good pinch each of ground cinnamon,
cloves, nutmeg and cardamom
50g (2 oz) cashews, roughly chopped
Method :
Preheat oven
to 160C (320F).
Place coconut
milk and sugar in a pan and stir over low heat until the sugar has
dissolved. Set aside to cool.
Lightly beat
eggs and yolks together in a bowl and strain coconut milk over the eggs.
Strain again. Add spices and mix well. Pour into a 20cm (8 inch)
diameter ovenproof glass dish or individual dishes. Sprinkle cashews on
top and cover the greaseproof paper. Place dish in a pan of water and
bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes.
The dish is
cooked when the surface bounces back when touched and a skewer comes out
clean.
Serves 4-6
Tip - Palm
sugar is found under several names - you name see it being sold as gulab
melaka or jaggery.
Note -
Wattalappan is a Sri Lankan version of cream caramel, but palm sugar is
used instead of white sugar and coconut milk instead of cow's milk. The
spices add a particular Sri Lankan flavor. Cashews are expensive in Sri
Lanka so garnishing curries, desserts, sweet meats and rices with a
topping of nuts is usually only done for special occasions and festive
meals.