Cheese Flan

(Labneli Tart – İstanbul)

Ingredients:
Ready-to-use soft sponge base
1 tsp Nescafe
3 tsp sugar

Milk Pudding:
1 cup milk 3%
1⁄2 cup cream 35%
1⁄2 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
5 tbsp all purpose flour or cornstarch
1 tsp vanilla extract
~
250g (1⁄2 lb) Labne cheese*
1 tsp butter, unsalted

Garnish:
Cocoa powder

Directions:
First mix the Nescafe and sugar in a small bowl. Dust the base of flan with a mixture of Nescafe and sugar.

To prepare the milk pudding;
Place all the ingredients except Labne cheese and butter in a medium-sized cooking pot. Stir constantly to make it thick. Then add the butter, while stirring, continue to cook for about one more minute. Take it off the stove, let it cool down a little bit. Beat in Labne cheese at low speed.

Pour into the tart base, spread. Sprinkle with some cocoa powder. Cover and refrigerate. It is essential to chill it overnight.

*Labne cheese: a soft, cream cheese made from strained yogurt. Labne is easy to make and low in calories, making it the perfect alternative to traditional cream cheese. Labne can be used just as you would normally use cream cheese; as a spread on bagels or a dip for your favorite fruit and vegetables.