Chocolate Hazelnut Meringue Roulade Food

HAZELNUT MERINGUES WITH HAZELNUT PRALINE & CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 120C/100C fan/gas 1. For the meringues, whisk the egg whites with the lemon juice until soft peaks form. Add the caster sugar and continue whisking until stiff, add the icing sugar and ground nuts, then gently fold through until evenly combined. Line a baking tray with baking paper and pipe or spoon out rounds of meringue into 7cm discs. Bake for 1½-2 hrs until crisp outside but still soft in the centre. Leave to cool. You need 3 rounds per person. Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container for about 1 week.
• To make the hazelnut praline, warm a small heavy-based pan over a medium heat and cook the caster sugar until it melts and turns a rich caramel colour. Carefully swirl the hazelnuts around the pan (be careful, the sugar is very hot) and allow them to caramelise and brown - about 2 mins. Pour the mixture out onto a tray lined with baking paper. Leave to cool.
• Make the chocolate sauce by heating together 75ml water, the caster sugar and cocoa powder until boiling. Pour over the chocolate and whisk well until smooth.
• To serve, whisk the cream until soft peaks form. Finely chop the cooled praline by hand or in a food processor. Stir most of it through the whipped cream, setting a little aside. Place a meringue disc on each plate and top with a little of the cream. Add another disc, more cream, followed by the final disc. Top with icing sugar, cocoa powder and some of the reserved chopped praline, then spoon around some chocolate sauce

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT MERINGUE ROULADE

Steps:

• Toast the hazelnuts on a baking sheet on the top shelf of the oven for 8 minutes, cool and grind in a food processor until very finely chopped, but do not over-process or they will turn oily. Whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks, then whisk in the caster sugar a little at a time. Using a metal spoon, fold the ground hazelnuts into the meringue and spread the mixture evenly in the prepared tin. Bake in the centre of the oven for 20 minutes, cool then turn out on to a piece of greaseproof (or parchment) paper, slightly larger than the roulade, on a clean surface. Gently ease away the lining paper. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn't touch the water. Then remove the bowl from the heat and leave the chocolate to cool. Whip the cream and divide between two bowls. Reserving four tablespoons of the melted chocolate for decoration, quickly but gently fold the rest of the melted chocolate into one bowl of whipped cream until it looks evenly mixed and mousse-like. Spread this mixture evenly over the roulade to within ½ in (1 cm) of the edge. Spread the remaining whipped cream over the chocolate mixture. Now, with the meringue placed long side towards you, and using the paper to assist you, roll up the meringue to form a long log shape (don't worry about the roulade cracking as it's quite normal). Make sure the seam is at the base of the roulade and, using a spoon, drizzle the reserved chocolate all over the top using a zigzag movement. Lift on to a long serving dish and chill in the fridge. Remove from the fridge about 15 minutes before serving.

STRAWBERRY MERINGUE ROULADE

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400°F.
• Line 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking sheet with parchment paper (or waxed paper) extending 2 inches over ends of pan.
• Grease the parchment paper with shortening.
• Beat egg whites in large bowl until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add 1¼ cups sugar, beating until meringue is stiff and shiny.
• Spread meringue evenly in prepared baking sheet.
• Bake until pale golden, about 8 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
• Bake until meringue is slightly firm to touch on top but soft inside, about 8 minutes longer.
• Remove baking sheet from oven.
• Run knife around pan sides to loosen meringue.
• Turn out onto sheet of parchment paper.
• Carefully peel off parchment paper.
• Cool meringue 25 minutes.
• Whip cream and vanilla in medium bowl to stiff peaks.
• Mix sliced strawberries and preserves in another medium bowl.
• Spoon the strawberry mixture over meringue, leaving 1-inch border on all sides.
• Spread whipped cream over strawberry mixture.
• Starting at one long side, gently roll up meringue jelly-roll style, enclosing filling.
• Place roulade, seam side down, on platter.
• Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
• Dust roulade with powdered sugar.
• Cut into slices.
• Transfer to plates.
• Garnish with whole strawberries, if desired.
• Serve roulade chilled.

HAZELNUT MERINGUE ROULADE WITHE RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200c.
• Line a 9x13 Swiss roll tin with baking parchment.
• Place the egg whites in a clean bowl and whisk using an electric whisk on full speed until very stiff.
• Gradually add the sugar a teaspoon at a time, whisking well between each addition.
• The meringue is ready when it is glossy and very stiff.
• Spread the mixture into prepared tin and sprinkle with hazelnuts.
• Bake for 8 mins or until very golden.
• Remove the meringue from the oven and turn hazelnut side down on a sheet of non-stick baking parchment.
• Remove the paper from the base of the meringue and allow to cool for ten mins.
• Spread the whipped cream over the meringue and scatter over the raspberries.
• Using the parchment to help you, roll the meringue up fairly tightly from one of the long ends to form a roulade.
• Wrap in non-stick baking parchment and chill well before serving.
• To serve unwrap and cut in slices.