Carrot Flan with Thyme Crumbs

6 Servings

Carrots, the ultimate "good for you" vegetable, can also be decadent – as this silky, thyme-crusted flan proves.

Ingredients:

¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for sprinkling
1 ¼ pounds carrots, cut into 1 inch lengths.
5 large garlic cloves, halved
¼ cup heavy cream
½ cup milk
4 large eggs, beaten
salt and freshly ground pepper
1/3 cup coarse fresh bread crumbs
1 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Butter a 10 inch glass pie plate and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

In a large saucepan, steam the carrots and garlic until very tender, about 25 minutes.

Transfer the carrots and garlic to a food processor and puree until smooth.

Pour in the heavy cream and milk and process to blend.

Add the eggs, 2 tbsp. of the Parmesan cheese, 1 tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper and process the mixture until thoroughly blended.

Pour the flan mixture into the prepared pie plate.

Set the pie plate in a shallow roasting pan and add enough hot water to the pan to reach halfway up the side of the pie plate.

Bake for 40 minutes, or until the flan is just set.

While flan is baking, toss the bread crumbs with the melted butter, thyme and the remaining 2 tbsp. of Parmesan cheese.  Season the thyme crumbs with salt and pepper.

Remove the flan from the water bath.  Preheat the broiler.  Sprinkle the flan with the thyme crumbs and broil for 30 seconds, or until golden brown.

Cut into wedges and serve warm.

Make ahead:  The flan can be assembled and refrigerated for 4 hours.  Bring to room temperature before baking.