How to use a vanilla pod effectively


How to use a vanilla pod effectively
Vanilla pods are used in many recipes, but they need to treated in a particular way to be effective, detailed here.
394 K 3.6/5 (80 reviews)
Grade this recipe:
Keywords:
Last modified on: February 21th 2011
For 1 pod, you will need:

Change these quantities to make:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 9 min.
Resting: 15 min.
Cooking: 10 min.
All in all: 35 min.
When should you start or finish this recipe?
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time

Step by step recipe


Stage 1 - 2 min.
How to use a vanilla pod effectively
Cut vanilla pod in two, then split each part in two lengthways.

Stage 2 - 2 min.
How to use a vanilla pod effectively
With the back, not the sharp edge, of a knife blade, scrape out all the small black seeds which contain the essence of the vanilla flavour.

Stage 3 - 2 min.
How to use a vanilla pod effectively
Add these small black seeds to the liquid of your recipe, here milk for custard sauce (crème anglaise).

Stage 4 - 10 min.
How to use a vanilla pod effectively
Add pod too, to get the whole flavour.

Bring to the boil, then remove from heat, cover and leave to stand for about 15 minutes, so that the milk absorbes the taste.

Stage 5 - 15 min.
How to use a vanilla pod effectively
It's important to strain the milk afterwards to remove all the bits, especially the small brown fibres of vanilla pod.

To do this, pour the milk throught a strainer...

Stage 6 - 3 min.
How to use a vanilla pod effectively
... to remove them, but use a strainer that is not too fine to allow the small black seeds to pass through.

See in this photo what's left after filtering: skins and brown fibres which would spoil your dish.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
Proteins (gr)Carbohydrates (gr)Fats (gr)Energy value (in k-calories)Energy value (in k-joules)
Whole recipe0001 RDI=0 %7 RDI: 0 %
Per 100 g010 RDI=1 %050 RDI=3 %220 RDI: 3 %
The % figures are calculated in relation to the Recommended Dietary Intake , or RDI of 2,000 k-calories (or 8,400 k-joules) per day for a woman Change to a man
How much will it cost?
  • For 1 pod : $3.10

Change currency:

Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Other recipes you may also like
How to prepare new peas
How to prepare new peas
In spring, when the first peas, known as "new" peas, appear fresh on the market stalls, that's the (fairly short) moment when you can eat them whole, peas and pods, very fresh and delicious. To do this, rather than shelling them, you need to prepare them, and here's how.
May 8th 202417 K 30 min.
How to extract passion fruit juice
How to extract passion fruit juice
Passion fruit are rather strange fruit as they do not really have much flesh, but rather seeds surrounded by a fine layer of pulp. Here is a way to extract the juice.
March 23th 2011528 K 32.3 20 min.
You should not add raisins to recipes dry
You should not add raisins to recipes dry
Used straight from the packet raisins are too dry and hard.
February 21th 2011267 K4.1 40 min.
Stewed apple (compote)
Stewed apple (compote)
Here is a very basic but delicious recipe, and the pitfalls to avoid.
November 8th 20172.44 M 14.8 1 hour 15 min.
Salmon and spinach quiche
Salmon and spinach quiche
This quiche recipe uses a traditional filling mixture, but adds slices of smoked salmon and blanched spinach.
April 17th 2022414 K 14 1 hour 15 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com

Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-07-06)

*Your e-mail Your first name or nickname
I am not a leaving thing
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Posted by:
I am not a leaving thing

Follow this recipe (as 2 people already do)
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
I am not a leaving thing
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.

Back to top of page