BANANA AND CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING

Banana and Chocolate Bread Pudding image

Provided by Food Network

Categories dessert

Time 1h25m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 pounds brioche loaf bread, crust removed and cubed
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon fresh nutmeg, grated
3 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ripe bananas
6 to 8 (1-inch chunks) semisweet chocolate
Dark Rum Creme Anglaise, recipe follows
2 cups milk
1 vanilla bean, split
5 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup dark rum

Steps:

Place bread into a bowl and drizzle with melted butter, mix well to coat.
In another bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, milk, nutmeg and vanilla together. In another bowl mash up 1 banana and add to custard, pour over the bread and allow to soak for 15 minutes. Dice up the other banana and fold into bread pudding mixture. Grease 6 (2 1/2-inch by 2?inch) tall ring mold and wrap the bottom with foil. Spoon bread pudding mixture into mold 1/2 way then press 1 chunk of chocolate into the center then continue to fill to the top. Bake in a 325 degree oven until it is set and brown, about 35 to 40 minutes. Serve with Dark Rum Creme Anglaise.
To a saucepan add milk, scrape vanilla bean seeds into milk and add the pod. Bring almost to a boil. Remove from heat and allow bean to infuse for 10 minutes, then remove the bean. In a bowl whisk egg yolks and sugar until thick and light in color, then temper with hot milk. Pour mixture back into the pot and gently stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until custard thickens slightly. Remove from heat and strain through a fine sieve into a bowl over ice. Stir in rum and cover tightly so skin does not form while it is cooling.