Classic Zabaglione Food

CHEF JOHN'S ZABAGLIONE

Steps:

• Gently stir the strawberries and sugar together in a bowl. Cover and let sit at room temperature until juices release, about 1 hour.
• Divide fruit between 2 small, clear serving bowls or stemmed cocktail glasses.
• Place egg yolks, sugar, and marsala into metal mixing bowl. Set over burner on low heat. Hold rim of bowl with a potholder. Whisk until mixture forms loose peaks, 7 or 8 minutes. Mixture should feel warm to the touch.
• Spoon custard over the strawberries. Serve while custard is still warm.

FROZEN ESPRESSO ZABAGLIONE

Steps:

• Put egg yolks in a medium-size mixing bowl. Add sugar and whisk together for a minute, until frothy. Whisk in espresso and Cognac, then place bowl over double boiler. (For a makeshift double boiler, put 3 inches of water in a saucepan approximately the same size as bowl. Put the saucepan on stove, bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat to a rapid simmer.)
• Whisk rapidly until egg yolk mixture is warmed through. Continue whisking as the mixture begins to thicken. After 2 minutes or so it should have doubled in volume and have the consistency of softly whipped cream. Remove from heat and whisk for a minute more.
• Pour custard into individual demitasse cups or into a serving dish. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for several hours or overnight.
• Remove from freezer 10 minutes before serving. Dust with cocoa powder and powdered sugar if desired.

ZABAGLIONE

Steps:

• Bring 1-inch of water to a boil in a 4-quart saucepan set over high heat.
• Add the egg yolks and sugar to a large glass bowl. Using an electric hand mixer on the highest speed, beat the eggs and sugar until the mixture is thick, pale yellow, and the sugar is completely dissolved, 4 to 5 minutes. Decrease the mixer speed to low and add the Marsala and salt.
• Decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and put the bowl atop the saucepan with the boiling water, making sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water. Beat the mixture on medium speed, until it is thick, frothy, holds a ribbon, and the temperature reaches 145 to 150 degrees F, on an instant-read thermometer.
• Spoon the warm mixture into custard cups or serving glasses and serve immediately or allow to cool slightly. Serve with fresh berries, if desired.

CLASSIC ZABAGLIONE

Steps:

• Have ready an instant-read thermometer in a cup of hot water. In a metal bowl with a whisk or a hand-held electric mixer beat together all ingredients until combined well. Set bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water and beat mixture until tripled in volume and thermometer registers 140°F, about 5 minutes. To ensure that eggs are cooked, beat mixture 3 minutes more.
• Serve zabaglione immediately.

ZABAGLIONE

Steps:

• Combine the eggs, sugar and Marsala in the top of a double boiler over simmering water and whisk until thick and frothy. Place the bowl in an ice bath to cool. Blend in the cookies and whipped cream and then the liquor. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

ZABAGLIONE CLASSIC

Steps:

• Measure the ingreadients into the top of double boiler and place over boiling water. Beat constantly with a rotary beater until mixture tickens and mounds like whipped cream.
• Remove from heat.
• Serve hot or chilled in tall parfait glasses alone or as a topping for sponge cake or canned fruit.

FROZEN ZABAGLIONE

Steps:

• Whisk egg yolks, salt, sugar, and Marsala wine together in a metal mixing bowl.
• Set the bowl over a medium-low heat, or over a double boiler. Hold the bowl with one hand using a towel or pot-holder, while whisking constantly with the other. Continue cooking until the mixture is very thick and reaches the ribbon stage, about 10 minutes.
• Remove custard from heat and allow to cool completely, preferably over an ice bath, whisking occasionally, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Pour cold heavy cream into another bowl and whisk until soft peaks form. Transfer into the cooled custard and gently fold everything together until just barely combined; do not overmix.
• Transfer into an airtight container, cover the top with plastic wrap, and seal. Place in a freezer until firm, at least 4 hours, or up to overnight.

CLASSIC SABAYON AND ZABAGLIONE

Steps:

• In a zabaglione pan (or a metal bowl or round-bottomed double boiler), whisk together the yolks and sugar until lighter in color; then stir in the wine.
• Se the pan or bowl over a smaller pan of simmering water, and whisk until the mixture swells and thickens into a stable foam; it is ready when the wires of the whisk start leaving light traces between strokes. The water in the lower pan should be actively simmering but not boiling violently, and should not touch the bottom of the upper pan. There's no need to beat hard; just use a gentle back-and-forth wrist motion, getting all over the pan so the mixture doesn't overcook on the bottom and sides. Don't cook past the "light traces" stage, or the sabayon may lose volume and become dense instead of airy.
• Off heat, whisk in the Grand Marnier (or rum, kirsch, or whatever). Serve immediately.
• For an Italian zabaglione, reduce the sugar to 1/4 cup, and use 1/2 cup of dry Marsala.