Where did flan originate?

Flan, a custard-filled dessert, originated in the Roman Empire where the domestication of fowl allowed for eggs to be available on a large scale for cooking purposes. The word "flan" comes from the French word "flaon," which takes its root from the Latin word "flado."

The Latin word "flado" means "custard." The Middle English words "flaton" and "flawn" were based on their Latin root "flado," which eventually turned into "flan." Flan was a common dish during the Middle Ages and both savory and sweet flans, such as with sugar, almonds and cinnamon, were eaten. The Romans introduced flan to Europe when they conquered it. Flan was also considered a health food and thought to be nourishing.