Custard Substitute Recipe

Experience custard like never before with a healthy substitute – plantain carrot porridge to improve your meals and diet!

What is custard, and why is it so good? it is a creamy, thick sauce or dessert made from milk, eggs, and sugar. It is often cooked on the stovetop but sometimes baked in the oven until thick. This substitute is made of two main healthy ingredients.

Whether served warm or cold, custard elevates the quality of pastries, pies, and desserts. Its different textures make it suitable for many dishes that satisfy your sweet tooth.

There can be lots of reasons why you need a custard substitute. It’s a good thing that there’s a custard substitute recipe that’s good for your health and cravings, too!

Who Needs a Custard Substitute

Custard may be delicious, but it is not for everyone. 

A custard substitute is suggested for people with dietary restrictions, like lactose intolerance or dairy allergies. It’s also great for vegans and vegetarians who avoid animal products. 

I also suggest it for health-conscious people who still want to taste something good for dessert. The custard substitute is lower in calories and sugar because of its ingredients. 

Most of the time, it is also a matter of personal preference. Perhaps you might like the substitute’s texture and flavor better than the original one. Nevertheless, the custard substitute is always worth a try!

How to Make the Custard Substitute

Instead of using the classic milk or cream, sugar, and eggs, this custard substitute recipe only uses water, a fruit, a vegetable, and some seasoning. You will surely be excited to serve it for kids and adults.

With this healthy substitute, you won’t have to miss out on this awesome delicacy!

Ingredients

What ingredients do you need for the custard substitute?

Plantains

Indeed, plantains are some of the best fruits you can use for a custard alternative.

Plantains are starchy fruits that you can cook to make them soft, thick, and creamy. They have a pleasant and mildly sweet flavor that gives the custard its signature taste. 

I suggest using ripe plantains because they are quicker to cook and sweeter than unripe ones. Plantains will surely add depth and a rich quality to the custard.

I’ve used plantains in many recipes before, and they never disappoint in flavor, texture, or quality. You can turn them into fries, balls, bread, porridge, fufu, baby food, and chips!

Carrots

This alternative recipe will not be complete without carrots. 

While carrots are not a direct substitute for custard, you can mix them into plantains to get the perfect balance of flavor. The color of the carrots will also make the dish look more like real custard.

Since carrots are crisp and crunchy, you won’t have difficulty mixing them into the custard. You might be surprised at how the substitute will taste with carrots.

Instead of using carrots for your usual recipes, you can now use them for desserts like custard. Carrots also make oil, baby puree, powder, juice, and cake!

Water

Of course, carrots and plantains won’t be enough because you need water, too.

Water makes achieving the thick and creamy texture you’re looking for in a custard easier. With water, every spoonful of it will be smooth and tender. 

In the alternative recipe, the water improves the consistency of the dish. It gives moisture and allows the ingredients to be fully dissolved in the mixture. 

Vanilla extract

Adding seasoning to the substitute will surely work like magic, especially when it’s vanilla extract. 

Why use vanilla extract? It is rich, aromatic, and sweet with floral and fruity undertones. The complex flavor of vanilla extract certainly adds to the fantastic taste of the sweet and creamy custard.

Seasoning the custard with vanilla extract will add depth and warmth to the dish. The delightful aroma it imparts will make the custard incredibly appetizing.

Trust the process and experience the best custard substitute yet!

Directions

Here’s every step you need to take to make the custard alternative:

1. Peel and dice the carrots with a knife.
2. Skin, deseed, and slice (if preferred) the plantains.
3. Add the carrots and plantains in a pot.
4. Then, pour in the water.
5. Cover with a lid, and cook until soft.
6. Blend the contents with a hand blender.
7. Serve warm and enjoy your healthy, sugar-free custard substitute.

Give it a taste and let me know how much you love it!

Tips

Plantains

Buying plantains

• Look for firm plantains without blemishes. 
• Go for ones that have yellow and brown or black colors.
• Ripe plantains should yield to a bit of pressure.

Storing plantains

• Let unripe plantains ripen over time.
• Once ripe, store them in the fridge to prolong shelf life. 
• You can also freeze the plantains to last longer.

Carrots

Buying carrots

• Buy carrots that are firm and smooth.
• Choose ones with a bright orange color and fresh carrot tops.

