avlova
or 'pav' is a meringue cake with a light, delicate, crisp crust and a soft sweet
marshmallow center that is produced by folding a little vinegar and cornstarch (cornflour)
into stiffly beaten egg whites and sugar. This dessert is served with softly
whipped cream and fresh fruit. There is a long standing debate about whether New Zealand
or Australia invented this dessert, which has yet to be resolved. What we do
know is that the name, Pavlova, was chosen in honor of the Russian ballerina,
Anna Pavlova, who toured both New Zealand and Australia in 1926.
Pavlova is a meringue, and it is important when making any meringue that the egg whites reach maximum volume,
so make sure your mixing bowl and whisk
are clean and free of grease. Since we need just the whites of the eggs,
the eggs will need to be separated. It is easier to do this while the eggs
are still cold. Once separated, cover the egg whites and let them come to room
temperature before using (about 30 minutes). Cover and refrigerate the egg
yolks for another use. I like to use superfine sugar (castor) when making this
meringue as it
dissolves faster into the egg whites than regular granulated white sugar. You
can make your own by processing 1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar in your food processor until very fine, about 30
- 60 seconds. Once the egg whites and sugar form stiff peaks it is time to
gently fold in the cornstarch and vinegar. Adding these two ingredients
will give the Pavlova a crust that is dry and crisp, with a soft
marshmallow-like interior.
Australian Stephanie Alexander in her
excellent book "The Cook's Companion" gives us a few pointers on how to
tell a good Pavlova, "if syrupy droplets form on the surface of the
meringue, you'll know you have overcooked it; liquid oozing from the
meringue is a sign of undercooking". So it is best to cook the meringue in
a slow oven and then to turn off the oven and let it cool slowly.
The Pavlova can be made several days in advance of serving, if it is
stored in a cool dry place, in an airtight container. A Pavlova is usually
served with softly whipped cream and fresh fruit. Because of the
sweetness of the meringue I like to offset the sweetness with tart
flavored fruits. Passion fruit, kiwi, blackberries, blueberries, and
raspberries are some of my personal favorites. Try to place the
whipped cream and fruit on the meringue shortly before serving as the
meringue will immediately start to soften and break down from the moisture
of the cream and fruit.
Preheat
oven to 250 degrees F (130 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Line
a baking sheet with parchment paper and draw a 7 inch (18 cm) circle on the
paper.
In the bowl
of your electric mixer, with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on
medium-high speed until they hold soft peaks. Start adding the sugar, a
tablespoon at a
time, and continue to beat until the meringue holds very stiff peaks. (Test
to see if the sugar is fully dissolved by rubbing a little of the meringue between
your thumb and index finger. The meringue should feel smooth, not gritty. If it feels gritty
the sugar has not fully dissolved so keep beating until it feels smooth between
your fingers). Sprinkle the vinegar and cornstarch over the top of the
meringue and, with a rubber spatula, fold in.
Gently
spread the meringue inside the circle drawn on the parchment paper, smoothing the
edges, making sure the edges of the meringue are slightly higher than the center. (You want a slight well in the center of the meringue to place the whipped cream
and fruit.)
Bake for 1
hour 15 minutes or until the outside is dry and takes on a very pale cream color. Turn the oven off, leave the door slightly ajar, and let the meringue cool
completely in the oven. (The outside of the meringue will feel firm to the
touch, if gently pressed, but as it cools you will get a little cracking and you
will see that the inside is soft and marshmallowy.)
The cooled
meringue can be made and stored in a cool dry place, in an airtight container, for a few days.
Just before
serving gently place the meringue onto a serving plate. Whip the cream in
your electric mixer, with the whisk attachment, until soft peaks form. Sweeten with the sugar and vanilla and then mound the softly whipped cream into
the center of the meringue. Arrange the fruit randomly, or in a decorative
pattern, on top of the cream. Serve immediately as this dessert does
not hold for more than a few hours.
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