Sri Lankan · Dessert

Watalappan coconut jaggery custard

Coconut milk, jaggery and warm spices set into a softly trembling baked custard, finished with toasted cashews. Individual cups make the caramel notes easy to appreciate and allow the custards to chill evenly before serving.

VegetarianModerate6 individual custards

Ingredients

Original recipe: 6 individual custards. Ingredient amounts scale below; the method is written for 6 servings. For larger amounts, use separate batches and check doneness.

  • 400 mlunsweetened full-fat coconut milk
  • 120 gjaggery, finely grated
  • 4 eachlarge eggs
  • ½ tspground cardamom
  • ⅛ tspground nutmeg
  • ⅛ tspsalt
  • 25 gunsalted cashews, chopped
  • 1000 mlhot water for the baking bath

Make it

  1. Heat the oven to 160°C / 320°F. Put six ramekins in a deep roasting tin. Warm the coconut milk and jaggery in a saucepan on low for 3–4 minutes, stirring until dissolved, then let cool until just warm.
  2. Whisk the eggs with the cardamom, nutmeg and salt without beating in much air. Slowly whisk in the coconut mixture, then strain through a fine sieve into a jug.
  3. Divide the mixture among the ramekins. Pour the measured hot water into the roasting tin to reach halfway up their sides, keeping it out of the custards.
  4. Bake for 30–40 minutes, until the edges are set, the centres wobble gently rather than slosh, and the centre of a custard reaches at least 71°C / 160°F. Lift the ramekins out of the bath carefully.
  5. While they cool, toast the cashews in a dry pan over medium-low heat for 3 minutes. Cool the custards for 20 minutes, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours; sprinkle with cashews before serving.
Ingredients, recipe context & sources

Ingredient flags: Eggs, Tree nuts. Check packaged ingredients and cross-contact.

This is an original Livura home-cooking interpretation, not yet independently kitchen-tested. Source links provide dish and cultural context; the recipe wording and quantities are Livura’s.

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