Ramekins are the kind of utensils that have thousands of different uses in the kitchen. Whether you prefer salty flavours or are a bigger fan of sweetness, you can prepare singular portions of your favourite meals and desserts in them. Which delicacies are we talking about? Check out what these heatproof bowls are particularly good for and get inspired!
Ramekins - what are they?
Ramekins are nothing more than small bowls made of heat-resistant material. These small heat-resistant dishes offer lovers of kitchen experiments plenty of possibilities. You can prepare both single portions of desserts, which will prove heaven for the palate, as well as one-pot salty meals, ideal for all kinds of parties. Stoneware ramekins by Le Creuset in all shades of the rainbow await you in the FormAdore range. So they will not only prove to be a multifunctional dish but also a beautiful decoration for many a table. The cocktail pans can be used in the oven as well as in the freezer or microwave. The dishes heat up evenly and retain heat for a long time.
Where to find heatproof cookware?
Chocolate fondant (lava cake)
When it comes to ramekins, the first thing that comes to mind is an intensely chocolatey dessert - fondant, otherwise known as lava cake. It is not without reason that the name refers to lava - chocolate spills out of the cake as if from a real volcano... In mini heatproof tins, you can prepare perfect single-portions of this much-loved sweet .
Ingredients:
- 100 g dark chocolate;
- 50 g butter (+ fat to grease the cakes);
- 2 eggs;
- 4 tablespoons sugar;
- a small pinch of salt;
- a tablespoon of flour + flour to dust the cakes;
- your favorite toppings: icing sugar, fruit (eg strawberries or raspberries), mint leaves, ice cream, etc.
Preparation:
1. grease the molds thoroughly with butter and lightly dust with flour.
2. Preheat the oven (with a baking sheet) to 200 degrees.
3. Break the chocolate into cubes and melt it together with the butter in a water bath.
4.Mix until smooth.
5. Crack the eggs into a bowl, add the sugar and a pinch of salt and mix with a whiskey until smooth (without whisking).
6. Add the flour to the eggs with the sugar and salt and mix again.
7Pour in the chocolate mixture and stir thoroughly again using a whiskey.
8. Pour the mixture into the tins and place on a tray in the oven.
9. Bake for approx. 8 minutes and after removing from the oven, allow to bake for another 1-2 minutes.
10. Gently turn the fondant out onto plates and decorate as desired.
You can't pass by this truest chocolate lava - try the recipe and see for yourself... on your stomach!
Mini cheesecakes
Ramekins also make the perfect vessel for mini cheesecakes - hot or cold . Today, we'll focus on the baked version, which can come either as a solo dish or with fruit and other toppings. However, these are not classic cottage cheese cheesecakes but made with a typical Italian cheese...
Ingredients:
- 200 g mascarpone or ricotta cheese;
- 100 g Greek yogurt;
- 1 egg;
- 3 tablespoons honey;
- teaspoon vanilla extract;
- sponge cakes or biscuits for the bottom of the cakes (optional).
Preparation:
1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
2. Mix the cheese, Greek yoghurt, honey, egg and vanilla extract thoroughly.
3. Arrange a layer of your favorite biscuits in the bottom of the ramekins - you can also crumble them and combine them with the butter to form a firm bottom (this step can also be omitted).
4. Spread the cheese mixture over the biscuit layer (or directly in the ramekins).
5Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheesecakes are cooked through.
6. When ready, leave to cool and store in the fridge.
The cheesecakes will taste great with fresh raspberry mousse or with the addition of melted dark chocolate . You can also add your favorite fruit - such as blueberries or peaches - to the cheesecake mixture before baking. Such a one-pot pie will be enjoyed by everyone without exception!
Apple desserts
After desserts full of chocolate and cheese, it's time for sweets with fruit - and we're talking about apple desserts with puff pastry. How do you prepare them? It's very simple!
Ingredients:
- 3 small apples;
- packet of puff pastry;
- 1/3 packet of cinnamon;
- white or cane sugar (optional);
- fat for the molds (eg vegetable margarine).
