyfingers (my personal taste, you can choose what suits to you )
- liquid caramel
We have for example such a large rectangular mold. Bathe the inner walls thereof with liquid caramel .
Then in a separate bowl mix the eggs with the sugar and when it's a kind of cream gradually add milk. Beat until everything is well blended.
Pour the mixture into the mold and we will "sink " the ladyfinger into the mixture until are well soaked. No amount of ladyfingers are listed in ingredients cause it will depend on the mold size. When no more ladyfingers can fit in it, it is ready for baking.
Preheat oven to 190 degrees C / 375 F and insert the mold. Half an hour should be more than enough. The bread will rise by action of the egg, but obviously will drop out when you'll take it out. You can also check if it has properly curdled inserting a toothpick and if it comes out dry , ready .
Allow to cool at room temperature. Then arefully remove the mold and straight to the fridge .
You can garnish with fruit in syrup, cream or as it is.
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