Almond And Blood Orange Curd Pavlova Food

ORANGE CURD-FILLED PAVLOVAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Use a 3-inch bowl to trace 6 circles on each of 2 sheets of parchment paper. Transfer each sheet of parchment paper to a baking sheet tracing-side down.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites and salt together until glossy peaks form. With mixer running, add sugar in 3 additions, beating until meringue is stiff and glossy. Sprinkle in cornstarch, vinegar, and vanilla. Gently fold to combine.
• Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large plain round tip, about 5/8 inch in diameter. Pipe a mound of meringue in the center of each of the circles. Use the back of a spoon to create an indentation in the center of each mound. Transfer baking sheets to oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 250 degrees. Bake until firm and dry to the touch but not browned, 30 to 35 minutes. Turn off oven and let meringues cool for 20 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make curd: Combine yolks, sugar, orange zest, orange juice, lemon juice, salt, and butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan; whisk to combine. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula (be sure to scrape the sides of the pan), until the mixture is thick, 8 to 10 minutes. Let mixture come to a rapid simmer and cook, continually scraping sides of pan, for 2 minutes. If desired, strain through a fine sieve into a medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface of the curd to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until chilled and very firm, at least 2 hours or up to 1 1/2 weeks.
• Make topping: Whisk heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Top meringues with a dollop of curd and whipped cream and if desired, serve with orange segments.

BLOOD ORANGE CURD

Steps:

• Rub together the grated zest of 1/2 orange and 1/4 cup sugar with your fingertips; set aside.
• Bring 1 3/4 cups blood orange juice and 1/4 cup lemon juice to a boil in a saucepan. In a large bowl, whisk 3/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons cornstarch and a pinch of salt; whisk in 6 egg yolks and the zest mixture. Slowly whisk in the hot juice, then return to the pan. Cook over medium heat, whisking, until thick, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat; gradually whisk in 6 tablespoons cut-up butter.
• Strain the curd through a fine-mesh sieve and tint with red food coloring. Before using, chill until set, at least 4 hours.

ORANGE CREAM PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Make meringue: Trace a 10-inch circle onto a piece of parchment paper. Turn over and use parchment to line a baking sheet. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat egg whites and pinch of cream of tartar on high until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. With mixer running, add granulated sugar in a slow, steady stream and continue to beat on high until whites are very stiff and glossy and sugar is dissolved, 5 minutes.
• With an offset spatula, gently shape meringue into a round on parchment-lined sheet, using circle as a guide; smooth top (make center slightly concave). Bake meringue until outside is dry, 2 hours. Turn off oven and let meringue cool completely in oven, about 5 hours (or up to overnight).
• Make curd: In a medium saucepan, off heat, whisk together granulated sugar, egg yolks, and orange zest; whisk in orange and lemon juices and pinch of salt. Place pan over medium-high and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and small bubbles form around edge of pan, 5 minutes (do not let boil). Immediately remove pan from heat while whisking. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl, pressing on curd with a rubber spatula. Press plastic wrap against surface; refrigerate until cool, 30 minutes (or up to 2 weeks).
• Make topping: In a large bowl, using mixer, beat cream and confectioners' sugar on high until stiff peaks form, 3 minutes. Gently peel meringue from parchment and transfer to a platter. Spoon curd in center and top with whipped cream and white chocolate shavings. Serve immediately.

ALMOND AND BLOOD ORANGE CURD PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 225*F.
• Place 1/4 cup of flaked almonds on a small baking tray and toast in the oven for about 5 minutes or until toasty, tossing them once or twice so they don't burn.
• Using a 9" plate or the removable base of a 9" cake tin, trace a circle on a piece of parchment paper. Turn the parchment over (so that the ink is facing down and doesn't come into contact with the food) and place on a baking sheet.
• In a medium bowl, miix the granulate sugar and cornstarch together. In a small bowl, mix the the almond extract and vinegar together.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl with a hand mixer), beat the egg whites on low until completely foamy. They should look like good cappuccino foam! About 2 minutes.
• Add a pinch of fine sea salt and slowly add sugar mixture a few tablespoons at a time, letting each addition become incorporated for about 20-30 seconds before adding more. While you're adding this in increments, gradually increase mixer up to high. Mix until forms stiff peaks 4-5 minutes. It will be glossy and shiny and ripply thick. It shouldn't look foamy at all and it shouldn't look dry or clumpy. Now add the vanilla and vinegar mixture and mix on medium until completely integrated, about 1 minute.
• Using a rubber spatula, scrap all of the gorgeous meringue onto your baking sheet covered with parchment. Put it right in the middle of that circle you drew. Using an off set spatula, working from the middle of your meringue mound, gently press the meringue down and outwards until it almost reaches your traced circle. I tend to give the top of the meringue a few swoops with the offset spatula, but you flatten it all the way or give it lots of swoops! Whatever you like.
• Put the meringue in the preheated oven and cook for 1 1/2 hours. At this point check the meringue. The outside should be hard and crisp. If it isn't keep baking the meringue in ten minutes increments until the outside is hard and crisp. If it is, insert a toothpick in the middle. When you remove the toothpick, it should be sticky and marshmallowy. When the meringue has reached this stage, turn off the oven and leave the meringue to cook for 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the curd. Place the cup of blood orange juice in a small sauce pan over medium low heat and reduce to 1/2 cup, stirring occasionally.
• Boil about 2" of water in a medium sauce pan and reduce to medium low. In a heatproof bowl that fits over the medium sauce pan, whisk together the yolks and sugar. Make sure that the water is low enough so that the bowl does NOT touch the water at all! Place the bowl in the sauce pan and stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar is dissolved into the yolks. Stir in the blood orange juice, the salt and butter. Continue stirring until the mixture has thickened enough to coat the back the wooden spoon, about 15-20 minutes. I test it by dipping my spoon in the curd and then running my finger down the back of the spoon. If the line stays, the curd is done. Carefully remove the bowl of curd from the saucepan. Strain the curd through a fine mesh strainer into a small bowl. Press plastic wrap down onto the top of the curd and allow it to cool. This will keep it from developing a skin as it cools. Once it's cooled, keep it in the fridge until you're ready to assemble your pavlova.
• Whip up the heavy cream and 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar in a medium bowl until soft and lightly whipped. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
• When you're ready to put it all together, place your meringue on a serving dish. Spread a nice layer of curd over the top, leaving a about inch all around so it's not dripping off the sides. Dollop your whipped cream over the top and spread so that it covers the curd. Layer your cut citrus over the top of the cream. Top the citrus with flaked almonds. Serve and be thankful for winter citrus!