Storing carrots

• Remove the carrot tops before storing the carrots.
• Place them in plastic bags and keep them in the fridge’s crisper drawer.

Other Custard Substitutes

There’s always more than one way to make custard substitutes. 

When creating your own custard alternative recipe, remember to use ingredients that will give the dish a creamy and thick texture. It will also help you use sweet and flavorful foods in your own recipe.

In addition to the ingredients in this dish, you can try substitutes that work best for you. For instance, you can use dairy or plant-based milk like almond milk instead of water. 

Instead of plantains, you can choose bananas, avocados, mangoes, coconuts, and papayas. You can choose vegetable options for sweet potatoes, squash, zucchini, and pumpkin.

Here are other recipes you can try out:

Coconut Milk Custard

1. Combine coconut milk, sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla or coconut extract in a pot. 
2. Cook the contents until thick.
3. Then, chill the custard.
4. Once set, your coconut milk custard is ready to serve!

Vanilla Custard

1. Beat eggs in a bowl.
2. Whisk the milk, sugar, and cornstarch in a saucepan over medium heat or until scalding.
3. Remove the milk mixture from the heat.
4. Then, mix some scalded milk into the egg batter.
5. Slowly add in the egg mixture.
6. Return the pan to the heat and whisk the contents until thick. 
7. Season the custard after you remove it from the heat.

Avocado Custard

1. Puree the avocado, milk, sugar, and lemon juice in a blender.
2. Pour the smooth mixture into a bowl.
3. Then, mix in the heavy cream. 
4. Keep it in the fridge or freezer until cold. 

No-Blender Custard Substitute

Instead of using a hand-held blender, you can use a regular blender, a food processor, or just a fork to mix and mash everything together. 

Most importantly, you can always make custard substitutes that suit your diet and taste!

Recommended Tools

• Knife: Peel and slice the carrots and plantains using a knife.
• Pot: Cook the ingredients in a pot.
• Hand blender: Transform the contents into a custard substitute with a hand blender.

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How to Serve the Custard Substitute

How do you plan on serving the custard substitute?

Plantain carrot porridge is delicious as a standalone dish. Warm or chilled, place it in small bowls. Garnish with spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, or fresh fruits.

Sometimes, I use Plantain carrot porridge to fill pies, tarts, and cakes. It can also add a new flavor to your favorite baked goods, such as cream puffs, fruit tarts, and eclairs.

For healthy dining, serve the custard with fruits like berries, peaches, and mangoes on top. Sauces like chocolate syrup and caramel sauce can also add a lot of flavor to your custard.

Try making a trifle with custard by layering cake, fruits, and whipped cream for the best burst of flavor at every slice. You will also love the custard as a sauce for bread pudding, cakes, and ice cream!

Here are some dishes that you can serve alongside custard:

• Fruit Salad – drizzle the custard on the salad or some fruits
• Sponge Cake – elevate the classic sponge cake with custard
• Banana Bread – enjoy your breakfast or snack with custard and some bread
• Vanilla Ice Cream – any ice cream flavor tastes great with this dish

Since it doesn’t have sugar or gluten, you can freely eat the custard substitute however you like. It’s good for your appetite and diet at the same time!

Storage Tips

At room temperature: Don’t leave the custard substitute at room temperature for longer than two hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use instead of custard?

In place of custard, you can use pastry cream, chia pudding, tofu pudding, fruit curd, coconut milk pudding, soy custard, and creme anglaise. There are also many custard alternative recipes you can try. 

What is the equivalent of custard cream?

Custard cream has lots of alternatives that can help you achieve a similar flavor and texture. Some of the best options include pastry cream, creme anglaise, and diplomat cream.

Is vanilla pudding and custard the same?

No, vanilla pudding and custard. Vanilla pudding is made of milk, flour, sugar, egg yolks, and flavoring while custard does not use flour. It needs cornstarch or flour to thicken while the eggs already act as a thickener in the custard. 

Are cornstarch and custard powder the same?

Cornstarch and custard powder are similar but not the same. You can use them both for cooking and baking, but they differ in how they are made and how they taste. 

The former comes from corn while custard powder comes from cornstarch, sugar, and flavorings. Moreover, cornstarch is usually flavorless while custard powder adds a sweet taste.