Egg White Leche Flan

How do I make a healthy version of a dessert or any food that I want to have on my birthday? This month's Kulinarya Cooking Club challenge was a toughie for me. I couldn't think of any Filipino dish that I can tweak into something healthier but still delicious as there are several yummy healthy vegetable dishes or ice and fruit desserts that don't need any improvements, in my honest opinion. As much as I love tofu and seitan, I can't imagine myself enjoying a plate of tofurkey lechon or seitan mechado on my birthday.

My creative juices ran dry for this challenge so forgive me for my uninspired Leche Flan using all egg whites and fat-free sweetened condensed milk. I used whole milk because I want the flan to be edible, at least. The flan is actually good; it's soft and smooth although not creamy with a texture similar to gelatin. Buuut, I won't be having this on my special day which for me is a time to indulge in food I really really love, food that will certainly make me happy, unhealthy they may be.

 Egg White Leche Flan

3 tablespoons sugar

4 egg whites, lightly beaten

5 tablespoons fat-free sweetened condensed milk

1 cup milk

1½ teaspoons calamansi or lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional

macapuno preserve, optional

• In a small stainless steel pan, caramelize sugar until golden. Pour into a leche flan mold or 4 ramekins. Set aside. 
• In a medium bowl, combine the rest of ingredients except macapuno. Strain into the mold/ramekins and steam over medium-low heat for 45 minutes. Let cool completely at room temperature. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. 
• Unmold into a serving plate, scraping all the caramel from the bottom of the mold. Serve with a teaspoon of macapuno if desired.

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Kulinarya was started by a group of Filipino foodies living in Sydney who are passionate about the Filipino culture and its colorful cuisine. 

Each month we will showcase a new dish along with their family recipes. By sharing these recipes, we hope you find the same passion and love for Filipino Food as we do.

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Check out KCC [healthier] birthday party food here .

Last words on egg yolks: Contrary to what the food police would like us to believe, egg yolks are very nutritious specially from free-range chicken eggs which supposedly have more of Omega-3 fatty acids and a long list of vitamins and minerals.