Flan is considered the dessert of choice for Mexican restaurants throughout the St. Louis, MO, area, but did you know that there are many different variations and styles of this dish? La Chata Mexican Cuisine, a family-friendly restaurant in Saint Peters, has put together a quick overview of flan and all the ways you can enjoy it. Whether you’ve never had flan before or you’ve enjoyed the custardy dish on multiple occasions, keep reading to learn more about this authentic Mexican food staple.

What Is Flan?

Flan is a baked custard dish with a history dating back to ancient Roman times. While today’s flan is normally considered a dessert, many recipes offer a savory version that serves as the main course of a meal.

Popular Variations Of Flan

Mexican Flan

In Mexican restaurants, flan is typically cooked with a caramel flavor. Made primarily of egg and dairy, the custard is baked in a sugary sauce, and then, inverted so the sweet caramel coats it.

Leche Flan

Very similar to Mexican flan, leche flan is the top dessert choice in the Philippines. The custard mixture is often steamed instead of baked and uses differing amounts of milk and egg yolk, but it shares the same basic ingredients as its Mexican counterpart.

Tocino De Cielo

The type of flan most often seen in Southern Spain, Tocino de Cielo has an eggier flavor. It cuts down on the sugar content, which makes it a sensible option as a diabetic dessert, but just because it has less sugar doesn’t mean it’s any less rich.

Ways To Serve Flan

If you’re not a fan of caramel flavor, there are plenty of other toppings to add to the custard. Try spreading chocolate or Nutella on top of the flan. You could also sprinkle fruit, nuts, or coconut, which could enhance the sugary caramel flavor of the dish. You can even add ice cream or other desserts on top of the flan to create a multifaceted dessert.

Has all this talk of this authentic Mexican food given you a craving for flan? Head on over to your local Mexican restaurant, La Chata Mexican Cuisine, for the best tasting flan in Missouri. To learn more about La Chata Mexican Cuisine’s menu and events, visit their website or call (636) 477-6228.