Budino Di Pecora, Tra Vigne

This was always one of our favorite dishes from Tra Vigne Restaurant in St. Helena, CA; Michael Chiarello, then chef and owner, was kind enough to send us the recipe.

Servings: 12

2 Cups Whole Milk
2 Cups Heavy Cream
2 Cups Pecorino Cheese, finely grated, plus a little extra for garnish
5 Ounces White Bread Crumbs From a Baguette or Italian Bread, Crusts Removed
1 Pinch Salt
1 Pinch Pepper
6 Egg Yolks, lightly beaten
Chopped Tomatoes and Basil or Saut
éed Wild Mushrooms for garnish


  • Heat milk and cream just to simmering point. Add pecorino cheese and stir over low flame for 4 minutes.
  • Remove and strain and press on the solids using a strainer press. Discard the cheese solids and save the strained cream liquid.
  • Add the bread crumbs to the warm cream liquid; set aside to allow the crumbs to soften in the cream for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 300°F
  • Pour the cream mixture, salt and pepper into the egg yolks and gently whisk until thoroughly incorporated.
  • Pour mixture into well greased ramekins or small custard molds; set ramekins into a water bath and bake in oven for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean. 
  • Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes. (The resting is not imperative, but helps in unmolding the Budino.)
  • Garnish with chopped tomatoes and basil, or sautéed wild mushrooms and walnuts, or...
Per Serving: 230 Calories; 14g Fat (55.9% calories from fat); 9g Protein; 16g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 122mg Cholesterol; 333mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 Grain(Starch); 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 2 1/2 Fat.
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