Preparation:
1. Cut out circles from the puff pastry slightly larger than the bottom of the puff pastry tins.
2. Grease the tins with fat, then place the pastry circles in them.
3. Place the pastry in the oven preheated to 180 degrees for about 7-8 minutes.
4. While the pastry is baking, peel and grate the apples on large mesh.
5. Add the cinnamon and sugar to the apples (you can also omit the sugar) and mix together.
6. Remove the cake tins from the oven, fill with apple and cut the remaining raw dough into thin strips.
7. Place the strips of dough on top of the apple filling and place in the oven for another 15 minutes.
This kind of dessert is not only effortless to make, but also steals hearts - of both younger and older sweet lovers.
One-pot egg and vegetable casseroles
Ramekins are perfect for all kinds of desserts and one-pot cakes - but not only. They are also ideal for single portions of baked eggs with vegetables. It's a simple and quick snack that's great for any party.
Ingredients:
- eggs (as many as baskets);
- peppers;
- chives/green onions;
- your favorite cold meat;
- cream cheese;
- salt and pepper.
Preparation:
1. wash the peppers, get rid of the nests and dice them.
2. wash the onions/chives as well and chop them finely.
3. dice the sausage and grate the cheese.
4. wash the eggs and break them into a bowl, then add the chopped vegetables and ham to it.
5. Season with salt and pepper and mix thoroughly.
6. Pour the egg mixture into the baking trays and sprinkle the top with grated cheese.
7. Place the trays in the oven and bake at 210 degrees for approx. 10-15 minutes.
These mini casseroles with egg, vegetables and ham are a perfect appetizer that the little ones will also enjoy.
Mini lasagna
Ramekins are also a great choice for smaller portions of lasagne. If you don't have a classic ovenproof dish or its smaller rectangular versions, you can successfully prepare this delicious dish right in these bowls.
Ingredients:
- 200 g minced meat;
- tin of tomatoes/tomato passata;
- 1 carrot;
- 1 onion;
- 2 cloves of garlic;
- favorite spices to taste;
- lasagne pasta.
Ingredients for béchamel sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter;
- a heaping tablespoon of flour;
- 200 ml milk;
- 50 g Parmesan or other cheese;
- half a teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
Preparation:
1. peel, finely dice and fry the onion in a frying pan with the garlic cloves.
2. Peel, wash and grate the carrots and fry for a while with the onion.
3. Add the meat to the pan, season with your favorite seasoning and fry until it turns from red to brown.
4. Mix the meat with the carrots and onions, add the tomatoes/passata to the pan and cook on low heat.
5. In the meantime, cook the pieces of pasta for lasagne al dente.
6. Prepare the béchamel - melt the butter, add the flour and milk and mix well to get rid of any lumps.
7. Finally grate your favorite cheese into the béchamel, eg parmesan (the amount you like), season the mixture and stir for a while.
8. Place the lasagne sheets, bolognese sauce and béchamel alternately in the baking tins so that the béchamel is on top.
9. Grate an additional layer of cheese on top.
Mini lasagne pans are ideal for when you're hungry or running out of ideas for party starters . This flavor will delight any guest, regardless of age or culinary tastes.
A classic of all the classics - Crème brûlée
Ingredients:
- 500 ml 36% cream
- vanilla bean
- 80 grams of sugar
- vanilla sugar
- 5 egg yolks
- brown sugar
- Fruit to decorate eg raspberries, blueberries.
Preparation:
1. Boil the cream over low heat with the sugar and vanilla bean.
2) Make sure the cream does not boil over, the sugar must dissolve completely.
3) Set the cream aside to cool slightly.
4) Mix the egg yolks into a smooth paste for a few seconds and add a little of the cream, which you stir in with a whiskey. Then slowly add the rest of the cream, stirring all the time.
5) Once the mixture is smooth, pour it into the baking tray.
6) Set the oven to 120 degrees and bake for approximately 45 minutes.
7) After removing it from the oven, let the dessert cool down and then place in the refrigerator for at least a few hours.
8. Before serving, sprinkle the top with brown sugar and use a special burner to caramelize the sugar until it melts.
9. finally, you can decorate the dessert with fruit.
For a bigger appetite
If our recipes have piqued your appetite and you fancy a slightly larger format, there's always the larger heatproof casserole dish!
As you can see, ramekins offer a multitude of possibilities - although we associate them primarily with desserts, they can also be used to prepare salty snacks. So if you haven't had these inconspicuous dishes in your home yet, check out the FormAdore brand and stock your kitchen with at least two bowls!
