“Crushed it” -Laura
An airy crunch and a melty fluff of sweet eggy meringue, then the soft peaks of whipped cream and the tang of pomegranate. It’s a textural tango for your tastebuds and, for me, vividly brings to mind the scene from Ratatouille where Remy the rat experiences an out of body sensory/symphonic experience by combining a strawberry with a piece of cheese (for reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXoJjgxMj9M ).
Ingredients:
4 egg whites
pinch of salt
1/4 cup cold water
1 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
1 tbsp + 1 tsp corn starch
1 tsp vinegar (white, apple cider, wine)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
In an electric mixer using a whisk attachment, whip egg whites and salt on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add water and sugar bit by bit, increasing speed to full. The goal is to achieve stiff peaks, which will take several minutes. When stiff peaks are reached, reduce speed to low and incorporate corn starch, vinegar, and vanilla until just combined.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a medium sized dinner plate, lightly trace its circumference with a pencil. This will be your template.
Using a spatula, transfer the egg white mixture onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, spreading the mixture into the shape of the circle. Create a nest-like shape by forming a crater in the middle of the circle. This is where you will pile up all your fillings when cooked.
When you are pleased with the shape of your egg white mound, bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, reduce heat to 275 Fahrenheit and bake for another 45 minutes.
Turn off heat and let cool for 1 hour in the oven. It is crucial to not open the oven door at any point during this process, as your pavlolva is delicate and will collapse with the temperature change.
While waiting, whip cream to soft peaks (I do not add sugar to the cream as the meringue is already sweet, but sweetness levels are subjective so it’s entirely up to you).
When finished cooling, remove from oven and fill nest with whipped cream. Pile on blueberries, raspberries and pomegranate seeds, or any combination of your favourite fruits. Serve in slices/piles and prepare for a messy table.
